A Story Of A Vision Come True

It began in 1980. Five gentleman, one of which was me, created a not-for-profit 501[c]3 charity, named "Loeb House, Inc.", to create supported community housing for the special needs of folks suffering from mental illness. It was as successful as can be and led us and others to create another not-for-profit 501[c]3 charity named after my older Brother," Joseph's Home" to create supported community housing for the homeless.

Among the efforts were two living facilities for homeless veterans. They were not the best models but were lessons well taught and we wisely closed both.

Sometime later around 2009, the Federal Government declared 15+ acres in Tappan as surplus but only to be used to serve the homeless. It was one of the last parcels of the property of the 2,300 acre historic WW II Camp Shanks, "Last Stop USA", from which 1.3 million soldiers from all over the USA were prepared to cross the Atlantic Ocean to fight the nazi army. 70% waded into the guns of the nazi army on D-Day.

Many interests applied for the lease of the property, many with plans that would destroy Tappan.

Ergo, a group of supporters of our Veterans created another Not-For-Profit 501[c]3 charity named "Rockland Homes For Heroes" and applied for the lease to be used to homeless Veterans "only" on what we considered sacred military land and secured the lease. We built 8 beautiful apartment homes right on Western Highway. These are beautiful permanent affordable supportive homes on a par with any private public homes. And lives were changed for the better.

Some of the residents moved from the streets to our Rockland Community College to jobs. But love it as their home for life. And Rockland loves them.The community never stops bringing food on the holidays or volunteers to help landscape. Some knit pillows and other items found in pleasant homes.

Our success led us to decide to add 14 more such homes. Ergo, in 2020 we applied to the "Homeless Housing Assistance Prevention and Grant Program of the NYS Office Of Temporary & Disabled Assistance and the NYS "Homes & Community Renewal". God Bless them for financing our vision. Then there were other State Government units which joined the Project.

To our joy, our Rockland County community choose to contribute the additional money needed as costs skied very high and it opened its hearts and purses with contributions over $800,000 needed. The contributions ranged from $36 from 2 Girl Scouts to an anonymously $60,000 and $50,000 from Sean Magee of Anchor Trading who lives in the County and has been contributing to Veterans for many years.

When the homes open we will have a lovely spot in the lovely hamlet Tappan and a tiny beautiful community of Veterans enjoying life in a sweet safety of friendship.

So as you read this, the 14 new beautiful apartment homes are built and will be opened very very soon in lateNovember or early December. check out them out

You too can contribute by visiting our web site www.rocklandhomesforheroes.org and view the video - https://youtu.be/tfOXDCyk