After years of work – repairs began in 2014 and construction kicked off a few years later – the 101 permanent supportive and affordable apartments for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and their families were completed at the Old Soldiers Home in March.
More than just a place to live, the development provides on-site access to a variety of services, from case management to educational training to employment assistance to benefits assistance to sobriety maintenance to nutritional support to independent living skills. Recreational activities are also offered.
An official opening ceremony for the $44 million development took place on Thursday, May 26, with a number of dignitaries and tours of Old Main and the Administration Building.
“This incredible preservation success demonstrates the benefits of historic restoration and what can be achieved through a successful public-private partnership,” said Alexander Company President Joe Alexander.
“It serves as proof that strategic partnerships, visionary leadership and creative funding cannot just save buildings, but tackle homelessness, ignite a community and serve as a national model.”
The Milwaukee Soldiers Home opened in 1867 and it is a National Historic Landmark, one of just three original soldiers homes in the U.S., created by President Abraham Lincoln.
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This article was originally published by OnMilwaukee.
