Creating Opportunity to

Grow:
The Iron Shelter Project
A proposal to Fargo Forward

VET-Affection
1718 16th St. N
Fargo, ND 58102
November 22, 2016

VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

Introduction
We at VET-Affection request $100,000 from Fargo Forward to aid us in accomplishing
our goal of reducing the number of homeless veterans in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Once discharged from the military, service members are faced with a variety of
obstacles, such as limited access to affordable housing and access to adequate
resources. The presence of this issue is very apparent within our community, and will
continue to exist until concrete steps are taken to counteract the situation.
The aim of our proposal is twofold: it is meant to stimulate action in the Fargo-Moorhead
community, and to emphasize the lack of effort that is put in to aiding this population. As
a community and as a nation, the subject of homeless veterans as well as veterans in
general is an issue that gets swept under the rug. The issues and challenges that
veterans go through are a topic that is brought up very seldom. Oftentimes these issues
are only discussed by the general population on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and
other holidays. This is a subject that we should be considering constantly, not just one to
two days a year.
It is important to note that there are resources that combat this issue as well. In 2009,
the Department of Veteran Affairs served more than 92,000 homeless veterans;
however, there are an estimate 500,000 veterans that are homeless at some time
during the year (Veteran Homelessness Facts). This leaves a huge percentage of the
population in need untouched by the VA. Furthermore, the fact that the VA is a
government operated system poses a problem in it of itself. Many veterans will attest to
the frustration that they have had with the VA, whether it be as simple as answering the
phone, to obtaining benefits, veterans will wait hours on end and will oftentimes come
out empty handed. Our community cannot solely depend on the VA to assist with
addressing the homeless veteran population. The presence of a private, action-oriented,
passionate organization is needed. This is the inspiration that our organization, VETAffection, comes from.
More specifically, it is this lack of opportunity which has inspired the creation of the Iron
Shelter Project. It is our belief that by providing safe and reliable housing the Iron
Shelter Project will create opportunities for participants to become fully reintegrated into
civilian life.
We will begin describing our proposal by discussing the current situation of the issue
and delving deeper into the causes and effects of homelessness. Next we will describe
the primary objectives of our proposal. This will be followed with a plan detailing the
steps needed to meet our objectives, coupled with a descriptive timeline. After, we will
illustrate the qualifications that our organization and executive board possess. The next
point of discussion will be the costs associated with our plan, and how we intend to

VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

utilize different resources to mitigate certain costs. Finally, we will analyze the benefits
that arise from taking action.

Situation as it Exists
Per statistics gathered and analyzed by the City of Fargo, there are approximately 760
homeless individuals within city limits, 19% of whom are veterans. These are men and
women who have missed countless weekends, anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays
throughout their time in service in order to protect and defend our country. Simply put,
from a moral standpoint, they deserve our help in return. Veterans are faced with
monumental challenges in their efforts to reintegrate into the civilian lifestyle. These
challenges include the creation of structure, civilian workforce preparation, and
provision of basic necessities. The underlying need that must be addressed first is
housing. In the military, basic necessities, such as housing and food, are provided to
soldiers. By first solving homeless veterans basic need of shelter, they would be
afforded the opportunity to further themselves through employment, education, and
other various paths. Aftercare opportunities for these homeless veterans is very
essential. That is why we at VET-Affection have created this proposal to show the
breakdown of the everything that would be included in this process of this housing
project.
Although homelessness may stem from a variety of causes in veterans it is
predominantly seen in those who have received a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and/or have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While PTSD
became more prominent in the 1980s, thanks in part to the Vietnam War, and has
become better understood in the last several decades the prevalence of TBIs in
discharged soldiers is becoming a more frequent occurrence. In an article titled Why
Are So Many Veterans Homeless?, in the magazine Brain Injury Journey, Shad
Meshad explains that TBIs are so common in soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq
they are being named the signature wound of Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Meshad goes on to state, the VAs first large-scale study of
homeless veterans, released in 2012, found that over half of the newly homeless
diagnosed with mental disorders had received that diagnosis before homelessness.
This is partially due to how the symptoms of both conditions manifest in similar ways
which can lead to a misdiagnosis, or a partial diagnosis, which results in the veteran
receiving inadequate care which in turn can lead to self-medicating.
Another existing factor that can lead to homelessness in veterans is poverty. There are
about 1.5 million veterans who are considered at-risk of homelessness (Veteran
Homelessness Facts.) This is defined as being below the poverty level and paying more
than 50% of income on rent. One explanation for the presence of poverty is the distinct
difference between the civilian and military work sector. Oftentimes, Soldiers will spend
years refining their craft in the military. Unfortunately, these skills are oftentimes, not
directly transferable to the civilian work sector. For example, an infantryman has
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

mastered his ability to disassemble and reassemble weapons, conduct patrols, and
perform other combat operations. He/she is not likely to find a job in the civilian world
that allows him to showcase these skills. As a result, some Veterans are obtaining entry
level jobs because they are not qualified to do anything else. This may lead to veterans
struggling to pay for all their bills, and in turn, becoming at-risk of homelessness.
Furthermore, research shows that the greatest risk factors for homelessness are lack of
support and social isolation after discharge (Veteran Homelessness Facts.) Not having
the support in the civilian world may play a huge role on veterans ability to be
successful in the civilian world. In the military, Soldiers are surrounded by peers and
friends to support them both on and off duty. The military prides itself on its staple
emphasis on structure. While in the military, soldiers have a very clear idea of how they
fit into the big picture. They are aware of what they need to do to complete the mission,
how they fit into the possible. In the civilian world, these former soldiers may feel a lack
of purpose. They are unsure as to how they contribute to the big picture. Once out,
former Soldiers may find themselves starting anew with very little support.
Now that the causes of veteran homelessness have been identified, the effects of
homelessness will be analyzed. Several specific effects that will be discussed include
the decrease in overall health, the increased risk of suicide, and the decrease in the
chance of successful reintegration.
One result of homelessness is the decline in physical and mental health. Homeless
veterans are not only receiving less nutrients and healthy meals because of their
situation, they are also exposed to harsher weather. Both these factors lead to possible
consequence of a decline in physical health. Moreover, homeless veterans may also
develop a mental illness, such as depression, from their situation. Veterans health can
also be impacted by substance use. Due to the availability of drugs and alcohol on the
street being extremely high, many veterans may use them to self-medicate. With this
choice, it can create a straight track to alcoholism and/or substance abuse. According
to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans website, 70% of the nations homeless
veterans have problems with alcoholism and/or substance abuse. Substance abuse
itself can lead to even further leads to many other complications for these veterans,
such as risk of suicide.
Looking at suicide among the homeless population, a study titled Homelessness: A
Silent Killer, conducted in the UK also found a higher rate of suicide among homeless
people. Specifically, the homeless were 9 times more likely to commit suicide than the
general population.
Before analyzing this risk among homeless veterans as a singular entity, perhaps it
would be more effective to illustrate the risk of suicide in the Veteran population and the
homeless population separately. In regards to the Veteran population, an average of 20
veterans a day commit suicide (Mental Health Stigma Contributes to High Veteran
Suicide Rate). One major cause of suicide is the presence of a mental illness. A study
conducted by a Harvard medical professor found that major depression is five times as
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

high among soldiers compared to civilians. Furthermore, intermittent explosive disorder

is six times as high, and finally, post-traumatic stress disorder (discussed earlier) was
found being nearly fifteen times as high (Study: Rates of many mental disorders much
higher in soldiers than in civilians). These are all examples of a form of mental illness, a
huge precursor to suicide.
Although suicide usually stems from the existence of a mental illness, the two
populations sometimes have different paths that lead to said illness (PTSD among
Veterans from combat, depression among homeless from loss of house.) Due to the fact
that veteran and homeless suicide can stem from different issues, homeless veterans
are placed at an extreme disadvantage due to the possibility of having incurred issues
from both populations. A study on Housing Placement and Suicide Attempts among
Homeless Veterans conducted by the VA National Center on Homelessness among
Veterans found the following things:
1. During the Fiscal Year of 2009 and 2010, there were 79,755 unique
Veterans who received a homeless service assessment.
2. Among this group, 3,037 homeless Veterans were identified as having one
or more suicide attempts during the same time period.
3. The rate of suicide attempts among homeless Veterans was 20 times
higher than the suicide attempts among all Veterans.
4. The 12 and 24-month prevalence of repeat suicide attempts is high.
The factors that were just described, suicide, substance abuse, and state of health, all
play a role in the likelihood of homeless veterans reintegrating into society. Veterans
themselves are already at a disadvantage when trying to reintegrate from the military.
The disadvantage that homeless veterans have in their chances of reintegration is
practically unfathomable. It can be stated with certainty; however, that each day
veterans remain homeless, their chances of reintegration continuingly diminish.
These situations are what create the lack of opportunity for the homeless veterans in
the Fargo-Moorhead area. The reality of not knowing how to be a civilian again is hard
enough, but factoring in not having safe affordable housing makes matters much worse
for these veterans. Not having the opportunity to go to work, be successful, and at the
end of the day go to a warm home is very challenging to any person. These veterans
who having fought for the freedoms to make these goals real, are coming home and not
being given the right opportunities themselves to make these ideals happen. This is
prevalent in our own backyard so to speak and it is time to make a change. FargoMoorhead needs to increase opportunities for these veterans to make sure they are
given what they gave us.
By addressing the issue of veteran homelessness, we hope to diminish the risk of
suicide attempts, create safe and affordable housing, have more job opportunities, and
prevent future instances of homelessness as a whole. If action is not taken to combat
the issue of veteran homelessness in the Fargo area, the following outcomes can be
expected:
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

1. The continued decrease in the chance of reintegration

2. The increase in mortality rate
3. Increase in chance of developing a physical or mental health problem

Objectives
VET-Affection created the Iron Shelter project to assure the Fargo-Moorhead area gains
more opportunity for homeless veterans. The program more specifically aims to
improve the Fargo/Moorhead area by achieving the following goals:
1. Provide transitional housing for veterans
2. Increase employment in participants
3. Enhance positive relationships between veterans and their communities
4. Decrease homeless population in the Fargo-Moorhead area
5. Create opportunities for homeless veterans to access necessary
assistance
6. Encourage community involvement for both veterans and locals
7. Raise awareness of veteran homelessness and aid

Plan of Action
Though our hope is to eventually provide transitional housing to all veterans facing
homelessness, in the Fargo-Moorhead area, we would like our first participants to come
from those with an established history of homelessness. To achieve this, we will be in
communication with the Department of Veteran Affairs offices in both Fargo and
Moorhead. We will also seek referrals from local shelters and soup kitchens. Our
primary requirements for incoming participants are that they not have a recent history of
physical violence and that they have gone through any necessary detoxing processes
prior to moving as we will not be equipped to meet the needs of either situation.
Prior to moving into the home, participants will undergo an initial assessment and take
part in developing an individual action plan to aid them in determining which areas they
would like to direct their focus towards. The individual action plan will be viewed as a
contract which the participant is agreeing to adhere to for the duration of their stay. This
plan will outline their long-term goals, short term goals to accomplish while taking part in
the Iron Shelter Project, and which selected support services they will participate in.
Once a month each participant will engage in a brief meeting with the House Director to
ensure all needs are being met and to make any adjustments necessary. On a quarterly
basis participants, will take part in more in depth reevaluation. The meeting will include
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

the veteran, house director, and the board members of VET-Affection. The reevaluation
will compare monthly progress reports and the veterans individual action plan to ensure
progress has been made. If there has been an insufficient degree of progress the
participant will be placed on a probation period to determine if the Iron Shelter Project is
meeting the needs of the participant or if there is another program that would meet the
needs of the veteran in a more suitable fashion. These basic skills are what the
homeless veterans need to get refreshed on since they have been out of civilian life for
lengthy periods of time. While taking these classes, the homeless veteran must be
showing progress on the skills they are working on.
By providing support services, it is our hope that our clients will have the opportunity to
build the life skills necessary for becoming engaged in their communities. The staff of
the Iron Shelter Project will remain knowledgeable on services available which could be
of use to its participants. We aim to assist our clients in their employment efforts by
maintaining a relationship with local employment agencies, such as Kelly Services, and
resources such as Job Service North Dakota. Job Service North Dakota is a statewide
service which is dedicated to assisting people in meeting their employment goals and,
per their website jobsnd.com, offer in-state job search assistance, in-state- relocation
assistance, identification of skills, and assistance in upgrading skills. Staff will also
encourage participation in community education classes, support groups, recreational
events within the community. VET-Affection will themselves provide a list of support
services, but also will be paired with other assistance programs in the community. This
will help increase community involvement and be sure the veterans enrolled in this
program will be given the best opportunity to better themselves.
With shown progress, it is also expected of the client to slowly begin to pay more for
their needs (rent, food, basic essential, etc.). To begin, these needs will be provided
until it is shown that the client can take on their own responsibility for this. Monthly and
tri-monthly reviews will help the House Director and the Board know when the veteran is
ready to take on more responsibility. The income based sliding-scale process is
beneficial for it helps the veteran relearn how to do basic everyday civilian deeds.
We also hope to encourage growth in individuals social skills by focusing on readjusting
to the pace of civilian life as well as its social structure. We recognize that many
veterans find themselves struggling with areas such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
and various addictions and hope to provide the necessary environment and resources
needed to overcome these obstacles.

VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

Timeline

The first month of development will focus on establishing the framework of the project.
We will purchase the Townhomes, complete any structural updates necessary, and
furnish them with the donations made by Ashley Homestore. During this time we will
also begin the process of recruiting a House Director and begin the search of additional
staff.
In the second month, we will start our search for program participants and begin training
the House Director and on the proper procedures to adhere to while working with
veterans. While the house director will not be licensed as a therapist, he/she will be able
to offer advice and minimal services to any veterans in the houses looking for basic
assistance. At the end of the second month program participants will move in and begin
the initial assessment process.
Starting in the third month, and continuing every month after, participants will have a
brief meeting with the House Director to record their progress, talk about any possible
problems, and make any necessary adjustments to their individual action plans.
Beginning in month six participants will take part in a quarterly revaluation designed to
determine if sufficient progress has been achieved and to refocus the veterans
individual action plan in necessary. During each of these quarterly meetings the
participants ability to contribute financially will be reassessed.
One year from the initial contribution Vet-Affection will meet with Fargo Forward to
reassess the project and discuss continued funding for the future.
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

Qualifications
We at VET-Affection are all passionate about this program and have experience with
military life in our own personal backgrounds. Our board consists of five members and
they are as follows:
President: Jeannette Johnsrud-Evavold is a former corporal in the military who served
four active duty tours and witnessed firsthand what veterans have gone through prior to
returning home along with understanding the transitioning period to becoming a civilian
and recognizing the path to becoming homeless. She saw and dealt with issues of
active duty across the world and states, This should not be an issue in our own country.
Everyone deserves a home, most specifically those who fought for this country.
Vice-President: Melinda Wittmer has had many influential figures in her life enroll in
military action. She watched an uncle become homeless when he rotated back home
after multiple deployments due to the lack of resources that were specifically designed
to target the circumstances of a veteran. After becoming frustrated with the limited
resources available she was inspired to target these deficits to assist other veterans. I
cannot keep sitting on the bench watching these veterans keep going through this awful
cycle. It is time to bring this homeless veteran issue to an end.
Trevor Kleineschay was at one point a homeless veteran. After pulling himself out of
homelessness, he said, I must do something. This is not a fair life to live, especially for
those who fight for our freedoms. He gives great insight to the specifics regarding
homeless veterans needs and what we can incorporate into our program to make sure
it meets the needs of our veterans.
Alex Lien is a qualified lawyer and is the current owner of Lien Law. Alex provides
indispensable knowledge on local legislation. Not only does he care about the FM
community, he comes from a military family and his siblings still serve to this day. He
states, This is something I have always been passionate about and want to see the
decrease of homeless veterans in our area.
Erik Sheehan comes from a lifelong background of humanitarian work and was born
and raised in the Fargo-Moorhead area. He has dedicated 15 years to the American
Red Cross and gained great experience through this organization that he carries over
into VET-Affection. Fargo-Moorhead is his home and he has worked elsewhere in the
nation but he says, It is time to come home and do my best work. These veterans
deserve nothing but the best.
All board members and volunteers at VET-Affection have either direct or indirect
relations to the military. The board has well-rounded diversity in experience including
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

backgrounds in law, professional writing, humanitarian efforts and politics which

provides not only empathy towards veterans but the resources to make a difference.

Budget

House Down Payment: $150,000

Program Staff:
House Director: $35,000, full time annual pay plus housing and utilities.
3 full time staff: $12.00/hr. x 40hr/wk. x 3=$69,120
Operations Costs:
Monthly Loan Payment: $3,164 x 12 months=$38,000 (rounded up)
Property Tax: $2,500
Building Insurance: $2,800
Utilities: $2,700
Bi-Annual Cleaning: $700
Indirect Costs: $15,020
Total Cost for First Year: $316,000 (rounded up)
In addition to the relationship we are hoping to establish with Fargo Forward, we have
formed a variety of partnerships and sponsorships with organizations, both nationally
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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

and within the Fargo-Moorhead area, in an attempt to reduce startup costs and to utilize
existing funding opportunities. In addition to Vet-Affections own contribution of
$200,000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has contributed $75,000 and the
Wounded Warrior Project has agreed to a one-time donation of $50,000. Operation
Homefront has agreed to work with the Iron Shelter Project to supply participants with
food assistance, auto repair, and vision care as needed. MATBUS has agreed to donate
one bus pass per participant for the next five years. Ashley Homestore, of Fargo, has
agreed to aid in furnishing the home by donating all bedroom furniture and offering a 30
percent discount on any additional necessary items. Any surplus in funds will be placed
in a contingency budget and will be dedicated to the further development of the Iron
Shelter Project. Once a year, to begin at the end of the first year of operation, the Iron
Shelter Project will host a fundraising event in addition to seeking recurring sponsorship
from local businesses and organizations.
The largest portion of our first-year budget will go towards the purchase of two
connected townhomes. The homes are approximately 1,500 sq. ft. and offer four
bedrooms and three bathrooms each, ex. 4324 Estate Drive S Fargo, ND 58104. The
house will be purchased via a 10-year fixed term loan with $150,000 down and an
interest rate of 3.94% creating a monthly payment of $3,164.
The second largest portion of the budget will provide the salaries for a House Director
and the equivalent of three full time staff members. The House Director will be granted a
salary which been budgeted at $35,000 and will also have housing and utilities
provided. We have budgeted an additional $69,120 to provide wages for up to three
additional full time staff members.
The remaining portion of the budget has been earmarked for costs such as property tax,
which has been estimated at approximately $2,500, building insurance, which has been
quoted at approximately $2,800, and biannual cleaning which we have reserved $700
for. We have also included a category for indirect costs which we anticipate being
roughly 10 percent ($15,020) of our annual recurring costs.
As the Iron Shelter Project moves into its second year of existence, and is no longer
facing startup costs, the total cost of operations should level out at approximately
$166,000 per year. It is our hope to then expand the Iron Shelter Project by purchasing
a second home which would be located in the city of Moorhead.

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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

Benefits
By providing participants with a safe and reliable living environment, and ensuring
access to adequate housing, clothing and food, participants will have the opportunity to
focus their attention on developing skills which will aid them in transitioning to being
self-sufficient and successful. Though we have chosen to direct our focus towards
creating opportunities for veterans the benefits will be felt by the entire community.
There are three broad areas in which the benefits will be most visible: individuals,
relationships, and resources.
When an individuals living situation is in a constant state of uncertainty and upheaval
that turmoil can be reflected in their overall quality of life. If, however, a person is free
from the distress of a dysfunctional living environment they have the opportunity to
pursue activities which could lead to self-empowerment and growth. As participants
engage in overcoming their varying obstacles they are faced with an opportunity to
develop the coping mechanisms and skill sets necessary to gain and maintain
employment, adjust to the pace of civilian life, and create and sustain a viable future.
By providing veterans with safe and affordable housing and food it reduces the stigma
surrounding homelessness which in turn has the potential to promote relationships
between veterans and the community as a whole. Likewise, Maslows hierarchy of
needs states that if safety is met it allows the person to focus on relationships and
belonging.
If the number of homeless individuals in a community is reduced it may also reduce the
amount of stress being placed on a variety of community resources, such as shelters,
soup kitchens and local law enforcement agencies, which will then allow for either an
increase in services provided to the public or it will allow for the reallocation of the freed
resources.

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VET-Affection
1306 Centennial Boulevard
Fargo, ND 58102

Conclusion
Our overall intent is to create an opportunity for homeless veterans of the FargoMoorhead area to have access to clean, safe, and affordable housing. We at VetAffection believe that by meeting this basic need additional opportunities will be created
for these veterans to establish themselves as productive and contributive members of
our community. Having access to stable housing and support services allows for steady
employment and self-empowerment. This form of housing, specifically for veterans, is
lacking in the Fargo-Moorhead area and as we gain more support, we can develop and
expand to assist additional veterans. Our vision at VET-Affection is to provide safe
housing to veterans who have already provided for our country.

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