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New Housing for Homeless Veterans

WILKES-BARRE — On any given day, the government says nearly 50,000 men and women who fought for our freedom find themselves without a home. There are abou...

WILKES-BARRE -- On any given day, the government says nearly 50,000 men and women who fought for our freedom find themselves without a home.

There are about 1,500 homeless veterans in Pennsylvania alone, but there's a new effort in Luzerne County to lower that number.

The VA in Wilkes-Barre has helped more than 200 homeless veterans find a place to live in Luzerne County, but there are still more homeless veterans than available housing. Now, the group Volunteers of America is stepping in to fill the gap.

The freedom that many of us in this country enjoy every day comes with a price tag that many of our active military and veterans pay. Veterans like Michael Glasson of Wilkes-Barre, who uses a wheelchair because of a spine injury that happened during the Vietnam War. Glasson says it's frustrating that veterans like him deal with homelessness in our area every day.

"You know these guys, we fought for our country and we deserve a right to have a place to stay instead of out on the streets and everything," Glasson said.

Glasson said he never had to deal with homelessness, but he has seen some veterans in Wilkes-Barre struggle.

"I've seen a couple when I have been out and about in the city and I really believe it is a shame. It shouldn't be."

To help curb the number of homeless veterans throughout Luzerne County, Pennsylvania's Volunteers of America is purchasing and renovating three homes in Wilkes-Barre for those veterans. It's part of their Homeward Bound initiative.

"The tag line for Homeward Bound is: Veteran and homeless should never appear in the same sentence. What it is, we are purchasing or receiving homes that are either in foreclosure or have been gutted or blighted," said Liz Vincent with Volunteers of America.

Through donations, homes will be turned into affordable housing for homeless veterans. After about 18 months of living in those houses, veterans could have the option to buy the house, going from homeless to homeowners.

"We are putting people that care about the properties in them and eventually they will end up back on the tax rolls," Vincent said.

"This is going to be a start and hopefully they'll be more coming because these guys they really deserve it."

Volunteers of America hopes to have about 150 houses throughout Pennsylvania by 2017. One house should be ready for veterans to move in by next week.

Anyone who would like to donate their time or resources to get other homes ready for veterans is asked to call Volunteers of America of Wilkes-Barre at 570-825-5261.

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