Veterans Community Project: "Veterans Housing Veterans. Armed with the Strength and Support of the Community."
Story By Grace Thorburn
Photos Courtesy of Veterans Community Project
Veterans Community Project (VCP) is an organization dedicated to offering services and housing to veterans in need. The donation-based organization started in Kansas City, Mo. Veterans Community Project of Longmont Executive Director Jennifer Seybold said the idea was inspired by combat veterans who saw a need in their community and wanted to do more.
“They never envisioned growing beyond Kansas City, but it expanded to address veteran homelessness,” she said.
Since then, the project has expanded into more cities. They are currently building in Sioux Falls and Longmont and are in the early stages of land ownership and permitting in Milwaukee and Oklahoma City.
Seybold said that the community center at the Longmont location is a few weeks away from being finished, with plans to have an entire village completed in the second quarter of 2023.
Veterans Community Project offers services to veterans in need, such as food and hygiene kits, rent and utility assistance, health care and housing referrals, case management, and military documentation services. The outreach center in Longmont is open for walk-ins during business hours, so veterans can receive assistance with issues like food insecurity, housing difficulties, or navigating veterans’ services. The Longmont location also utilizes a VCP mobile outreach unit that began on August 1, 2022. The mobile outreach unit serves veterans in rural parts of Northern CO, with initial service areas in Larimer, Weld, Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Broomfield, and Adams counties.
“Project members traveled 3,000 miles across Colorado to reach those who otherwise may not have been able to access services,” Seybold said.
The village under construction in Longmont will serve as a place for veterans to get back on their feet in a supportive community. The tiny homes are being built at no expense to veterans and serve as transitional housing for those looking for a permanent housing situation in the future. Veterans will be able to stay in the village for up to two years as part of a transitional program. They will “pay rent” by setting personal goals and working on themselves, Seybold said.
Seybold shared that the organization partners with many other groups, such as county veterans service offices, housing, homelessness, unemployment organizations, and mental health agencies. They have about 50 local community partners to ensure those partners refer veterans to the right places.
Veterans Community Project relies on community financial support and is limited in the financial assistance that they take. They look to build communities and outreach centers in areas where there is a need and the community will be supportive of the project.
In Kansas City, where VCP was launched, veterans have been housed for years. “This is the model we’re operating off of,” Seybold said. “A tiny home is private, even though it’s transitional. Public housing can be difficult if you’re struggling with mental health. Tiny homes are quiet and private and provide a safe space to do that with case manager support.”
According to Seybold, the Longmont team has received feedback that is nice to work with a staff that understands veterans and their specialized needs. Although veterans support each other, Seybold pointed out that there is a common misconception that veterans are receiving more help than actually they are and estimates that there are at least 40,000 unhoused veterans across the United States.
Seybold emphasized that it’s important for communities to understand not everyone is eligible or can access federal services offered to veterans. She also said that veterans often experience trust issues, and as such, they are more likely to trust those they work with for referrals for services. To ensure that those in need are aware of available services, partner agencies will refer them to Veterans Community Project.
“We don’t have a village yet, but we’re doing community work that makes a difference,” said Seybold. “The thing that is incredible about what we do is that we work with a lot of community members, and it’s great to see everyone come together.”
To learn more about Veterans Community Project, visit www.veteranscommunityproject.org.