LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s been a few months since St. Vincent de Paul completed work on its latest housing project, and already it’s making a big impact.
Called the Waypoint House, the 24-bed facility serves as a permanent housing for homeless veterans. Both men and women are welcome in the facility, and each person pays rent like they would anywhere else. But prices are set well below prices found elsewhere.
Construction wrapped up in December.
So far around half of the beds have been taken up, and staff are hopeful to fill the rest soon.
“We’re providing an asset and an opportunity for folks to move in that really need the help that you wouldn’t be in a position to be able to pay the market rent,” Dave Calzi, president and CEO at St. Vincent de Paul said.
Calzi believes this is a first-of-its-kind housing program in the city that specifically targets veterans.
For Army veteran Timothy Hogan, this has given him a new lease on life.
Hogan joined the Army in the 1970s, served in Vietnam and Germany, and transitioned to civilian life after nearly eight years. “I was a sergeant E-5. I was a tank commander,” he said.
But in the decades since his service, his luck turned against him, and life took a turn. Hogan found himself with no place to stay, no money to afford high rent, and even lost most of his military photos and paperwork.
“I make $1,100 a month Social Security, try getting an apartment on it,” Hogan said. “You can’t do it.”
But in March, things changed.
After applying online and being accepted, Hogan moved into the Waypoint House.
Now Hogan rents a room with everything he needs. “I got my microwave there, my TV, refrigerator,” he said.
Each room is fully furnished, and the facility has on-site laundry and a communal kitchen. Rent is priced below $600.
These days Hogan says he enjoys watching his favorite shows, playing pool on his phone, and socializing with the fellow veterans he lives with.
The building serves as permanent housing for veterans living below the poverty level. The exact situation Hogan was in.
“And so we’re providing an asset and an opportunity for folks to move in that really need the help that you wouldn’t be in a position to be able to pay the market rent,” he said.
All of this is hard to put into the right words for someone whose life has thrown them one curveball after another.
“A room for me is perfect. You know, so it’s (the) best that could of happened to me,” Hogan said emotionally.
A permanent place to call home.
Staff at St. Vincent de Paul say they are still looking to fill about half of the rooms in the Waypoint House.
Those who may know someone who would qualify to live there are encouraged to reach out to the shelter for more information on how to apply.