VA Announces Vetrerans Housing Project with Soldier On on VA Leeds Campus
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Transcript of VA Announces Vetrerans Housing Project with Soldier On on VA Leeds Campus
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8/7/2019 VA Announces Vetrerans Housing Project with Soldier On on VA Leeds Campus
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March 23, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VA ANNOUNCES PROPOSED PROJECT TO BUILD PERMANENT HOUSING FOR
VETERANS
LEEDS, Mass. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the concept
of moving forward with a proposed EUL project at the Northampton Veterans Affairs
Medical Center.
This permanent supportive housing would be built on approximately nine acres of
the Medical Centers campus under a VA Enhanced-Use Lease to provide affordable
housing units for homeless Veterans and Veterans at risk of homelessness on a
priority basis.
VA has chosen Soldier On, a local nonprofit organization committed to providing
temporary and permanent housing for homeless Veterans, as the proposed selected
developer to develop, operate, and maintain the facility under the contemplated
Enhanced-Use Lease.
Additionally, under a separate initiative to bring innovation to VAs most important
challenges, the VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) has also selected Soldier On for
negotiation for an Industry Innovation Competition award. Such selection makes
Soldier On eligible to receive, subject to and upon execution of the Northampton MA
EUL, up to $8 million (e.g., in progress payments) from VA, for use towards
development of the contemplated permanent supportive housing facility.
The VA Innovation Initiative, or VAi2, is a department-wide program that brings
the most promising innovations to VAs most important challenges by allowing
employees and private sector entities to submit responsive proposals to VA
suggesting ways to bring about innovative, visionary solutions to issues involving
service to Veterans.
It is contemplated that under the proposed EUL VA will outlease the property to
Soldier On for a period of up to 75 years.
As the proposed EUL lessee, Soldier On will be required to finance, develop, and
maintain the supportive housing facility in accordance with applicable federal, state,
and local laws, codes, and requirements.
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8/7/2019 VA Announces Vetrerans Housing Project with Soldier On on VA Leeds Campus
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The project will support VAs goal of ending Veteran homelessness by providing
safe, affordable, cost effective, and sustainable housing for Veterans on a priority
basis.
The project would improve the quality of life for Veterans who need our help by
providing them with affordable housing and supportive services with convenientaccess to our medical center, said Roger Johnson, NVAMC director.
On April 14, 2011, at 7 p.m., VA is scheduled to host an EUL Public Hearing, to
present the proposed EUL project to and receive views from the community. The
hearing will be held at the NVAMCs Recreation Hall, Building 11.
The decision to move forward with the project will be made based on a number of
factors, including public comments received at this EUL Public Hearing.
About the Northampton VA Medical Center. The Northampton VAMC provides
primary and secondary levels of care to a Veteran population in western
Massachusetts of more than 50,000 men and women.
About Soldier On. Soldier On is a Massachusetts non-profit 501c3 corporation
governed by a full-time CEO/president and a volunteer board of directors. The
organization in part works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other
agencies to provide Veterans with both shelter and support.