2009 was a big year for the Philadelphia and Coraopolis transitional homes that are owned and operated by Housing for Homeless Veterans.
The Philadelphia home was up for a HGTV Change the World America’s Heroes contest. Our Philadelphia home went up against seven other veteran homeless shelters across the United States and we won. Monica Pedersen and Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV created the home makeover. HGTV aired the makeover on Veterans Day.
HGTV renovates the Philadelphia transitional home
The Coraopolis home also received a makeover in 2009. Congressman Tim Murphy worked with Wyatt Incorporated to volunteer man hours and all the equipment necessary to renovate 4 kitchens.
And lastly, On September 26, 2009 Jordan Hrinya accomplished her Gold Award for the Girl Scouts of America by working in one of the living rooms at the Coraopolis home.
Wyatt Incorporated works at the Coraopolis transitional home
Front row (l to r): John C. Tomosky, Commander, 1st District, American Legion Dept. of Pennsylvania; Joe Gunkle, American Legion Commander, Bridesburg Post 821; Stanley Fabiszewski, American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corp.; Michael Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia; Terry Lewis, American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corp. Back row (l to r): Carter Oosterhouse; Pennsylvania State Representative Tony Payton; John Stevens, Head Coach of Philadelphia Flyers
- Department Commander Joe Socha, Brigadier General Scott D. Wagner, Mrs. Sam Saccamango, Congressman Jason Altmire
Today we continue to have young men and woman fighting the War on Terrorism. Some of these veterans will fall in to a life of homelessness. There are still veterans from previous wars that are becoming homeless, while some continue to remain homeless.
Homelessness remains a serious national problem that affects hundreds of thousands of U.S. veterans. On any given night an estimated 250,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters, with at least twice as many experiencing homelessness over the course of a year. More than one third of the adult homeless population is veterans.
The American Legion moved into a new frontier 23 years ago by implementing the Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation. The mission of this corporation is to provide a safe, clean, stable environment for a veteran while he or she receives job training and counseling to learn the life skills needed to be a productive citizen and self sufficient. A veteran has up to two years to establish the contacts and skills necessary to return to the workforce. Nearly 700 veterans have gone through this program, with an approximate success rate of 85%.
On January 9th, a dinner was held by the Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport. The dinner, held not only to raise funds for the remodeling and upkeep of these properties, (located in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ephrata, Pennsylvania) but also to acknowledge those who have given of their time and efforts in making this Pennsylvania American Legion program a great success. Special thanks to guest speaker Brigadier General Scott D. Wagner, Deputy Adjutant General, Veterans Affairs, along with Steve Robertson, The American Legion National Legislative Director, Congressman Jason Altmire, and Congressman Tim Murphy, who offered remarks.
This year there were seven awards given to companies and/or individuals for their outstanding support and impact to the community this important program. The recipients were: Wyatt, Inc., Joseph Savino, Robert Kulus, Rick Isles, Craig Curtie, Fred Episcopo and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia. A special award was given to Sam Saccamango.
Article written by Colleen Washinger
(l-r): Frank (veteran), PPL representatives Don Stoudt, Don Spade and Donna Schanno, and veterans Doug and Jim. Not pictured are veterans Rick and Dan
Pennsylvania Power & Light employees delivered all the makings of a full thanksgiving dinner to the veterans living at Veterans Place in Ephrata. The Ephrata home is one of the three homes owned and operated by the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation.
“We (the employees of PPL) just want to say thank you for their service and this is one way we can do it”, says Donna Schanno, the spearhead of this project. “All the employees of PPL donated money to ensure that these veterans would be able to have a real Thanksgiving dinner.” Under the watchful eye of Donna, Don Spade and Don Stoudt went grocery shopping and then delivered the goods to the veterans living in the home.
Don Spade, a Vietnam veteran, and Don Stoudt make sure that there was enough food to not only take care of Thanksgiving, but to provide them with meals up through Christmas.
“We have been doing this for several years and with the generosity of the employees of PPL we will continue to do this for many years to come,” relays Spade.
“It is always a pleasure to do this for these veterans,” says Stoudt. “I know the veterans who live here appreciate it. It gives us a good feeling as well.”
“Wow,” the veterans exclaimed as Spade, Stoudt and Donna continued to bring in bag after bag of food, including pumpkin pies, cranberry sauce, corn, potatoes and much more, along with a 20-pound turkey. “The food just kept coming and coming,” the veterans said. “We couldn’t believe our eyes.”
The veterans living at the Ephrata home gave their thanks to the employees of PPL for thinking of them during the holiday season and for their concern and generosity in providing them with all the fixings that will make this Thanksgiving something to really be thankful for. The veterans at Veterans Place wish God’s blessing upon everyone and hopes that each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and dinner – they sure did!
The veterans living in the Coraopolis home received Thanksgiving dinner donated by Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation and the veterans living in the Philadelphia home enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner from Angel Food Ministries.
The DEC for January 2010 will be January 8 - 10, 2010 at the Holiday Inn in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Deadline to register is December 12, 2009.
Click Here for the DEC hotel reservation form
Time is also running out to buy an ad in the Housing for Homeless Veterans program book or t buy your tickets for the dinner.
In order for the American Legion to finance this Housing for Homeless Veterans, we are asking for your support. We will be sponsoring a dinner on January 9, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, moon Township. There will be a cash bar beginning at 5:30 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm. Dinner tickets are $25.00 per person and include a program book. Ads can be placed in the program book at the following prices:
Full Page $70 (of which $50 can be used for a tax write off)
1/2 Page $50 (of which $30 can be used for a tax write off)
1/4 Page $40 (of which $21 can be used for a tax write off)
Please make checks for dinner tickets and ads payable to: PA American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans. mail to: Ron Conley, 709 Hope Street, Pittsburgh PA 15220.
We need your support
Click Here for printer friendly version of Housing for Homeless Veterans Dinner
Click Here for the ticket request to the Dinner January 9, 2010
Today young men and women continue fighting the War on Terrorism. Some of these veterans fall in to a life of homelessness. There is still veterans from previous wars that are becoming homeless, while others to remain homeless. Would you like to help a veteran to have a second chance on life?
The Pennsylvania American Legion started a non-profit organization to help address the homeless veterans problem through transitional housing, helping to secure a better job and going back to school. Our program is designed to enhance the quality of life for the veteran and their children. It is designed to help them become productive tax paying citizens again by securing a good, decent job.
Over the past 19 years, we have had over 655 veterans go through our program with an 85% success rate. Our homes are located in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We have a full-time director to help in achieving our vision of giving every homeless veteran a second chance at the American dream.
In order for the American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans to finance this program, we are asking for your support. We will be sponsoring a dinner on January 9, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, Moon Township. There will be a cash bar beginning at 5:30 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm. Dinner tickets are $25 per person and include a program book.
Ads can be placed in the program book at the following prices: Full page $70 (of which $50 can be used for a tax write off) 1/2 page $50 (of which $30 can be used for a tax write off) 1/4 page $40 (of which $21 can be used for a tax write off)Please make checks for dinner tickets and ads payable to:PA American Legion Housing for Homeless. Mail to Ron Conley, 709 Hope Street, Pittsburgh PA 15220
The remodeling and upkeep of these homes is the responsibility of The American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation.
We need your support!
You voted and the housing for homeless Veterans Philadelphia home won. It’s time to watch the HGTV (Home & Garden Television Channel) Change the World: America’s Heroes at 8:00 pm on Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11th.
HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse and Monica Pedersen, along with more than 200 volunteers from the Pennsylvania American Legion and Rebuilding Together, worked together to renovate our Philadelphia home. Volunteers spent some 2,300 hours on the project.
This house is a transitional home for homeless veterans, a program operated by the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation. In the three-bedroom townhouse, homeless veterans receive food and shelter, plus help finding work and a permanent place to live. Since 1994, nearly 400 veterans have successfully left the program and have gone on to become productive members of the workforce.
This episode, showcasing a St. Louis home and our Philadelphia home, become two of the biggest and best remodeling projects in HGTV history according to HGTV.
On this Veterans Day, watch HGTV for supporting our veterans - Change the World: American Heroes at 8:00 pm on HGTV.
pennsylvania american legion college
Thank you for making Legion College a great success. Download sections of the General Course Power Point presentation.
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Today we continue to have young men and woman fighting the War on Terrorism. Some of these veterans will fall in to a life of homelessness. There are still veterans from previous wars that are becoming homeless, while some continue to remain homeless.
Would you like to help a veteran have a second chance on life?
The Pennsylvania American Legion started a non-profit organization to help address the homeless veterans problem through transitional housing, helping to secure a better job and going back to school. Our program is designed to enhance the quality of life for the veteran and their children. It is designed to help them become productive tax paying citizens again by securing a good, decent job. Over the past 20 years, we have had over 655 veterans go through our program with an 85% success rate. Our homes are located in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ephrata Pennsylvania. We have a full-time director to help in achieving our vision of giving every homeless veteran a second chance at the American dream.
In order for the American Legion to finance this program, we are asking for your support. We will be sponsoring a dinner on January 9, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, moon Township. There will be a cash bar beginning at 5:30 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm. Dinner tickets are $25.00 per person and include a program book. Ads can be placed in the program book at the following prices:
Full Page $70 (of which $50 can be used for a tax write off)
1/2 Page $50 (of which $30 can be used for a tax write off)
1/4 Page $40 (of which $21 can be used for a tax write off)
Please make checks for dinner tickets and ads payable to: PA American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans. mail to: Ron Conley, 709 Hope Street, Pittsburgh PA 15220.
We need your support
Click Here for printer friendly version of this page
Click Here for the ticket request to the Dinner January 9, 2010