The Veterans Community Project (VCP) was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, by a group of combat veterans looking for a way to help homeless veterans get back on their feet. The founders’ stated mission: To “stand in the gaps” of a fractured system that leaves too many of their brothers and sisters behind.
After launching in Kansas City, the VCP has now expanded to additional locations including Colorado’s Front Range. Longmont’s VCP Village is one of the first five expansion locations in the country. The two-acre site features 26 tiny houses plus a 3,000-square foot Community Center. Single-residency homes are 240-square feet, family homes are 340-square feet and can sleep up to seven.
The homes have everything a veteran needs to live with dignity and safety: new furniture, appliances, bedding, and utilities, free of charge. The homes and program are trauma-informed, providing the emotional and physical space for veterans to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Specially trained VCP case managers work with veterans one-on-one to explore topics such as health and wellness, education, employment, financial literacy, and the development of a personal support network.
As veterans get back on their feet, the VCP helps them secure permanent housing and provides follow-up case management for a year. When they move on, each veteran can take the entire contents of their tiny home to get started in their new life.
The challenges of veteran homelessness are immense, and so are the resources required to operate a community like Longmont’s VCP Village. To make VCP part of your holiday giving, please visit veteranscommunityproject.org/vcp-colorado to learn more. Thank you, and thanks to all who have answered our country’s call.
