thedrifter
07-21-09, 06:58 AM
First of veterans' housing arrives at Mount Wachusett campus
By Jack Minch, jminch@sentinelandenterprise.com
Posted: 07/21/2009 06:32:15 AM EDT
GARDNER -- The first of a planned 20 modular homes to house veterans and their families arrived on campus at Mount Wachusett Community College Monday.
The veterans will receive counseling and physical therapy while attending college.
It is the first program of its kind in the country, said Leslie D. Lightfoot, executive director of the Fitchburg-based nonprofit organization Veteran Homestead, which is running the center.
"I believe there should be one of these in every single state," said Lightfoot. "There are other states that have been inquiring about it."
The two modulars delivered Monday are part of the new $8 million Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center, which is now being built.
Lightfoot said she met with Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino asking for interns about two years ago.
The meeting went so well that when Asquino asked her if there was anything else she wanted, Lightfoot said she half-jokingly asked for land on which to build the center.
Asquino almost immediately offered the land, she said. The state Legislature passed legislation last August allowing the college to lease the land.
"Simply, it's just the right thing to do," Asquino said Monday.
In return for the 30-year lease, Veteran Homestead is providing internships for students in nursing and allied health programs.
Each of the two mobile units delivered Monday cost about $300,000, Lightfoot said.
"They are kind of souped-up modulars," she said. "They are brand new, they are beautiful."
Each modular will be for a veteran and family. Veterans without families may be able to share housing, Lightfoot said.
"Leslie approached me and it didn't take me more than 10 seconds to say ... it's the moral thing to do," Asquino said.
The center will offer counseling and physical therapy for returning soldiers and Marines. Since they and their families will be attending college, they will be allowed to live there two years, but will be able to continue counseling and therapy afterward, she said.
Thousands of soldiers and Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have medical and emotional traumas that are not being treated by either the Department of Defense or Veterans Administration, Lightfoot said. Massachusetts has about 29,000 veterans of the wars, she said.
Veteran Homestead provides medical, psychological and spiritual care to veterans.
Construction is under way on the rest of the facility, which includes space for counseling and physical therapy.
"It looks great," Asquino said. "They aren't all the way there in terms in fundraising, but they are making progress."
San Francisco-based Northern California Community Loan Fund provided $4.5 million for the center, Lightfoot said.
The center's grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Veteran Homestead is still looking for donations to buy another 18 modular homes. Donations can be sent to Veteran Homestead at 69 High St., Fitchburg, MA 01420.
For more information visit Veteran Homestead's Web site at www.veteranhomestead.org.
Ellie
By Jack Minch, jminch@sentinelandenterprise.com
Posted: 07/21/2009 06:32:15 AM EDT
GARDNER -- The first of a planned 20 modular homes to house veterans and their families arrived on campus at Mount Wachusett Community College Monday.
The veterans will receive counseling and physical therapy while attending college.
It is the first program of its kind in the country, said Leslie D. Lightfoot, executive director of the Fitchburg-based nonprofit organization Veteran Homestead, which is running the center.
"I believe there should be one of these in every single state," said Lightfoot. "There are other states that have been inquiring about it."
The two modulars delivered Monday are part of the new $8 million Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center, which is now being built.
Lightfoot said she met with Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino asking for interns about two years ago.
The meeting went so well that when Asquino asked her if there was anything else she wanted, Lightfoot said she half-jokingly asked for land on which to build the center.
Asquino almost immediately offered the land, she said. The state Legislature passed legislation last August allowing the college to lease the land.
"Simply, it's just the right thing to do," Asquino said Monday.
In return for the 30-year lease, Veteran Homestead is providing internships for students in nursing and allied health programs.
Each of the two mobile units delivered Monday cost about $300,000, Lightfoot said.
"They are kind of souped-up modulars," she said. "They are brand new, they are beautiful."
Each modular will be for a veteran and family. Veterans without families may be able to share housing, Lightfoot said.
"Leslie approached me and it didn't take me more than 10 seconds to say ... it's the moral thing to do," Asquino said.
The center will offer counseling and physical therapy for returning soldiers and Marines. Since they and their families will be attending college, they will be allowed to live there two years, but will be able to continue counseling and therapy afterward, she said.
Thousands of soldiers and Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have medical and emotional traumas that are not being treated by either the Department of Defense or Veterans Administration, Lightfoot said. Massachusetts has about 29,000 veterans of the wars, she said.
Veteran Homestead provides medical, psychological and spiritual care to veterans.
Construction is under way on the rest of the facility, which includes space for counseling and physical therapy.
"It looks great," Asquino said. "They aren't all the way there in terms in fundraising, but they are making progress."
San Francisco-based Northern California Community Loan Fund provided $4.5 million for the center, Lightfoot said.
The center's grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Veteran Homestead is still looking for donations to buy another 18 modular homes. Donations can be sent to Veteran Homestead at 69 High St., Fitchburg, MA 01420.
For more information visit Veteran Homestead's Web site at www.veteranhomestead.org.
Ellie