From Sacrifice to Support – Transitional Housing Complex for Veterans

The Problem

Ever since there has been the United States Armed Forces, there have been soldiers and sailors that come back home and fall on hard times; not just mentally or physically but financially as well. All too often do these hard times lead to veterans becoming homeless, with no ability or resources to transition from their service to our country (i.e. Sacrifice) to civilian life. To combat this ongoing issue in the Acadiana Region, and to alleviate the burden of ARCH’s proposed project, Multi-Agency Emergency Shelter Solution and St. Michaels Cove’s waitlist, American Legion Post 69 will establish a transitional housing complex for veterans in our area (i.e. support).

This will allow ARCH to focus on civilian homeless needs and we will both diminish the growing numbers of people having no shelter; whether it be during a pandemic, a hurricane, or any other emergency that the Acadiana region faces.

The Project

Our American Legion Post 69 has served Lafayette and the Acadiana Region for the last 101 years. Just because enlistment is over for the veteran members of Post 69 does not mean service to our community is over. Service is what we do and it’s who we are. We have recently acquired a larger facility, and we intend to construct a transitional housing complex in close proximity to this new facility, which would allow homeless veterans to move off the streets of Acadiana, gain valuable assistance and training, and then progress to permanent jobs and stable housing in our community. We are already working with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and other local veteran organizations to bring in the best programs to our veterans, to support their transition back into a functioning society. Nothing is more critical to this goal than stable housing. Let’s give back to those that have given so much to ensure our freedoms.

The Price Tag

Approximately $2.3 million