Our nation set a goal to end veteran homelessness in 2010. That same year, St. Michael’s Veterans Center (SMVC) founders began imagining a permanent solution to veteran homelessness in Kansas City. In 2014 this dream was realized with the opening of the St. Michael’s Veterans Center. Homeless veterans in the Kansas City area found themselves with a new home. Veterans like Bob, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, who following a violent attack that almost took his life, found himself “a little cloud in heaven,” in a brand-new apartment he could call his own. Ten years ago, SMVC opened its doors with a mission to provide permanent, affordable housing to homeless and disabled veterans in Kansas City. Over the last decade SMVC has:

• Housed 235 veterans — 97% of whom have remained permanently housed
• Veterans have given back more than 14,000 hours in community service
• Provided 29,120 hours of professional social services to support veterans’ housing stability and wellness
• Provided transportation for more than 2,000 trips to the grocery store and to appointments
• Served thousands of cups of coffee

We have built a vibrant community all because of you, our supporters. Because of your support, we have given our veterans and their families an opportunity to not only live with dignity, but build a community that supports each other and cultivates a give-back culture. Because of you, we’ve expanded our staff and hired a peer support specialist who provides direct services to our residents to help them overcome challenges and thrive. And soon, we’re breaking ground on our third phase of housing that will allow us to house 62 new veterans (more details coming soon).

We are so grateful for your continued support and ask that you consider making a financial contribution to SMVC before the end of this year. Your donation is 100 percent tax deductible and will go directly to fund programs and services for SMVC veterans. It will also go to support the more than 100 veterans who are currently on the housing waitlist. For donations of $50 or more we will send you a custom SMVC calendar!

Bob said he felt “rescued” when he spent his first night at SMVC nearly 10 years ago. It is a sentiment shared by many of our residents: thankfulness to have a safe community to call home.

“God sent me to SMVC. I was struggling to maintain myself before. I had already been through life and death, but to finally be in a place where I was surrounded by other veterans, some of whom were struggling, I just had a lot to reflect on and be thankful for,” Bob said. “I’ll never forget how it felt to have a brand-new apartment, in a new building with a new bed and dishes and blankets. I am so thankful.”

Thank you for being part of our SMVC community. We truly couldn’t do this without you. And, if you run across Bob on campus, make sure to ask him about his Harry Truman connection!