Groundbreaking Held for New Affordable Housing Complex for Veterans

ST. CLOUD -- Groundbreaking ceremonies for a new affordable housing complex for veterans were held at the St. Cloud VA today (Thursday).

The public-private partnership between the St. Cloud VA and local developer Sand Companies, Inc. of Waite Park will provide 37 units of permanent housing for veterans who are homeless or are at-risk of homelessness.

VA spokesman Barry Venable says this complex is not about "in-crisis" veterans.  He says it's not a shelter, but rather a permanent supportive facility intended to assist veterans with a place to live as they gain vocational skills and become productive in the community.

Jeremy Maurstad is the Chief of Mental Health Rehabilitation Treatment at the VA. He says when veterans are discharged from their in-patient treatment program, they often don't have the resources they need to assimilate back into the community.  He says this complex is designed to provide permanent housing and resources nearby to help veterans succeed.

The Linden Grove Veteran Apartments will be built on six acres of land on the southeast side of the campus near the Al Loehr Veterans and Community Studio Apartments.