ST. LOUIS — Veterans Community Project has 65% of its funds raised to build more transitional housing for all veterans and their families in need.
That's according to Rebecca Tallman, executive director of the nonprofit, and a veteran of the Air Force.
“Our goal here is to help as many St. Louis area veterans as we can with numerous services. Not just the housing, but employment, mental health help, resource referrals,” Tallman said.
The cost of the project is roughly $12.8 million, which will include a total of 50 homes and a village center, similar to a community center.
Veterans Community Project began in Kansas City in 2018 by five combat veterans, who saw gaps in the system and developed ways to solve those issues. Besides St. Louis, the nonprofit also is centered in Longmont, Colorado, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Originally breaking ground off north Grand in 2021, Veterans Community Project currently provides external services for veterans through its outreach center and has 20 transitional homes, 10 individual and 10 family homes.
The nonprofit additionally provides food, hygiene items, snack packs, seasonal clothing and more for veterans and their families in need.
“It’s wrapping veterans with all of the support services that they need,” Tallman said.
Each home is equipped with furniture, appliances and essentials, which veterans and their families can take with them when they move to permanent housing, according to Tallman.
“We would hate for a veteran to work all that time on getting into permanent housing and then be sleeping on the floor. That’s not what we want,” she said.
The homes were designed by a combat veteran in Kansas City, which have a trauma informed layout. The windows are one side of the home, not facing into another home for privacy. The bed faces the entry/exit of the home.
Tallman mentioned that the homes also are pet-friendly for service and non-service animals.
She said across all locations, Veterans Community Project has an 85% success rate. In St. Louis, the nonprofit has had two of its residents, who moved in October 2023, transition to permanent housing.
Once veterans transition to permanent housing, they continue receiving services in the alumni program.
“We’re big on the fact that we’re building a community here, so it’s not just a home; it’s truly a community,” Tallman said.
She mentioned a misconception is that every veteran automatically qualifies for benefits.
Veterans may not qualify for benefits based on:
- Time and service: If someone served less than two years
- Type of service: If someone was in the National Guard and was not federally activated
- Type of discharge: If a veteran did not have an honorable discharge
Tallman said Veterans Community Project serves all veterans regardless of their service history.
For information or to donate, visit Veterans Community Project’s website.
