Permanent Supportive Housing Apartments Groundbreaking

New 6 story brick apartment building

People shoveling at groundbreaking ceremony

Community Collaborates to Help End Veteran homelessness

Omaha took a major step toward reaching the Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary's goal to end Veteran Homelessness by 2015 with the groundbreaking for Victory Apartments on Oct. 12. When it opens in August 2013, the 80 apartment units will provide Omaha-area homeless Veterans permanent supportive housing.

The apartments are for homeless Veterans who are eligible for VA health care benefits through the use of Section 8 housing choice vouchers. Those vouchers are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The vouchers provide the maximum housing assistance minus 30 percent of the Veteran's adjusted monthly income. The VA will lease about 10,000 square feet on the second floor and relocate services that include primary and mental health care, vocational rehabilitation, and substance abuse.

Captured in this photo are members of the major contributing organizations and elected officials. HUD should be contributing approximately $300K in SHP funds.

VA staff eventually found the empty building at 9th and Dorcas in south Omaha. It was previously the six-story Our Lady of Victory Wing of the former St. Joseph Hospital. The building was owned by Grace University. When completed, the apartment development will have cost about $16M.

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