CHS has learned that a social services organization is beginning to raise funds to construct a housing facility for armed service veterans on East Spring between 13th and 14th Avenues.
Catholic Community Services, formerly known as the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, is planning the 18 units of “transitional” housing for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for a 7,200 square foot lot on East Spring. CCS purchased the lot in 2002 from Seattle University for just over $320,000, according to King County records. A daycare has been operating at the location.
In the wake of November’s hatchet murder on the corner of 15th and Union, social services that drew both the attacker and the victim to the neighborhood are a point of concern as illustrated by this CHS comment where we first learned of the CCS effort:
A way for the Crime Prevention Coalition to serve the neighborhood could be this: Catholic Community Services plans to establish a residential facility for men who are being treated for psychiatric problems at 13th and
Marion[Spring], just two blocks from this tragedy, and virtually across the street from one of the SAAS buildings. Under the circumstances, this may result in some feelings of concern. I think the Crime Prevention Coalition might have a role in bringing together neighbors, including SAAS students and parents and administrators to talk, in a calm and rational way, about concerns that many have when housing projects like this move into a neighborhood.
“I respect the neighbors’ concern. That was a really horrific incident,” said Dan Wise, program director for CCS. “The Vet Administration is really trying to put a lot of services in place for these people,” she said.
Wise tells CHS that Spring Street Veterans Housing will have services on-site for the veterans living in the new facility when construction is completed including a manager living in the housing and social staff employed to provide the veterans with everything from counseling to job training. Wise also said the services will only be for those living in the units.
Wise said there is not yet a plan for community outreach related to the project but that she expects notifications to go out closer to the start of construction. Wise said there was notification of the initial plan to neighbors years ago but the long process of funding and getting the project in motion might catch some in the neighborhood by surprise. Wise said she invites community questions and comments via e-mail at [email protected].
The land use process should also provide some opportunity for feedback. The facility is being developed with a grant from the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs but CCS must raise $400,000 in matching funds for construction. Wise said that fund raising is just getting started and that rehabbing the daycare building will take at least nine months after the money is raised. The project plans submitted to the City of Seattle call for an overhaul of the old daycare building and a partial demolition of the structure to make way for on-site parking.
Veterans Affairs backs other similar housing in the state. Here are its facility goals and admissions requirements for a similar facility:
• Increased residential stability of participants
• Greater self-determination of participants
• Increased skill level and income potential of
participants
Eligibility for Admission
• Served in any branch of the US Armed Forces
• Received an Honorable or General Under Honorable Discharge
• Homeless for one or more nights
• Clean and sober for at least the last 30 days
• Desire to lead a clean and sober lifestyle
• Desire to make meaningful life changes leading to independent living
• Willing to undergo criminal background check
Wise tells CHS the project is being planned for younger veterans. Many will have served tour of duties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many will need the community’s support and the state’s services. It’s a needed facility. And it’s in our neighborhood.
“I believe the people living there are going to be good members of the community,” Wise said.
I’m always a little saddened by the NIMBY-ism of some people; people who probably didn’t serve in the armed forces and certainly don’t understand they have the right to voice their objections due to these same service members that now need our help. I read this article because I was thrilled to see we’re doing something to help here on Capitol Hill. These veterans can live on my street any time and I thank them for their service, the very same service that protected me but sadly led to their needing help.
Make Obama and the Democraps pay for this. They’re the ones who insist people need to kill for oil. They’re the ones who support a $600 billion Pentagon budget while telling veterans to “Fuck off!”
Let this be a lesson to any idiot considering joining the military: all that talk about patriotism and heroism is all talk. You will be treated like a piece of trash in the military and discarded like a piece of trash when you get out. Welcome to reality.
Captainchaos, no one protected you from anything. Stop lying. I promise you that no 7 year old in Afghanistan every tried to hurt you. Why do you celebrate murdering children?
Oh this is an instant classic. Blame Obama and the Democrats for the Iraq and Afghan wars. All that weed you’ve been smokin’ is suppose to affect your *short* term memory. Wars for Oil are the modus operandi of right wing in America, not the left. We are just left to deal with the aftermath.
And deal we shall! I welcome our veterans in need to our neighborhood. I won’t minimize the tragedy of the hatchet attack last year, but I believe it was an isolated case. We have to take responsibility to care for those who need it, and not look for other folks to create mental health ghetto’s where we can conveniently hide these heros away.
Your memory isn’t that great either. War for oil is done by both sides.
…I don’t think it’s NIMBYism to be concerned about the very high concentration of social services and transitional housing on the Hill, especially in that immediate vicinity. It sounds like a good project, but I’d also like to see some other parts of the city take their share. You don’t see these projects proposed for Magnolia or Broadmoor…
Post traumatic stress syndrome vets should be in a rural area where there is less city stress and less street drugs. will these vets own guns? they have a right to own guns even with PTSD.
anything other than an hornorable discharge means the person was not wanted by the military.
these vets killed countless people in iraq and they will target gays and lesbians for violence since most say i didn’t kill a bunch of sand n*ggers just so gays can get married.
they have no value for life
Go rural, so they can open a meth lab…
To address that vets with PTSD should go live in a rural area is a misnomer, based on 19th century ideals that nature heals. While nature is calming, the northwest has plenty to share. Its important to teach former veterans to live in a non-military enviroment and to learn how to deal with everday situations. To suggest they go out into rural environments is insulting, as also to suggest that because they know how to use a gun, one automatically will use it in times of duress. My healing process came with coming home and interacting with the community. It has taken a long time, but without the support of a community and participating with a civilian life. I would have never healed and became the self that I once forgot. It is a long road once you leave the service and even when you do the values that you learn stay with you forever. I hope that others can only have as much compassion for our veterans, as they have been brave to support your perfect white fences.