New Hardy Williams Center Will Serve Homeless Veterans

The pleasant Southwest Philadelphia community of Eastwick is opening its arms to America’s veterans.

DOUBLING supply of affordable housing for veterans in S.W. Phila., Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, State Sen. Hardy Williams and Congressman Bob Brady inaugurated handsome new complex on Grovers Avenue. Need for veterans’ housing is urgent to combat homelessness among them.

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.), Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.), and other officials dedicated a new facility at 7100 Grovers Avenue on Veterans Day to address homelessness among the Philadelphia area’s veterans and seniors.

Named after the Senator’s father – a veteran of the Korean War who was a former State Senator and political trailblazer in Philadelphia – the 61-unit Hardy Williams Veterans Center will serve former soldiers in need.

It will join a similar complex 10 blocks away, the 63-unit Brady Veterans Center. Both projects are operated by HELP USA. It is the fourth Philadelphia-based facility to be operated by the national nonprofit organization.

Also in attendance were 2^nd Dist. Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia Housing Finance Agency Development Dir. Holly Glauser and HELP USA CEO Dr. Thomas Hameline.

“Speaking on behalf of my constituents and the city as a whole, I am thankful to HELP USA and its ongoing efforts to serve and honor our veterans,” said Williams. “Speaking as a proud son of a veteran, I’m thrilled that this aspect of my father’s legacy is being recognized this way. He was devoted to service, much like the members of HELP USA.”

“The Hardy Williams Veterans Center is the place that cooperation built. This is an example of what can be done when we work together. Federal, state and local governments, the private sector and of course HELP USA came together in the spirit of cooperation to give a helping hand to our veterans in their hour of need,” the Congressman said.

Brady spoke passionately about the need to house veterans, who suffer disproportionately from homelessness and low income. The Brady Center has a waiting list of 1,500; the Hardy Williams Center has 2,500 in line.

Glauser said, “Over the years HELP USA has continually supported our area and the veterans residing here.” The agency operates two additional facilities in Philadelphia: Genesis Square Apartments and the Genesis Square Townhomes. HELP USA is planning another housing development for low and moderate income veterans age 55 and over in North Philadelphia, to break ground next year.

Debbie Burkart, VP of supportive housing for National Equity Fund, commented, “It takes vision and commitment to change people’s lives for the better and HELP USA as well as partners such as Citi Community Development and Met Life Foundation are doing just that, changing the lives of men and women who served our country and now need our help.”

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