 |
|
The MSHV was founded and
incorporated in 2000 by
Robert M. Adams of Winfield,
Illinois. |
|
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. Mr. Adams has
specialized training in the treatment of
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of which
many veterans in his practice are afflicted.
In 2004, Dirk Enger of Winfield, a USMC
combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm and a
Union Iron Worker joined Mr. Adams in working
with government agencies, veteran service
organizations, trade unions, and other entities
in exploring the possibility of opening a
transitional housing program for veterans of all
eras in DuPage County, Illinois. In 2005, a very
active Board of Directors was developed, and
they are all very involved in the further
development of this organization (see Exhibit
A). In the fall of 2005, MSHV entered into an
agreement to lease (with an option to purchase)
a single family home at 119 N. West St. in
Wheaton, Illinois to serve as our inaugural
shelter.
In November 2005, the Wheaton City Council
granted MSHV a special use permit, and a zoning
change to use the property as a transitional
housing program. In January 2006, the City of
Wheaton Group Care Home Commission issued a
license to MSHV to operate a group care facility
upon purchase of the property. In February 2006,
the DuPage County Community Development Office
awarded the MSHV a $300,000 grant through the
Federal Community Development Block Grant
program to use for a capital expenditure for the
property. The property was purchased in June
2006. In the fall of 2006, the U.S. Department
of Veteran’s Affairs awarded MSHV a capital
grant to aid in the purchase of the home, as
well as a van for outreach and shelter
transportation purposes. A full-time Case
Manager, and full time House Manager Staff was
hired and trained, and we opened our doors to
veterans on January 08, 2007. A grand opening
was held on January 20, 2007 with 250 people in
attendance. The Board of Directors officially
named the shelter the LCpl Nicholas Larson Home
for Veterans, in memory of a Wheaton native who
was killed in action in Iraq in 2004.
In 2009, DuPage County Continuum of Care engaged
in its first street count. This process involved
professionals and volunteers combing the streets
of the county looking for the unsheltered.
Founder Bob Adams, found himself concerned about
those people the other 364 nights of the year.
He came back to MSHV and worked with Veteran
Alex Garcia and designed a weekly outreach
program that included the expertise of our
residents. Each Monday night Alex takes the
current TH residents out to various parts of the
county to locate and provide resources including
transportation to people without shelter.
In 2012, we opened the Robert J. Miller home. In
this home we house low income bedrooms in
affordable rental units. DuPage County HOME
Funds were awarded for the purchase and rehab of
the apartment building located at 111 N. West
Street in Wheaton. The home was named after Army
Staff Sgt. Robert Miller, a Medal of Honor
recipient, who was killed in Afghanistan in
2008. Like Nicholas Larson, Robert Miller was a
Wheaton North High School graduate. We provide
shared housing at the affordable monthly rent of
$500/month. Our clinical and case management
services are available to help veterans improve
their lives and maintain their affordable
housing units. We do have a sober living campus
and all residents are expected to refrain from
drug and alcohol use during their leasing
period. Support is available for those who are
struggling with sobriety.
The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans
engaged in an elaborate Strategic Planning
process in late 2012. For more information on
our 2013-2017 Strategic Plan,
click here
. |
