Welcome to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans

The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans is a not-for-profit transitional living facility that provides assistance to U.S. veterans of any era for the opportunity to return to useful and productive lives by providing them with the skills for independent living. The MSHV was founded and incorporated in 2000 by Robert M. Adams of Winfield, Illinois. Mr. Adams is a US Navy combat veteran of the Vietnam era, and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in private practice. Over the past years, Mr. Adams, through his private practice, has been providing individual, group, and family therapy especially for veterans. Read more...   Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help homeless veterans regain their rightful place as productive members of our community.

"Place of Angels" Returns to College of DuPage on May 21; Bob Adams’ Vietnam Memoir to Benefit MSHV

“Place of Angels” is an autobiographical account of Mr. Adams’ experience as a Navy medic during the Vietnam War as he sought to care for wounded Marines amid a conflict that was both horrifying and exasperating.

“Place of Angels,” a Jeff-nominated play written by Vietnam veteran and MSHV co-founder, Bob Adams, will be performed at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage on Monday, May 21, 2012 in a special presentation to benefit the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Featuring veteran actor Jeff Still, “Place of Angels” is an autobiographical account of Mr. Adams’ experience as a Navy medic during the Vietnam War as he sought to care for wounded Marines amid a conflict that was both horrifying and exasperating. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased by calling the McAninch Arts Center box office at 630-942-4000 or online at www.atthemac.org. “Place of Angels,” which debuted at Chicago’s A Red Orchid Theater in 2000, is filled with the vivid details and complex relationships that only first-hand experiences can offer. In Mr. Adams’ case, he left for Vietnam in 1966 as a skinny 18-year-old from south suburban Oak Lawn, blind in one eye -- and returned home a little more than a year later as a drunkard, a pill popper and a cocaine addict. If it wasn’t for his mother taking him in when he couldn’t pay his rent, he might have ended up homeless. “That’s what war does to you,” said Mr. Adams. “That’s what combat can do.” “One out of every three homeless people in the United States is a veteran,” said Mr. Adams. But there’s help out there. There’s hope.” Mr. Adams sought help for his addictions, eventually going back to college and earning a master’s in social work. Later he opened a private practice where he counseled veterans, police officers, firefighters and others who had experienced traumatic situations. In 2007, Mr. Adams co-founded the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, which provides transitional housing services for veterans, including counseling, educational and job-training services.

Robert J. Miller Home Set to Open on April 16; Offers Affordable Housing to Qualified Veterans

View the Robert J. Miller Tribute Video	The Midwest Shelter is pleased to announce the April 16th opening of the Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller Housing for Veterans. The Miller House will provide affordable housing to veterans who have recovered from psychological and/or substance abuse issues, and who have found gainful employment, but who lack the financial resources to pay full market-value rents. “We are so excited to be able to offer this new program,” said Bob Adams, MSHV president. “There is a tremendous need for affordable housing among veterans and, for MSHV, this is a natural progression of the services we provide to veterans in need. ”It is the goal of the Midwest Shelter to provide our veterans  the opportunities they need to help them become self-sufficient. The Miller Program bridges the gap between service providers and permanent housing.” Named in honor of 2010 Medal of Honor recipient and Wheaton North High School graduate Robert J. Miller, who died heroically in Afghanistan in 2008, the Miller program will house six veterans in a single-room occupancy housing style. There is one single private unit available for a female veteran and one unit that can accommodate a handicapped veteran.
Robert J. Miller Affordable Housing Program The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, Inc has opened the application process to our Robert J. Miller Affordable Housing Program. There are 6 SRO units located in downtown Wheaton within walking distance of the train and bus. The application process will close when the first 6 eligible veterans have been selected. Get the details and download the application today!

Volunteers Needed Over Memorial Day Weekend; Poppy Sales at Cantigny Golf to Benefit MSHV

The MSHV is seeking volunteers over the 2012 Memorial Day weekend to help staff its donation collection table at the Cantigny Golf Course.

The MSHV is seeking volunteers over the 2012 Memorial Day weekend to help staff its donation collection table at Cantigny Golf Course, located at 27W270 Mack Road in Wheaton. Volunteers are needed to solicit donations in return for a poppy and to let folks know that all funds collected go to support homeless veterans. This fundraising effort is made possible due to the generous support both of American Legion Post 556 at Cantigny, which is again donating proceeds from their Memorial Day weekend poppy sales to the Shelter, and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, which matches the money raised. This is the sixth year for this valued partnership, which resulted in a donation of $4,000 to MSHV in 2011. MSHV is seeking two volunteers for each of three three-hour shifts (6:00am to 9:00am / 9:00am to 12:00pm and 12:00pm to 3:00pm) on each of the four days (Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28.) Please contact the Shelter at 630-871-VETS (8387) to sign up for a volunteer shift.

7th Annual MSHV Golf & BBQ Set For Sunday, Aug. 26 At Klein Creek Golf Club In Winfield

Clean your golf clubs, start practicing your swing, but, most importantly, save the date! The 7th Annual Midwest Shelter Golf Outing and Texas BBQ is set for a 1:00pm tee-off time on Sunday, August 26 at beautiful Klein Creek Golf Club in Winfield. The MSHV Golf Outing, which raised more than $15,000 in 2011, is again limiting the event to 144 golfers, so don’t miss out on an afternoon of great golf and camaraderie in support of our local veterans. Check this website in the weeks ahead for additional details, including online registration and sponsorship information.

After War, A Place To Call Home

Alex Garcia is an Iraq war veteran who feels lucky. He's never needed the homeless shelter where he works. With his easy smile and a boyish face, Iraqi kids took to calling him "baby" in the war zone, so much that his superiors in Baghdad had him wear a bandana across his face. After serving from 2004 to 2005 during the height of Iraq's insurgency, Garcia, 25, says he had a relatively stress-free transition back to civilian life. Today, Garcia works at the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton, Illinois, helping others who didn't have such an easy time returning from war. Read more and watch the video...

MSHV Headline News

Honoring A Hero

The MSHV was founded and incorporated in 2000 by Robert M. Adams of Winfield, Illinois.

Red Cross Award Robert M. Adams was honored on April 23, 2009 as our Military Hero for his work in rehabilitating and serving homeless veterans. Bob served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam, and he returned home to witness the obstacles, addictions and prejudices veterans faced. As a Marine, Bob holds the core belief that no one should be left behind on the battlefield, yet he saw his fellow veterans living on the streets. He found this unacceptable, and created the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton. Story Details | View Photos | View All Photos Someone You Should Know Watch this video about how a shelter in West suburban Wheaton is having a big impact on the lives of some homeless veterans because of the care and commitment of Bob Adams.