At least 60 homeless veterans located in Washington D.C. are getting a new place to live. A brand new 14-story building is opening in the NoMa neighborhood near Union Station and features 124 efficiency apartments, 60 of which will be used to house homeless military veterans. The building is even named after John and Jil Ker Conway, a famous World War II veteran and his wife.
Residents will be assigned case managers to help them address their health problems and any issues related to the new housing. Veterans will also pay 30% of their income as rent and fees for the on-site supportive services. Social workers, job and education counseling, and mental health services are all offered to qualifying veterans.
The building was designed by Sorg Architects, an international firm with offices in D.C. The company has been planning and developing the space for more than eight years.
Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser claims the project benefited from the Obama administrations focus on ending veteran homelessness. She is calling the project a successful model for other cities and hopes the program will continue to flourish under the Trump administration.
“The timing of this, a week before the transition of power, serves to highlight the role that our federal government has in ending veteran homelessness,” Bowser stated in a press release.
Clifford Rowe is one of many veterans who are benefiting from the building. The 76-year-old told reporters that the new apartment feels “like a gift from heaven” compared to the park bench that served as his bed for weeks prior to the move. The project has reportedly cut the number of homeless veterans living in the city by approximately 33%.
[revad2]
