OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Soldiers often sacrifice to serve our country only to come back and face even more hard times. While struggling to get back to life before service, many veterans often face homelessness.
In 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that more than 37,000 veterans were homeless.
Burlington Capital Properties is opening their third property aimed at lowering the number of homeless veterans to zero. They say housing is just one step to helping veterans reach many other life goals.
"The goal for us is to provide housing and we all know, that if we have a roof over our heads that helps us in a number of areas. When the veteran is housed and they can call this apartment their home then we want them to be the drivers to work those short-term, mid-term and long-term goals," said Tom York, property manager for Victory Apartments.
The building, which is the third property for veterans that Burlington Capital Properties has built, will be able to house 60 veterans. Units are available in studio and one bedroom apartments and come fully furnished. The facility will also be able to offer other resources such as help with mental health, that other homeless shelters may not provide.
"The number one difference is the supportive services that we provide, because I think a lot of other homeless shelters, while they try to give those services, I don’t think they’re in the position to provide the services in the same way that we are," said George Achola, the vice president of Burlington Capital Real Estate.
The building also allows veterans to build community with others who have experienced the same.
“It’s better than being on the streets and kind of been able to network people and have people in a like background in order to, for PTSD and such, to have an understanding of some of the trials and tribulations a person’s been through via military service,” John Baker, a veteran and resident at Victory Apartments said.
The grand opening of Victory II Apartments will be on Friday, September 18 at 2 p.m.
