ICYMI: Chester County Housing Project For At-Risk Veterans Breaks Ground

EAST VINCENT TOWNSHIP, PA - A housing project for at-risk veterans, the first of its kind in Chester County, broke ground on Wednesday, according to a report.

The 48 apartments will be located on 3795 Schuylkill Road, with a renovation of the historic Whitehall Inn, a press release for the project states.

At least 50 veterans will be housed in the new structure.

“Many of our nation’s veterans have been forced to live in their cars, or on our streets or in shelters,” Mark Deitcher, Mission First’s director of business development, told the Pottstown Mercury. “However, there is now a concerted effort around the country to make sure that no veteran is left without housing. We at Mission First Housing Group want to do our part. All veterans should have a safe, affordable, comfortable place to call home.”

Mission First Housing Group will construct a new addition that will create permanent housing, along with the addition.

The building will also include a community room and fitness facilities, as well as a computer room. The Whitehall will have a live-in property superintendent and on-site supportive services to link veterans to community-based supports.

Mission First is developing The Whitehall in response to a local need to provide permanent supportive housing for at-risk veterans and a national effort to end veterans homelessness.

Planning for the Whitehall began in the summer of 2012 when Mission First met with representatives of the Coatesville VA Medical Center (CVAMC) to discuss the development of veterans housing in Chester County.

CVAMC indicated that many veterans prefer to live in the company of other veterans who have shared similar life experiences.

The funding for The Whitehall comes from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Riverside Capital Equity Partners, Citizens Bank and The Home Depot Foundation.