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HILL COUNTRY VETERANS COUNCIL 1700 Sidney Baker, Suite 100 Kerrville, Texas 78028 830-896-1157 Fax 830-896-1175 Walter Schellhase, President Gene Higgins Bennie Hyde, Vice President Alan Hill Bill Bacon, Past President and Jack Ledford Founder Gene Ritchie Board Members Connie Smith Dan Bacon Bob Waller Sam Barker Dick Yeomans Joe Benham 1 September 2010To Whom It May Concern: In late 2009 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, General Shinseki, initiated a “Lease Land Program” (LLP) described as providing transitional housing for homeless veterans. The Hill Country Veterans Council has heard many presentations on this program over the past eight months. Our understanding of this program is covered in detail in the attached summary. Basically, the Veterans Council will support this proposal ONLY if it is limited to veterans and their families. The fact is that this is not transitional housing for veterans; rather, it’s government-subsidized housing for anyone needing a low-cost place to live. Our veterans deserve better. After extensive review and discussion, and meetings with VA officials and the proposed developer, the Veterans Council Board of Directors has voted to support such a project only if it provides help for veterans, and only veterans. Our officers have asked for meetings with our U.S. Senate and House members. If those requested are granted, we will urge that they propose and support legislation specifying that the Lease Land Program be for the benefit of veterans and their families only, and not be just more public housing. Sincerely, HILL COUNTRY VETERANS COUNCIL 1700 SIDNEY BAKER STREET KERRVILLE, TEXAS 78028 September 1, 2010 TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS In order to fully understand the proposed Veterans Homeless Shelter proposed by the VA the Hill Country Veterans Council has been meeting with VA staff from both San Antonio and Kerrville for over six months. In addition the Council has met with the proposed developer on the project to obtain as much accurate information as possible. Hence, the Council has prepared a detailed recap of the information accumulated in the hope to clear up some of the misleading information floating around. For anyone wanting more information or clarification on what is include in the Council’s recap refer to the Council’s web site – www.hcvc.org.A. FACILITY:1. This project will be known as the River Vista Apartments as promoted under the VA’s “Enhanced-Use-Lease (EUL) Program. 2. Project will be a joint venture between Housing & Community Services of San Antonio, MacDonald and Associates of Kerrville, and NRP Group of San Antonio. 3. Housing & Community Services will be the on site operator. 4. The project will have 12 efficiency, 24 one bedroom and 44 two bedroom units. 5. Each will include a living room, private bathroom, full kitchen, with washer-dryer hookup & bedroom with walk-in closet. 6. There will be an outside patio with outside storage. 7. The design will be of residential type using masonry veneer exteriors. 8. There will be two parking spaces for each unit. 9. Facility will be on a 5-acre tract leased from the VA for $1.00 per year for 30-75 years. 10. Private investors using federal tax credits will finance project. In general tax credits run for 30 years. 11. Plans specify four (4) full time employees on-site – manager, assistant manager, social worker, and maintenance worker. 12. Facility will have a designated area for in-house training such as computer skills, personal finance, job interviews, etc. B. OCCUPANTS: 1. This will house veterans and non-veterans, with and without families. 2. Veterans will have priority although all occupants will be on a lease. 3. Leases will be 6-12 months. 4. If the facility is full a priority veteran will have to wait for a non-veteran’s lease to expire. No non-veterans with a lease will be evicted to make room for a qualified veteran. 5. Each unit will be limited to two individuals per bed: a mother, father, and two children could occupy the two-bedroom unit provided the children are of the same sex. 6. Male and female veterans and non-veterans will be allowed. 7. Community Services will approve all tenants. VA will not be in the approval process, but will refer veterans to Community Services. 8. MacDonald envisions the project being occupied by only veterans. They do not plan on recruiting tenants from outside of Kerr County. 9. There are on going discussions on the possibility of VA employees who meet the income level to be eligible tenants. In many cases these employees are veterans. C. SERVICES: 1. All apartments are unfurnished. 2. There will be no food service. 3. Medical care for veterans will be provided by the VA Hospital if they meet qualifications. 4. The community will provide medical care for non-veterans until such time as a national health plan is available and in place. 5. Lessee transportation has not been finalized. 6. Security has not been finalized, but may be provided jointly by VA Security force and City of Kerrville Police. 7. There will be no maid service. 8. There are no current plans for support of children. 9. There will be no drug or alcohol treatment at this facility. However, the Community Services will assist in obtaining such treatment if needed. D. OCCUPANT RESPONSIBILITY: 1. Lessee must provide all furnishing, linens, washer & dryer. Apartment will have stove/oven, refrigerator & dishwasher. 2. Lessee must provide all food and be responsible for preparing it. 3. Lessee must provide his own transportation such as getting to and from work, shopping, etc. (Note: A van service is being considered.) 4. Lessee will be responsible for all housekeeping. 5. Lessee cannot exceed the maximum income limits, currently about $28,000 per year. 6. Lessee must sign a lease for at least 6 months, but possibly 12 months. 7. Leases can be renewed as many times as needed as long as income limits are met. 8. All lessees must submit to a criminal background check and drug testing. E. FINANCING: 1. Housing & Community Services will assist veterans and non-veterans in covering the rent. 2. Rents will be no more than 30% of 60% of the local median income. 3. Housing & Community Services will use sources such as HUD, USDA, Grants, Foundations, etc. to obtain the necessary financial support for each lessee if they are unable to pay on their own. 4. It is assumed that most occupants will have employment providing some income, or other funds such as disability income. F. CONCLUSION: 1. Billing this as a “Veterans Transitional Housing Project” is misleading. First, this is not a transitional facility. It is a rental unit based on a 6 to 12 month lease. Second, the fact is that veterans have no real priority. 2. Veterans only have priority if a vacant unit is available at the time a veteran is in need. 3. It appears to be simply another government-sponsored, low-income housing. 4. This project will be built on essentially free land - $1 per year. 5. In that this program is an initiative of General Shinsekis, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, it would appear this could be on initial step in the merger of VA and ObamaCare. 6. Although this is a 30-75-year program, VA expects that there may no longer have a need for such a facility after 8-10 years, it would be occupied by non-veterans. 7. The additional burdens to the taxpayer of Kerr County for services (especially medical) for the non-veteran renters and their family should be of concern. 8. There will be no drug or alcohol addicted tenant allowed per the contractor. The combination of banning drugs and alcohol in the faculty and the fact that many veterans with PTSD are known to have substance-abuse problems will sharply limit the value of the project for homeless veterans. 9. If enough eligible veterans are not in the area or can not be moved to the area it is easy to assume this will be nothing more than a low-cost government subsidized housing project on the VA Hospital property. 10. There is some question as to need. There are over 50 projects in San Antonio operated by SAHA for veterans (disabled and non-disabled) with current vacancies. 11. HCVC fully support anything that is good for veterans especially on VA property including this project IF IT IS FOR VETERANS ONLY and their families. 12. Congress should authorize and fund a total package to meet the medical, educational (including job training) and housing needs of every veteran. Specifically, treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and alcohol and /or drug dependency should be included. G. ACTION: 1. The Veterans Council is urging our congressional delegation to sponsor legislation putting into effect the plan proposed in item 12. We believe that such a plan would attract wide bipartisan support in Congress 2. The Veterans Council invites all interested persons, organizations, and local government to participate in this effort.
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