Homeless Vets to Have a Warmer & Safer Winter

"Until you have that stable place, you're just a stray cat wandering until your little paws are wore out."~ CSS Military Veteran.

Homeless veterans will have a warm & safe winter this year thanks to a $35,000 grant from Wells Fargo Bank to Community Supported Shelters.

Wells Fargo's VeteranWINS grant program provides financial support to community-based nonprofits focused on addressing military veteran homelessness, transitional housing, and low- to moderate-income veteran home rehabilitation.

Community Supported Shelters (CSS) is a nonprofit group which operates 4 homeless communities in Eugene, Oregon, including one exclusively for military veterans at the Eugene Mission. Veterans live there for one to five months where they receive counseling and seek employment and permanent housing.

The veterans' camp has 15 micro-shelters called Conestoga Huts and currently 11 residents. Like other communities operated by CSS, the common area and kitchen uses a wood burning stove for heat.

"Up to now, collecting and chopping firewood has been a major challenge," said CSS co-director and co-founder Erik de Buhr. "We have used part of this generous gift to purchase a hydraulic dump trailer to transport the wood from local donors, as well as protective gear and chainsaws to chop it up. Our residents want to be self-reliant."

The wood will be used to heat both the veterans' camp as well as the three other camps that CSS operates in Lane County. CSS is also creating a small business to sell excess firewood.

"Our shed is now packed full of wood. There is no way we could have done that without the grant. We are going into this winter better prepared than ever before to heat all our camps," he said.

The nonprofit will use some of the grant funds to upgrade the huts, provide new roofs, and install solar panels and charging stations. It will also be converting at least one hut so it's wheelchair-accessible, de Buhr said.

CSS co-founders Erik de Buhr (fifth from left) and Fay de Buhr (fourth from right) and board member Evelyn Anderton (far left) accept a $35,000 grant from Wells Fargo.

The micro-shelters at the veterans' community each have propane-powered heaters but up to now the residents were not able to use them as there are no smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. CSS used some of the grant funds to purchase the necessary detectors, as well as a number of fire extinguishers.

"Now we can use the heaters and feel secure they are going to be safe. It works pretty well. The guys are a lot more comfortable. They really appreciate it," said de Buhr.

The grant to the Eugene agency is part of the $200,000 total the Wells Fargo program is donating this year to six nonprofit groups that support veterans. The others are in California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa and Texas.

"Wells Fargo partners with nonprofits such as Community Supported Shelters that work tirelessly to help veterans achieve long-term stability and success," said Andrew Tweedie, a Wells Fargo Community Relations consultant in Oregon.

"We are committed to building better communities including by working with nonprofits to address homelessness for veterans," Tweedie said. "Community Supported Shelters is active and experienced in military housing efforts and was identified by Wells Fargo as a leader nationally in addressing veteran homelessness."

Wells Fargo has been dedicated to helping military members, veterans and their families succeed financially for more than 160 years. Since 2012, Wells Fargo has donated more than 300 homes, valued at over $50 million, to veterans in all 50 US states; donated more than $25 million to military and veteran related nonprofits; and hired more than 6,700 veterans.

Learn more about Wells Fargo services and support for military and veterans at www.wellsfargo.com/military.

Sources: Wells Fargo Flash Alert
CSS

About Community Supported Shelters
Founded by Erik and Fay de Buhr in 2013, Community Supported Shelters manages four Safe Spots Camp Communities. Consisting of Conestoga Huts, the communities have several features that make them a very basic, but livable environment for people without other shelter options. The majority of its funding comes from community donations. More information: (541) 683-0836 or communitysupportedshelters.org.