8/7/2019 VA Announces Vetrerans Housing Project with Soldier On on VA Leeds Campus

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March 23, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VA ANNOUNCES PROPOSED PROJECT TO BUILD PERMANENT HOUSING FOR

VETERANS

LEEDS, Mass. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the concept

of moving forward with a proposed EUL project at the Northampton Veterans Affairs

Medical Center.

This permanent supportive housing would be built on approximately nine acres of

the Medical Centers campus under a VA Enhanced-Use Lease to provide affordable

housing units for homeless Veterans and Veterans at risk of homelessness on a

priority basis.

VA has chosen Soldier On, a local nonprofit organization committed to providing

temporary and permanent housing for homeless Veterans, as the proposed selected

developer to develop, operate, and maintain the facility under the contemplated

Enhanced-Use Lease.

Additionally, under a separate initiative to bring innovation to VAs most important

challenges, the VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) has also selected Soldier On for

negotiation for an Industry Innovation Competition award. Such selection makes

Soldier On eligible to receive, subject to and upon execution of the Northampton MA

EUL, up to $8 million (e.g., in progress payments) from VA, for use towards

development of the contemplated permanent supportive housing facility.

The VA Innovation Initiative, or VAi2, is a department-wide program that brings

the most promising innovations to VAs most important challenges by allowing

employees and private sector entities to submit responsive proposals to VA

suggesting ways to bring about innovative, visionary solutions to issues involving

service to Veterans.

It is contemplated that under the proposed EUL VA will outlease the property to

Soldier On for a period of up to 75 years.

As the proposed EUL lessee, Soldier On will be required to finance, develop, and

maintain the supportive housing facility in accordance with applicable federal, state,

and local laws, codes, and requirements.

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The project will support VAs goal of ending Veteran homelessness by providing

safe, affordable, cost effective, and sustainable housing for Veterans on a priority

basis.

The project would improve the quality of life for Veterans who need our help by

providing them with affordable housing and supportive services with convenientaccess to our medical center, said Roger Johnson, NVAMC director.

On April 14, 2011, at 7 p.m., VA is scheduled to host an EUL Public Hearing, to

present the proposed EUL project to and receive views from the community. The

hearing will be held at the NVAMCs Recreation Hall, Building 11.

The decision to move forward with the project will be made based on a number of

factors, including public comments received at this EUL Public Hearing.

About the Northampton VA Medical Center. The Northampton VAMC provides

primary and secondary levels of care to a Veteran population in western

Massachusetts of more than 50,000 men and women.

About Soldier On. Soldier On is a Massachusetts non-profit 501c3 corporation

governed by a full-time CEO/president and a volunteer board of directors. The

organization in part works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other

agencies to provide Veterans with both shelter and support.