A n unusual kind of affordable housing aimed at providing a "next step" for homeless veterans has proved so popular that 80 more units have been proposed for federal land near the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.
The 140-unit Veterans and Community Housing development, south of E. 54th Street between Minnehaha and Hiawatha Avenues, was built in 2006 and has been deemed a success in its mission of providing safe and sober housing for formerly homeless vets at rents as low as $415 per month.
Now its operator, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Community Housing Development Corp. (CHDC), is floating plans for an $11 million second phase called Veterans East elsewhere on the site, which is owned by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and has secured federal backing as well as the support of Hennepin County.
Bill Gabler, a consultant for CHDC, said the 80 units have been proposed just to the south of one of the seven-year-old buildings, which were financed through a state bonding bill.
They're needed because it's estimated that there are as many as 700 homeless veterans on the streets in Hennepin County and the current units have a waiting list of 150 prospective tenants.
"Around two-thirds of the units are occupied by veterans, and the rents are very affordable," he said. "I don't know if it's because they're vets and they're used to taking care of their barracks, but when you go through that place it looks brand new.
"I've worked on a lot of affordable housing in my career and I wish it all looked as good as these apartments do after six years of occupancy."
He said the units are specially designed to serve as an intermediate step between halfway houses and regular housing for vets transitioning out of homelessness.