The Committee’s Newsletter for July, 2010

The Disabled Veterans Committee was busy with preparations for a number of projects and continuing work on the new home for Andrew Shepherd begin built in South Hill, Virginia.  We also are about to begin construction of home in Williamsburg’s Governors Land for Earl Gentile.

CHESTERFIELD, VIRGINIA (July 12, 2010) The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing was asked by the Southside Community Development and & Housing Corporation (SCD&HC) to assist them develop the “Rachel’s Way” community in Chesterfield, VA.  The community has 38 lots which they want to make available as a small veteran’s village.  The builder for the project will be R. L. Seely Homes, LLC of Woodford, Virginia.

The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing prepared and is distributing a flyer at the VA hospital in Richmond on the new community.  The flyer is also being showcased on the DVCH  website.  A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed defining the responsibilities of each party involved in the implementation of the project.  See our website:  www.DVCHVets.org.

FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA (July 22, 2010) A CHALENG Meeting was held at the Fairfax Government Center Facilities, 12000 Government Center Parkway; Conference Rooms 9 and 10 by the Washington VA Medical Center representative.  The Outreach Coordinator for Health Care for Homeless, a Ms Garnet Nelson, LCSW,LCSW-C,  CHALENG 2010 conducted the meeting.  Mr. James Thur, Regional Director, Virginia Wounded Warriors Program, and Daphne R. Mize, the DVCH’s Executive Director, Veterans Outreach attended the meeting.  They reported that they were continuing to work on getting current statistics on the number of homeless veterans in our region.  The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless veterans or veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homeless veterans and their families through the assistance of VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community.

Are you a homeless Veteran? The VA has founded a National Call Center for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, that provides free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. Call 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838) or Chat Live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Congressman Frank Wolf & Daphne R. Mize

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA (July 29, 2010) Congressman Frank Wolf, 10^th District for the State of Virginia held his semi-annual “Job Fair”, at the  Harper Park Middle School, 701 Potomac Station Drive, Leesburg, VA.

As you know, the workforce in the Tenth District is very educated and experienced; however, we still have had many job losses over the last year and a half.  We would appreciate it if your organization could participate and provide information as jobs that are currently available.  We thought it might be of interest to you that the Commonwealth of Virginia has created a permanent fund to be known as the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund, to be managed and administered as a part of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

(left) Ann Potocnak, Veterans Representative for WolfInvestment Program.

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA (July 31, 2010) The groundbreaking ceremony for LTC Earl Gentile and his wife, Julie, went great although the traffic on I-64 and I-95 delayed the arrival of a number of dignitaries.  Fortunately, all were able to participate in the ceremony which started only about 15 minutes late.  This was such a special occasion with the presentation of the colors made by the Fort Eustis, Virginia Army Color Guard, the Langley AFB, Virginia Honor Guard and the Williamsburg Field Musick, Fifes & Drum Corp presentation of the National Anthem at the site of the construction of the Gentile’s new Specially Adapted home.  We are hopeful that the building permit for the new home will be approved over the next two weeks with the clearing of the lot and the pouring of the foundation to follow shortly thereafter.  The following are a selection of the photos of the groundbreaking which we hope you enjoy.

See all of you next month.  In the meantime I will bring you up to date on what the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing will be doing for our veterans.  God Speed to each of you.