Volunteers of America (VOA) Unveils Renovated Veteran Homeless Housing Facilities and Celebrates 119 Years of Service

This morning the Mayor of Binghamton, Rich David joined with leaders from Volunteers of America, the Veterans Association and Home Depot to cut the ribbon on extensive renovations to the Homeless Housing program facility at the Volunteers of America, which was funded by a $60,000 grant through the Home Depot Foundation.

The grant from The Home Depot Foundation provided facility enhancements and room renovations to rooms available for homeless Veterans.  VOA provides supportive housing for homeless male Veterans in the city of Binghamton, and this program is the only transitional housing program specifically for Veterans in a 9-county area within New York State’s Southern Tier.  Veterans can stay for up to two years in VOA’s program, and when they are ready, VOA team members help the residents to secure and move into appropriate permanent housing.

“Volunteers of America works hard to ensure homeless veterans have access to safe, supportive housing. Together with Home Depot we are helping our community and making an impact on the lives of Veterans. There is a great need in our community, but thanks to wonderful supporters like the Home Depot Foundation, we can continue our great work and enhance our programs,” commented Lisa Whitney, Volunteers of America Vice President of Supportive Housing and Clinical Services.

Renovations through the Home Depot Foundation Grant included:

  • Renovations to the first floor bathroom  to comply with ADA (American with Disabilities Act) standards and adding a handicapped accessible shower
  • New ceilings, windows, walls, lighting, flooring and fire-safety doors for the 4 rooms specifically use by Veterans
  • Self-opening doors that lead from the handicapped accessible ramp/entrance into the living area used by the Veterans so that individuals in wheelchairs can independently enter and leave the facility
  • Painting interior walls of bedrooms, common room and bathrooms

Also this morning, the Mayor of Binghamton and Broome County Executive proclaimed the week of March 8th to 15th as Volunteers of America (VOA) Week in the City of Binghamton and Broome County.  This proclamation is in celebration of VOA’s 119th anniversary of it’s founding by social reformers Maud and Ballington Booth.  VOA has been serving the Binghamton area since 1896 and works to provide long-term solutions to the problems of homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and poverty.  Annually Volunteers of America serves more than 6,000 people a year by providing emergency shelter for homeless families and individuals, supportive housing for homeless veterans, and permanent, affordable housing for low-income and formerly homeless families and individuals.