Home Again and The Veterans Council transform the Old Town Inn into Veteran's Village
Home Again St. Johns and The Veterans Council of St. Johns County joined forces to buy St. Augustine’s Old Town Inn to serve as an affordable housing venue for veterans.
The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs gave Home Again a $3 million grant to purchase the 21-unit Anastasia Island property for $2.4 million. The remaining $600,000 will be used for restoration and operational costs.
According to Veterans Council Chairman Bill Dudley, any veteran with a DD 214 honorable discharge form can apply for the program.
“Veterans will be interviewed to ensure they are in need of housing,” he said. “However, most of the veterans applying for residency have been homeless.”
Other qualifications include an honorable discharge and a background check. Certain legal charges, such as sex offenses, can serve as a disqualification.
Monthly rates are based on a veteran’s income and benefits. Veteran’s Village also provides a link of services for health care and employment.
“Most of the residents have day-to-day jobs,” Dudley said. “But anyone with sobriety issues or issues with being clean are directed to the VA or encouraged to attend a treatment center. We don’t provide a case worker; we work with the VA and the county to get those in need a caseworker.”
Dudley gave a nod to Troy Blevins, president of Home Again, for negotiating a very fair purchase price immediately upon knowing that the inn was up for sale. He also described Veteran’s Village as the culmination of pooling resources after years of searching for such a complex and underscored that housing in a safe and clean environment affords veterans a second chance.
“It’s extremely satisfying and gratifying to see veterans treated respectfully," he said. "The community message says we thank you for your service. Veteran's Village meets a goal, but we still have veterans in need of low-income housing. Another complex should be completed on State Road 16 by year’s end.”
According to Ellen Walden, Home Again’s executive director, the St. Augustine community has been generous.
“We’ve received bikes, microwaves, furniture, shelving and toiletries,” she said. “One hotel gave us 150 brand new pillows, bedding, shampoos, soaps and conditioners because they're changing their branding. And Home Depot gave us a grant. It’s been really great.”
“There’s been an outpouring of generosity,” Dudley said. “Local businesses have donated time and resources for restorations, which are an ongoing process.”
Home Again provides those who lack housing a “comfort” station for meals, showers, laundry, case management, resource-and-referral services, drug and alcohol programs and mentoring.
“With the generous support of the people of Saint Johns County and surrounding communities, Home Again Saint Johns gets closer to our goal of Paving the Path Home Again for those in need,” the organization says on its website.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Veteran's Village will offer affordable housing to veterans
