Springfield Elks award ENF grant to The Veterans’ Place

COURTESY
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Recently , Springfield Elks Lodge 1560’s Veteran’s chair PER Vicki Siliski applied for an Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant worth $1,500. The recipient was “The Veterans’ Place Inc.” located in Northfield, Vt. The Anniversary Grant given by the Elks National Foundation is marking the 150th Anniversary of the Elks, which became a fraternity in 1868.

This home in Northfield was built in 1904 and housed the Northfield Hospital for many years. It then became a nursing home. It was unoccupied until in 2009, when The Veterans’ Place, Inc. began to take in homeless veterans. This program was started by the VA Hospital in White River Jct., Vermont. There are many homes like this throughout the country, including two in New Hampshire that are sponsored by the VA with grant money from the federal government.

The purpose of The Veterans’ Place, Inc. is to help Vermont’s homeless veterans by providing desperately needed resources in an all-in-one locale, so these veterans may regain their pride, reach their full potential, and once again become contributing members of society. The Veterans’ Place is a transitional housing facility that combines assistive services for homeless veterans in central Vermont and they have more than 25 other dedicated partners helping them. Their goal is to help homeless veterans transition from the homeless population to thriving citizens. Participants at The Veterans’ Place must be substance-free, help with household chores, work diligently on self-improvement (including finding employment), maintain a healthy lifestyle and volunteer within the community. In return, participants may stay up to two years in the structured program. The residents suffer from injuries acquired in the service of our country, including the invisible, terrible PTSD. They offer assistance with tasks, such as completing applications for disabilities, employment and housing. Transportation is provided to and from appointments to places such as the veterans’ hospital. They are also provided with meals and supported emotionally as they make a difficult return to ability to function in society.

Clayton Wood, a former career law enforcement officer from Lebanon, is the clinic oversight/case manager. The criteria for veterans to be placed in the Northfield home are first scrutinized by the VA with background checks, who then send them to Northfield to be interviewed by Wood and his committee to see if they are a good fit to be housed there. During the interview, they are told no alcohol or drugs are permitted in the home nor may they go out and consume same when they are not at the home. The hope is that they will take advantage of what is being offered to them, which will in the end enable them to lead a normal life out in society.

The home has 26 rooms for sleeping quarters, it also has a full kitchen with a dining hall, recreation room, game room, large living room with many DVD movies and games, weight room and a fully equipped clothes and shoes room to outfit all occupant’s with assorted clothes for free. At the end of the two years there, the occupants are sent out into the world with many items — micro waves, kitchen supplies etc. — to start anew in their new housing. Presently, there are 23 veterans housed at the home.