Home Depot Foundation awards $500,000 grant for veterans housing at the Bedford Green development

According to Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC), The Home Depot Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant in support of the Bedford Green development, which will provide permanent, supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans. AHSC and development partners Peabody Properties, Inc. and Windover Construction plan to construct 70 units of permanent, supportive housing with priority occupancy for homeless and at-risk veterans, ages 55 and older. The Bedford Green development will be built on the current site of the Veterans Association's Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital. The new community, which will be managed by full-service real estate firm Peabody Properties, will provide furnished, one-bedroom apartments and community space, as well as on-site professional management and supportive service staff to increase residents' self-sufficiency and wellbeing. The community will incorporate universal design components and will be LEED for Silver rated and Energy-Star certified with Green Building components under the LEED for Homes Program. Construction is expected to begin this month and completion is slated for January 2016. The Home Depot Foundation grants are awarded to 501c3 nonprofit organizations that have a proven track record in developing housing for veterans and which address their unique needs with supportive services, including access to counseling and mental and physical health services, vocational training, job placement programs and socialization opportunities. The Foundation has awarded nearly $82 million to date and has helped impact over 15,000 units of veterans housing. According to AHSC executive director, Mike Mattos, The Home Depot Foundation grant will greatly assist AHSC, Peabody Properties and Windover Construction in developing much needed, permanent and affordable housing for Massachusetts veterans. "Ending homelessness among our veterans continues to be a top priority for AHSC, Peabody Properties and Windover Construction, and this grant will go a long way in making this a reality," said Mattos. "We are committed to providing and preserving affordable housing with supportive services for special populations, such as veterans. We are grateful to The Home Depot Foundation for making these grants available to developers and connecting veterans with the resources they need to help improve their lives and the lives of their families."