A two-year transitional housing facility helping veterans to get back on their feet will have its official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday in San Jose. In attendance will be Santa Clara County District 3 Supervisor Dave Cortese, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and CEO Irvin Goodwin of the Veterans Housing Facility.
Located at 10 Kirk Avenue in the Alum Rock area of San Jose, the gated facility boasts eight buildings, manicured lawns, rose gardens and relaxation areas.
“It’s open to any veteran,” said LaShanda Holland, executive administrator for the Veterans Housing Facility.
The 150-bed facility opened in May, 2013 and there are 58 veterans currently staying there. A similar facility in Menlo Park closed in 2011 and it’s been a difficult couple of years servicing the housing needs of veterans in Santa Clara County, according to Holland.
“A lot of them went to other facilities or shelters,” explained Holland. “Others reconnected with families or loved ones. Some decided to be homeless.”
Residents of the Veterans Housing Facility in San Jose can receive transitional housing for up to two years and Holland underscores the quality of the accommodation.
“There are two vets to a room and each room has its own bathroom and shower,” Holland observed. There are also community social areas and TV rooms.
“It’ll speak for itself,” she added.
The event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an opportunity for visitors to tour the facility and meet the veterans already living there.
For more information about the event, contact Michelle Pelayo Osorio at the Office of Supervisor Dave Cortese on 408-299-5030 or via email at
mi*************@bo*.org
. Veterans in need of housing are urged to contact the Veterans Housing Facility on 408-533-0228 or via email at www.veteranshousingfacility.org
