Housing For Homeless Veterans: Perry Point Program Breaks Ground

PERRY POINT, MD — Veterans affairs and elected officials broke ground at Perry Point Saturday for HELP Veterans Village, which will create 75 apartments for at-risk and formerly homeless veterans.

“Anyone who spent their lives in service to others has more than earned the support they deserve to live, work, raise a family and retire in Maryland,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. “It is so important that we honor and take care of all of our veterans, and that’s exactly what the Perry Point Village project, here in Cecil County, will help us do.”

A nonprofit organization — HELP USA, which aids the homeless — has reportedly been working to make HELP Veterans Village come to fruition for 10 years.

Now, vacant homes on the premises that have undergone renovations will be available within months, according to David Cleghorn, senior vice president of real estate development at HELP USA. He noted the beauty of the site on the Susquehanna River and its proximity to the Perry Point facility, the largest inpatient facility in Maryland's VA system, as pluses for veterans moving in.

"From day one, they will be surrounded by clinical support and services from the VA, case management from HELP USA, and most importantly by each other, a group of like-minded veterans beginning their new lives," Cleghorn said.

There are approximately 50,000 veterans who are homeless each night, according to HELP USA.

“The opening of the HELP Veterans Village will allow us to further our efforts to end veteran homelessness throughout Maryland by providing permanent and affordable housing close to important VA health care services and support programs,” VA Maryland Health Care System Dr. Adam M. Robinson Jr. said in a statement.

The VA Maryland Health Care System, HELP USA and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development partnered in the project.

Photos courtesy of Gov. Larry Hogan.