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From the street to a home of one’s own

by Alisha Semchuck
staff writer
For the Antelope Valley’s population
of low-income and homeless veterans
and their families, some hope prevails
that they can move from the precarious
housing situations they endure night
and day, to a secure dwelling complete
with kitchen, bedrooms, a living room
and indoor plumbing — essentially a
place to call home.
That vision is becoming possible
through the efforts of an organization
called Homes4Families, a nonprofit
group, and its network of corporate and
community partners. After successfully
constructing Veteran Enriched Neigh-
borhoods in several Southern California
communities, most recently in Santa
Clarita, fundraising is underway for the
newest Homes4Families development
in the city of Palmdale. Hunt Braly,
Homes4Families Board of Directors
chairman, outlined the financial needs
for the project to a group of more than
100 community leaders and dignitaries
who attended an informational lunch
March 26 at the Antelope Valley Coun-
try Club.
According to Braly, the organization
is seeking corporate, foundation and Courtesy photograph
community contributions of $56,000 An artists’ rendition of a Palmdale Veteran Enriched Neighborhood home. Homes4Families has broken ground on a 56-home Veteran Enriched Neighborhood
per home, with $40,000 of that go- for low-income veteran families. The 10-acre site at Avenue R and Division Street will include a community garden and a community playground. All the homes
ing toward construction and $16,000 will be single-story, and several will be fully ADA accessible units.
for enrichment services and the com-
munity common areas. The Palmdale
project will include 56 units, with 10 We want to prevent homelessness, to CalVet and other foundations, we can also get invited to special events and Palmdale City Councilwoman Laura
of them being fully ADA compliant, the extent we can. We have a model build quicker and get these families in have their participation announced to Bettencourt said she not only supports
to accommodate veterans with special where we can build homes and charge faster.” the media. A contribution of $5,000 the project as a city official, but also
health needs. Braly said only 2 percent the same amount as a one-bedroom “I carry my own general contrac- allows them up to 20 TEAMBuild par- backs it for personal reasons. “We
of the funding raised for the Palmdale apartment,” Deutchman said. tor’s license,” said Brailey Franco, the ticipants, with packages available for have the Air Force Base as our neigh-
community will go toward administra- That means veterans can afford the general site superintendent. He told the groups of up to 60 participants. bor.” In addition, Bettencourt said her
tive and overhead costs. The balance of homes “and move up the economic crowd that 40 percent of the work is “We’re all here for the common father and her stepfather served in
funds go toward services and construc- ladder,” Deutchman noted. “They also handled by volunteers. With subcon- good,” DeLeon said. “You become part the same war, at the same time. Her
tion costs. $3.1 million in total funds need to have that continuum of care,” tractors and volunteers at the construc- of something bigger.” grandfather, a World War II veteran
are needed for the project. in areas including financial literacy, tion site, Franco said, “it’s great to work “We build a community,” Braly said. and part of the Greatest Generation,
“The city of Palmdale has been tre- health and wellness, child develop- beside each other. It keeps the costs “They are veterans. They are neigh-
mendously supportive,” Braly said of ment and trauma care to treat the invis- down when volunteers come out. Grad- bors.” suffered severe Post-Traumatic Stress
the project planned for construction at ible wounds of war. “That’s why we’re ing is one job volunteers do. We have “They develop a support system for Disorder. Because he dealt with finan-
Avenue R and Division Street. Palm- doing the Enriched Neighborhood footings we have to put in. Volunteers each other within their community,” cial hardships, he lived in a Quonset
dale contributed the land, he noted. Program for veterans.” The program help put down sandbags. It’s blood, said Bridgett Mills, senior director of hut, where he committed suicide. That
This project also has the backing of is based on proven results, as well as sweat and tears in every one of these Program Design and Urban Planning. experience makes the Homes4Families
local elected officials including As- over 10 years of research, and includes homes. Volunteers love our program. They also have support from the larger project deeply personal to her.
semblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale; a partnership with the California De- It is the true American Dream.” community, she added. In addition to larger financial con-
State Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita; partment of Veterans Affairs. More Donielle DeLeon, director of Corpo- Braly emphasized that partnerships tributions and the corporate and group
Los Angeles County 5th District Su- than 380 families have been served in rate and Community Engagement, fo- are key to the success of the Homes- TEAMBuild programs, opportunities
pervisor Kathryn Barger; Congress- five Enriched Neighborhoods to date. cused on TEAMBuild, a program for 4Families program. In addition to the for individuals to get involved with
woman Katie Hill, D-Acton; and the This program gives recipients af- corporate and association groups to get city of Palmdale, the Vets4Veterans Homes4Families are also available. A
entire Palmdale City Council. Former fordable, permanent housing. Deutch- involved. Corporations like Northrop organization became a partner. “Hard Hats for Heroes” Club is avail-
Congressman Steve Knight and wife man said they build equity over time Grumman, Lockheed Martin and An- Tom Hilzendeger, president and able, which accepts monthly contribu-
Lily, Homes4Families volunteers, also and they can’t flip the homes. That’s telope Valley Chevrolet in Lancaster founder of Vets4Veterans, said he has
showed their support by attending the part of the agreement. Also, if they are decided on an amount of money they a veteran family that was homeless tions of between $10 and $50, which
event. physically capable, they must contrib- want to contribute and then a group already living in a Lancaster home go directly to building homes and
“Why did we do this in the Antelope ute 500 hours to some part of the build- of company employees and managers his group purchased and renovated — futures for low-income veterans and
Valley?” Donna Deutchman, chief ex- ing process “as part of the deal.” spend a day working at the construction that group’s first home. It is meant as their families. Opportunities for indi-
ecutive officer and president of Homes- Grading of the Palmdale site is un- site — a sort of pay-to-play approach. a transitional dwelling for temporary vidual build volunteers are also avail-
4Families asked rhetorically. “There’s derway, with utility installation to fol- DeLeon said participants kick off residents. That family is expected able throughout the year.
more than 15,000 veterans in the Ante- low. The first 15 families will be able the day with a continental breakfast to eventually move into a house in Veterans who are in need of hous-
lope Valley,” she said, answering her to move into their homes in 2020, and they receive TEAMBuild T-shirts. Palmdale’s Veteran Enriched Neigh- ing are invited to begin the application
own question. “That’s more than six Braly said. “As we can raise money up Then they have lunch with a veteran borhood. process at any time. To qualify, you
times the national average. That says front, and leverage what we get from family who qualified for a home. They Veteran families that qualify for the must have a DD-214 with an honor-
something about your community. You Homes4Families program must be at able discharge or code equivalent, be
have a spirit.” a low-income status, and have some low-income, and a first-time homebuy-
Deutchman said Homes4Families source of income to pay a mortgage.
makes every effort to collaborate with They must also be first-time home er (must not have owned a home in the
the various veterans’ programs that al- buyers willing to contribute 500 hours last three years). Lack of creditworthi-
ready exist locally. “We never want to in the construction process. ness is not an obstacle to applying. As-
take away. We want to add. The city is Sophia Reyes, the housing coordi- sisting applicants with financial coun-
behind us. The county is behind us. The nator in Palmdale’s Neighborhood Ser- seling and credit repair is part of the
state is behind us. vices Department, said both her sons service offered by Homes4Families.
“There is a desperate problem of are Marine veterans and the Homes- To get involved, visit www.Homes-
homelessness amongst our veterans. 4Families program gives them hope. 4Families.org, or call 818-884-8808.
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