Helping our homeless veterans find places to live

Monday, Feb. 12, 2018

(News 12 at 5:30)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Veteran housing can be tough to come by nationwide, and here in Augusta. The Augusta Warrior Project tells us they find dozens of veterans in need every month.

One woman is taking on a mission herself, to help find a solution. Arlean Williams wants the doors of a home on D’Antignac Street to be open to those in need. It’s called the Avery House.

“Neighborhood stabilization, helping veterans, helping persons that are homeless, all at 948 D’Antignac Street.”

Arlean came to Augusta 13 years ago from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit, leaving her homeless.

“When you’ve lost everything, and you ended on your feet, you know it’s possible.”

Now she wants to help veterans in similar situations.

"Employment, education, medical attention, all of that is readily available. Why is housing a problem?"

Kelly Thorpe is the Director of Veteran Homeless Services at the Augusta Warrior Project.

"Usually, we're talking to thirty to fifty at a time that need some kind of affordable housing."

She helps to find those veterans. There's a number of housing efforts from the VA and other groups, but transitional housing is hard to come by.

"Sometimes people need a stepping stone, a transitional home, and that's not something that's readily available."

That's what Arlean hopes the Avery House can be.

"I'll buy as many houses as I can. And I'm not a rich woman by any means. Rich in faith. But I don't think you have to be rich to do things and give back to the community, I don't."

One house at a time, helping one veteran at a time.

It’s a work in progress but groups have already volunteered to help out. Arlean is looking for more help and some supplies. She has another house running on Wrightsboro Road, the Augusta Warrior Project says they’ve already put one veteran there.