Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support a proposal to repurpose an existing VA building on Canandaigua into a veteran’s home.
“New York is home to more than one million men and women who have answered our nation’s call and served with distinction in our Armed Forces,” Senator Gillibrand said. “When these brave men and women return home to the country they served, we must deliver on our promise to them, including having a home and the resources necessary to provide for their families. This project would provide help to the homeless and show this country’s commitment to caring for its veterans. They and their families have sacrificed for all of us and owe them for their incredible service.”
The proposal would renovate a current VA building and begin construction on two new adjacent apartment buildings. The renovated building would contain 15 one-bedroom apartments for homeless men, with priority to veterans, and would provide services associated with mental and physical wellness and life skills training. The two newly-constructed buildings would be 24 one- and two-bedroom apartments for low-income families, with priority given to heads of households from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraq Freedom (OIF) with children.
Over the last 25 years, PathStone has developed over 3,000 units of housing, including 720 units for special populations for whom they provide services. For this project, they have assembled an expert team of architects, construction workers and several others to ensure the quality of the project.