Veterans Community Project: Small Homes are Making a Big Impact

A home is more than the walls, windows, and roof that hold it together. A warm home provides grounding and a sense of security. However, for far too many veterans, this type of sanctuary is missing from their lives. That missing piece is what inspires the Veterans Community Project. In addition to building beautiful homes, the team is providing the services and resources that veterans need. They are also working towards eradicating veteran homelessness and Caliber Home Loans is proud to be part of the effort.

In 2020, Caliber sponsored one of the first small homes that will be built in a newly dedicated village in Saint Louis. The site is scheduled to begin ground-breaking in the fall of 2021 and the location is following in the footsteps of similar villages in Colorado and Kansas City. Recently, Jessica Manfre, CFO of the Inspire Up Foundation and Coast Guard Spouse and volunteer Brittany Boccher had the opportunity to tour the original village and were impressed by what they saw.

“What struck me immediately as a social worker was the attention to all of the needs. In many programs the rush to house a homeless veteran encompasses everything and leaves the deeper needs unfulfilled,” Manfre explained. “VCP thought of everything. From having on-site counseling, medical, dental, and even a veterinarian, it’s what wrap-around services should look like. They are paving the way to ending veteran homelessness.”

Boccher echoed the sentiment, “it was overwhelming to see it all in action. Knowing that these veterans are not only receiving any and every resource they could need but also the care and love mean everything.”

Veterans are encouraged to bring their pets and are reminded that everything within their new home belongs to them. All items are new and go with the veteran when they are ready to transition to permanent housing.

Caliber continues to partner with VCP and support their expansion efforts throughout the country. In addition to providing financial backing, the military lending team plans to offer volunteers for every city they plant a village.

Additionally, this year Caliber is partnering with the Inspire Up Foundation for their “You’re Worth It Conference”. Open to military, veteran, and first responder spouses, the conference is a three-day event that will provide tangible skill-building, fun, and community for those who help provide housing, services, and support to those who serve. As a part of the event, all attendees will help build blessing bags for homeless veterans to benefit the Veterans Community Project Outreach Center.

Manfre added, “As we roll into honoring Veterans Day, this is our way of doing it through not just words but action. Our nation’s uniformed service members have sacrificed so much in the name of our protection. Creating this give-back project for our veterans who are struggling is a small part of making a difference but one we hope helps create a ripple of good throughout the military community,”

The Veterans Community Project and those that help support it are dedicated to honoring those who serve. Caliber Home Loans is proud to partner with them as they change lives, one veteran and one home at a time.