The Patriots Project

We live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth. 

But if America is to truly fulfill its potential as a country, we must drastically improve the way in which we honor our solemn obligation to those who have fought for our freedoms. Far too many brave veterans are still struggling to obtain basic healthcare and employment opportunities. Even more tragic is the statistic that one in five homeless Americans has served in our nation’s military. 

It is precisely because homeless veterans are sometimes seen only as a statistic that I believe local governments have an obligation to truly make a difference. The need for transitional housing for homeless veterans, as well as the need for services to assist those with PTSD and/or substance abuse, are glaring. But all too often these needs go unmet while some debate why these challenges aren’t being fully addressed by the federal government. 

Yet all the while, the fact remains: Our veterans simply can’t wait. 

As the county executive of Ulster County, I was determined to solve this problem with the dignity and respect our service personnel deserve. 

So I set forth the seemingly unattainable, aggressive goal to end homelessness within our veterans’ population by the end of 2014. We designed a unique solution in order to secure the necessary funding, coordinate community support and ensure long-term service delivery. A solution that can—and we hope will— be replicated by other communities to help veterans in need. 

This plan became known as the Patriots Project. The first step was to identify a suitable location for our transitional housing facility. We scoured the state inventory of unused properties, and found a former group home that was off the tax rolls as well as large enough to meet our needs. We then worked with state officials to have this historic but severely deteriorated building transferred to county ownership. Many communities in New York have similar properties or comparably sized buildings available through the tax foreclosure process. 

Next we collaborated with our local SUNY college, veterans’ organizations, community service groups, area businesses, individual donors and faith-based organizations to help offset the funding required for what was a major renovation project. Hard choices were made as priorities were established. The community support was overwhelming. When we publicly outlined our plan, in fact, there was such an outpouring of generosity that no government borrowing was ultimately required. 

To ensure appropriate expertise and 24 hour on-site staffing, we partnered with a nationally recognized not-for-profit dedicated to those who served. Funding for these services is provided directly through the United States Veterans Administration so that local operational costs are limited to basic building maintenance. 

The combination of local government leadership, cost containment, community involvement, state and federal cooperation and partnership with a responsible not-for-profit has allowed Ulster County to proudly meet our goal. On July 2, as a poignant reminder of the freedoms we hold so dear and in advance of our nation’s Independence Day, the Patriots Project opened its doors. This beautiful home now provides our homeless veterans with clean, safe and dignified transitional housing while they receive the assistance they need to return to the society they fought so hard to protect. 

By embracing creative solutions, patriotic communities everywhere can replicate this plan and ensure that all of our brave service personnel receive the respect, honor and dignity they so richly deserve. 

Mike Hein (@HeinExec) is a Democrat and the Ulster County Executive.