VA, local construction firms improve D.C. area Veterans’ homes

In May 2018, VA’s Homeless Programs Office and the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C. (DCVAMC), began a collaboration with Turner Construction Company to identify formerly homeless Veterans whose residences were in need of home improvements. The company, which has many Veterans on its team, has a history of furnishing, repairing, and landscaping homes for Veterans in the DC area, including those who were once homeless.

Since VA and Turner’s partnership began, the company has completed four home improvement projects for Veterans, and it continues to work with VA to hire Veterans for open entry-level positions.

“The great part about this is how all home improvements come at no cost to the Veteran,” said Kevin Morton, homeless Veteran coordinator at the DCVAMC.

Earlier this year, Turner outfitted a Veteran’s apartment with the furnishings he needed to be able to live there. Terry, a disabled Veteran, secured the apartment after receiving a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher. But he didn’t have a bed and was sleeping at the DCVAMC nursing home — until Turner intervened.

“It was wonderful,” said Terry. “I now have a place to stay with furniture and all the things I need. Thank you all.”

In another recent project, Turner employees and contractors conducted a walk-through for Alice, a Veteran homeowner in Maryland, to identify all the repairs needed on her home. The home improvement team returned the same day to begin work on the property, clearing wood and metal debris from the backyard and removing unnecessary wires from utility poles. They even purchased and set up a new dryer for Alice.

To build on these successes, Turner established an employee resource group for Veterans who want to participate in projects that benefit homeless or at-risk Veterans. The company plans to expand its partnership with VA beyond the DC area.

VA salutes good corporate citizens like Turner Construction, whose work shows how it values the enormous sacrifices Veterans have made for this country.

Refer Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless to their local VA medical center, where VA employees are ready to assist, or urge them to call 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). 

More Information

• To learn more about Turner Construction, visit the company’s website.
• Visit VA’s Homeless Veterans website to learn about employment initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.

Submitted by the VHA Homeless Programs Office