In celebration of November as National Veterans and Military Families Month, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA (RbA) today announced more than a half million dollar donation, the largest contribution to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania (VOPA) to provide windows, doors, sidelights, transoms, and labor for its Tiny Homes and Community Center initiative for homeless and displaced veterans across the Capital Region. With the generous material donations, labor and construction assistance of RbA and these companies — Atlas Roofing, Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., DePalma Construction Co., Phillips Workplace Interiors — they will build 15 tiny homes for veterans who are experiencing homelessness and a community center to be located along the Susquehanna River in South Harrisburg. The entire village will serve veterans free of charge.
RbA and these companies also will contribute materials and labor for construction of the 6,500-square-foot Community Center to be built near the houses on a 5-acre site, above the 100-year floodplain. It was formerly a Phoenix Steel Corp Mill. Former Harrisburg City Councilwoman Peggy Grove and her son, Michael Grove, donated the land to VOPA. Veterans living in the tiny homes will have access to health, education, career and counseling services both on-site at the community center and through existing organizations’ programs.
“As we kick off a month of veterans’ appreciation celebrations, Renewal by Andersen is proud to give back to our veterans across Central Pa. who have served with honor and valor by donating our world-class windows and doors to create new homes and a community center that will shelter, serve and uplift them,” said Linda Johnston, general manager of RbA. “We take enormous pride in our products and workmanship and are honored to contribute to our veterans’ essential housing in this unique communal setting. The veteran Armed Forces servicemen and women will have their individual needs met and also draw strength for their recovery from each other. Renewal Cares about those who have given so much to protect us.”
VOPA first unveiled the Tiny Homes project in fall 2021 with an initial fundraising goal of $4.1 million. They currently have raised close to 50% of their goal. VOPA hopes to start construction by spring 2023, once major fundraising commitments are completed. This design concept is proven to meet the specific needs of veterans facing homelessness by providing a calm setting, close to transportation and service providers — a significant component of a veteran’s healing process. The entire complex will be built in the shape of a heart with the community center at the heart of the Veterans Village. The center will offer a full continuum of care that enhances the veterans’ housing support. The Community Center will have a community room and dining hall, a commercial kitchen, individual treatment rooms, a meditation room, a workshop, showers and offices for on-site support staff.
“We owe it to our veterans, to help those who have fallen on hard times,” added Thomas W. Zimmerman Jr., co-founder and chair of Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania. ”If you were willing to sacrifice your life for our freedom, you deserve a helping hand and a welcoming home. Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania will uplift our veterans who are experiencing homelessness. On any given night, there are more than 30 veterans who are homeless in Central Pa. in addition to over two dozen more veterans who find shelter day to day. We are proud to help them transition into living an empowered life they so deserve. This project will be built by the community and must be sustained over the years with the community. We cannot thank Linda Johnston and Renewal by Andersen enough for supporting our project and being one of the first companies to step up and partner with VOPA as well as these other companies and business leaders standing with us.”
Zimmerman says a tiny home provides everything a veteran needs to live with dignity and safety, including a bed, bathroom and shower, desk, sink and counter space with a refrigerator underneath. Transportation will be accessible to enable the veterans to connect to systems of care, employment and the community.
Veterans from across Central Pa. were on hand for the announcement including a group of Perry County veterans who raised $13,000 for the initiative.
Major General John L. Gronski, U.S. Army, Retired said, “I am grateful to our area business leaders for supporting our Veterans. Our Veterans have always been there for our nation and now our community is there for our Veterans.”
“Serving my country was a great honor. As a veteran I’m grateful to VOPA, Renewal by Andersen and all of these fine companies who are advancing this crucial project to ensure that my fellow veterans have a home, meals, and services, along with a supportive network to count on,” added Ken Stambaugh who served in the U.S. Army and now is Commander of American Legion Post #272 in Linglestown.
Here are the contributions from the groups attending today’s announcement:
Renewal by Andersen — donating windows, doors, sidelights, transoms, and labor for Tiny Homes and Community Center
Atlas Roofing — donating all insulation for Tiny Homes and Community Center
Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. — provided machinery to crush concrete so that the material will be repurposed for this building project
DePalma Construction Co. — contributing all roofing (shingles), soffits, siding and labor for Tiny Homes and Community Center
Phillips Workplace Interiors — providing beds, desks, chairs and nightstands for several Tiny Homes free of charge
Perry County veterans along with several of their VFW Posts — raised $13,000 in cash donations
Johnston encourages corporate leaders to join Renewal by Andersen and VOPA in this meaningful philanthropic mission. Remaining project needs include monetary donations, volunteers and major in-kind contributions like:
- Electrical/Lighting
- Lumber
- HVAC
- Food Service Equipment for the kitchen in the Community Center
“A home brings comfort, peace and a sense of belonging to people. Our veterans deserve a place to call home. I encourage everyone to embrace this cause and together, we can offer our veteran servicemen and women a home of their own,” added Johnston.
Pre-pandemic, 2019 data collected and published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Central PA Coalition on Homelessness showed at that time, 46 homeless veterans plus an additional 23 unsheltered veterans in the Capital Region; 37,085 homeless veterans plus an additional 23,300 unsheltered veterans in the U.S; 857 Homeless veterans plus an additional 365 unsheltered veterans in Pennsylvania.
Additional national homeless veteran demographics:
- 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans
- 20% of the male homeless population are veterans
- 68% reside in principal cities
- 32% reside in suburban/rural areas
- 51% of individual homeless veterans have disabilities
- 50% have serious mental illness
- 70% have substance abuse problems
- 50% are aged 51 or older, compared to 19% non-veterans
To donate to the Tiny Homes and Community Center, please visit: https://www.veteransoutreachofpa.org/donations
PHOTO CAPTION: Renewal by Andersen of Central PA alongside a coalition of businesses and veterans announced a major donation to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania’s Tiny Homes and Community Center project in Harrisburg.
A video about the Tiny Homes project is available here.
About Renewal by Andersen of Central PA:
Renewal by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania is an independently owned retail affiliate of Renewal by Andersen, which is the window replacement subsidiary of Andersen Corporation, a company that has revolutionized the window and door business for more than 115 years. Drawing on the Andersen tradition of quality, innovation and craftsmanship, Renewal by Andersen was founded with the objective of creating a different and better window and door replacement experience for homeowners across the country. Since opening our first store in Minnesota in 1995, Renewal by Andersen Corporation has rapidly grown to more than 100 markets in the U.S., becoming one of the largest replacement window companies in the country. With over 10 million windows installed across the country, community involvement is the power to bring positive, measurable change to the communities in which we operate. More information at: www.renewalbyandersen.com.
About Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania:
VOPA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2018, to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness in Central Pa. We stand to combat homelessness among veterans by providing support and services needed to promote an empowered life filled with strength and purpose. If you were willing to sacrifice your life for our freedom, you deserve better and VOPA will be the hand up to give you that opportunity. Each veteran served by VOPA receives an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) to meet their needs. Our model uses therapeutic, transitional housing for veterans experiencing homelessness. We collaborate with existing service providers throughout Central Pa. such as healthcare systems, educational institutions and corporations to give our veterans the tools necessary to live a life of dignity they deserve. VOPA teams up with local businesses who donate materials, services and labor to offset our cost for veterans’ projects. More information at: www.veteransoutreachofpa.org.