BY DEBBIE PAGE
Fifth Street Ministries and Purple Heart Homes representatives welcomed local officials and the community on Tuesday to celebrate the completion of four new tiny homes, which will provide safe, secure housing for more local veterans.
The nonprofit now has six tiny homes for veterans who have been homeless for an extended period to regain the skills and confidence to transition to their own permanent housing.
This effort, along with the “Heroes House,” created through a partnership of Fifth Street Ministries, Statesville Housing Authority, Purple Heart Homes, and Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council (PVAC) in 2016, provides transitional housing for veterans as well as support, counseling, and case management for those coping with PTSD, substance abuse disorders, and other serious mental illnesses.
After American Legion Post 65 presented the colors at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and Thea Miller sang the National Anthem. Brad Borders gave the invocation at the ceremony, expressing gratitude for these new homes as places of safety, healing, and hope for the community’s veterans.
“These homes stand as a symbol of love and care that the community has for those who have served and sacrificed,” he said.
Borders prayed that these homes “will become places of renewal, where new beginnings are made, where burdens are lifted, and purposes are found.”
“Let this work remind us of our duty to serve one another with humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment.”
Fifth Street Ministries Shelter Manager David Dolan, who works extensively with veterans, said it is an honor to serve veterans — and to see the community care for them.
As two new veterans enter these homes next week, Nolan promised “we will be with you during this time of growth. We will be with you during your struggles and your successes, and we will help you every step of the way.”
Purple Heart Homes CEO and Co-Founder John Gallina said this effort has been a nine-year journey. He credited the vision of Pete Meletis, a veteran who saw a need for this support for the community’s veterans.
Meletis brought together a coalition to renovate the Heroes House, providing homeless veterans a safe place to heal and start their recovery. Afterwards, Meletis saw the next step as building tiny homes for veterans to have a place to learn to live on their own again.
“This represents so much more than one organization providing support to one set of individuals, but it really represents what’s best about our community, our ability to come together to solve a problem and to make life better for other people,” said Gallina.
“When we are able to come together to make that difference, it’s inspiring,” he said. “Countless people pour out their time and talents to make projects like these better so that everybody can live that American dream. Everybody deserves a safe place to call home.”
In 2018, 9,268 individual veterans in North Carolina contacted or were referred to the VA as being homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. Veterans account for nearly 10 percent of the total NC population but account for 18 to 20 percent of the state’s homeless individuals.
Michele Knapp, executive director of Fifth Street Ministries, thanked those who helped make the tiny home project possible, including Purple Heart Homes, Ram Paving, Todd Ellis Builders, Concrete Supply Company, Mary Catherine and Nick Martin, Broad Street United Methodist Church, Catherine and David Kitchen, Iredell County Farm Bureau, Shirley LaForge, Justin and Ashley Golds, Faith By Works, George and Margaret Pappas, Sheila Foxworthy, the Elks Lodge, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Grace Alliance Fellowship.
Others supporters include American Cleaning Systems, Dave’s All Night Repair, Green Acres Lawn Service, Nicholas Masonry and Property Maintenance, and Rovira Crane.
The Cannon Foundation and Home Depot also support the veterans’ housing program, in addition to individual community members, businesses, and churches.
“When there is a need, this community comes together, and I am honored to be a part of this community,” said Knapp.
The Heroes House is now funded by the Veterans Administration. VA staff stop by regularly to get the veterans connected to the services for which they are eligible.
“They have been an amazing partner, and we have been able to move many veterans into permanent housing because of their help.”
VA funding also helps Fifth Street provide intensive case management to all veterans in the program as well as life skills training and transitional housing services for up to two years.
Forty-six veterans have been served since 2016 in Fifth Street’s veteran’s transitional house, with 88 percent moving into stable housing.
“We are able to offer those veterans more support by giving them opportunities to live independently for two additional years in these homes while still receiving all the same services they received at the veterans’ house.”
“This prepares them for permanent housing by teaching them valuable skills necessary to maintain a home. It has been two years since we opened the first two homes, and the two veterans in those homes are thriving and movIng on to the next step of their journey into permanent housing.”
“Having a safe, stable environment to live and call home is something that everyone deserves. We will continue to work toward housing equality for everyone, and we truly are blessed to have each one of you by our side as we continue the journey of Fifth Street Ministries’ work,” concluded Knapp.
After Gallina, Knapp, Fifth Street Ministries Board Chair Dr. Joseph Mazzola, Mayor Costi Kutteh, Statesville City Council member Doris Allison, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shannon Viera, and members of the Fifth Street Ministries Board cut the ceremonial ribbon, guests enjoyed tours of the homes and refreshments.
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