A new housing facility opened Thursday afternoon for homeless veterans in Jacksonville.
Not only will veterans get housing but the center will provide many other services.
The Clara White Mission’s Veterans Villas will house VA support services on the first floor. The second and third floors will be apartments.
On Thursday, Action News Jax got a look inside as veterans prepare to move in.
“First time I’ve seen it like this,” veteran Kevin Leffler said.
Soon, veterans like Leffler will be moving into fully furnished apartments.
“Coming here … it’ll be back to normal … let’s put it that way,” Leffler said.
It's a new place veterans can get off the streets and call home near downtown Jacksonville.
“It’s nothing short of a blessing,” veteran James Hightower said.
Hightower plans on living in one of the villa’s 16 units. Veterans have to apply to live in them.
“Going from shelter to shelter, you learn the differences and you learn to appreciate the goodness of having your own,” Hightower said.
It's a place to help transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The Beaver Street Veterans Villas are located right behind Clara White Mission, so veterans who've gone through the program there are eligible for the new place as long as they're working or going to school.
“And being able to come into my own kitchen and prepare my own meals rather than have them prepared for me. That’s a big difference,” Hightower said.
And yes, Hightower has his first meal already planned out.
“Knowing me, probably some corn beef and cabbage ... cook me some rice and corn bread ... . That will probably be the first meal,” Hightower said.
The villas are the result of a multimillion-dollar public/private partnership that had a lot of help from the city of Jacksonville. The project turned a century-old building into a modern hub to help veterans.
“They will have this one stop shop, community development center,” said Ju’Coby Pittman, CEO of the Clara White Mission.
“It’s been a struggle … . I had my doubts at one point … but I’ve always been one to believe in the power of prayer and all my prayers have pretty much been answered,” Hightower said.
Hightower looks forward to sharing this new home with his family.
“I look forward to it … especially with my grand babies … . I’d like to have a place for them to come … . That’ll be nice,” Hightower said.
The first veterans hope to be able to move in to their apartments in the next few weeks. It will be a little longer before the VA services are ready.
Visit the Clara White Mission's website to learn more about how you can help support these veterans.
Cox Media Group
