Home Sweet Home: Charitable group doing its part to get veterans off the streets
A charity group is trying to expand its efforts to help homeless veterans get off the streets and into a home.
The nonprofit Butler County Veterans in Need Fund has existed in various forms for 15 years, and, in its current state, the organization rents a warehouse on North Main Street where it stores furniture for homeless veterans transitioning to a residence. The organization's board of directors is raising money to buy a new warehouse, according to John Cyprian, the board's president and director of Butler County Veteran Services. He noted the warehouse is too small for the group's needs, and he hopes donations will help members realize the organization's next transformation.
“We have the warehouse, which is a great concept because there's a lot of things that the VA can't provide when veterans are transitioning out of homelessness,” Cyprian said. “The VA can set a veteran up with a residence, but they can't do stuff like furnish the home. And that's where we come in with good, reusable furniture.”And now, he said, the group is looking to expand the furniture program by purchasing its own warehouse instead of renting its current one.
“The big push is to get funds to buy a warehouse. Those dollars wasted on rent could be spent on something else,” Cyprian said. “We're also limited on space, and we'd like to have more room.”Over the years, the group has received many furniture donations, leading to the limited space.“People are very generous. They're remodeling or what not and they'd rather have it go to vets. We highly appreciate it,” Cyprian said.
The Veterans in Need Fund also provides financial assistance to veterans. Cyprian noted that they help pay for such expenses as utilities and catastrophic losses. He said the vetting process is thorough before veterans are awarded funds. And even then, he said, they pay for the expenses directly, instead of giving the funds to the veteran.He said the Veterans in Need Fund provides a quicker, less restrictive venue for veterans needing assistance. And the board, which is comprised of volunteers, evaluates every request to validate the need.But Cyprian stressed that the money they have is used for essential veteran needs.“There's a vetting process that's very severe,” Cyprian said. “We respect the donors' dollars. That financial aid is only for Butler County veterans. Since the money was raised in Butler County, we want to keep it in Butler County.”But the furniture part is available for veterans anywhere in the region.
In previous Butler Eagle stories on the organization, Cyprian said the organization can help with needs such as car repairs. But since then, the group no longer gives money for that because, Cyprian said, veterans can sell their cars later, thus making a profit off charity.“We cover things that are beyond the control of the applicant,” Cyprian said. “We check your unemployment and see what your finances are.”He also noted that a veteran must wait two years after receiving financial assistance to apply again for more assistance.Last year, he said the charity gave $40,000 to help veterans.And on the furniture side, Cyprian said they don't put a dollar figure on what they give.
The organization was started by Damian Hambley, 89, commander for Slippery Rock VFW Post 6321, and his wife, Mary. Hambley served in the Navy between 1951 and 1953 during United States' involvement in the Korean War.When Cyprian joined the organization in 2016, it was turned into a nonprofit.Hambley said he got the idea for the organization while he was volunteering at the Butler VA. He noted that the Butler County Veterans Service provided some veterans with apartments.
“These apartments had not one thing in them, and I started thinking about helping them get furniture,” Hambley said. “Some of them didn't even have stoves. Nothing. Completely vacant.”Hambley said the group moved to its current warehouse after it was forced to move out of another warehouse on the same property. He said the warehouses on the property will all eventually be turned into office space.“We had to dump half of our furniture,” Hambley said about the move from one warehouse to another.
If you would like to volunteer your service please email bcvin@zoominternet.netMonetary Donations can be sent to;Veterans in Need Funds143 Denny RoadValencia, PA 16059To become a sponsor:Please make checks payable to: Veterans in Need Fund
