Apartment complex for homeless veterans underway at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

VA Apartment Complex Construction

A 50-unit apartment complex is under construction at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center Thursday, Mar. 6, 2014. Building 33 is being gutted, renovated and expanded to be turned into the apartment complex which is slated to open this fall. The complex will serve as transitional housing and is geared towards veterans including those with families. Michelle Lepianka Carter | The Tuscaloosa News

An $11 million, multi-story apartment complex for the homeless is underway at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, five years after the project was first announced.

The 50-unit, 83-bed complex is intended for homeless veterans and their families. An existing building that previously served as an inpatient unit for the hospital has been gutted and will serve as one of the apartment buildings. A new, three-story apartment building is also under construction nearby.

"Tuscaloosa VA is extremely proud of this project because it is a direct reflection of the commitment from not only the VA to care for our nation's veterans but also the community's commitment to do the same," said Damon Stevenson, spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa VA. "This collaboration shows how many different agencies can work together to achieve something even greater for those who have given us our freedoms."

In February 2009, VA officials announced plans to offer seven acres of land, along with the vacant 30,000-square-foot Building No. 33 to any organization that was willing to use the facility to help reduce local homelessness. Instead of a temporary or emergency one-night shelter, the intended purpose is that the property be used for "good, supportive, ongoing care to break the cycle of homelessness," Alan Tyler, the medical center's former director said at that time.

Doug Hollyhand of Hollyhand Realty and Birmingham-based MAP Development have formed a nonprofit, Valor Grove, which is developing the project. The complex is being funded by a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a $210,000 grant from the City of Tuscaloosa. The remaining balance of the project is being paid for through low income housing and historical tax credits, said Daniel Conville, strategic planner for the Tuscaloosa VA.

Although the project is classified as "transitional" housing, residents will likely stay there long term.

"They'll be able to stay there as long as they meet the criteria for living in that kind of housing," Conville said. "Our goal is to keep them engaged in vocational and educational rehab, job training skills and job placement programs, so hopefully they can move out and be on their own in the community."

Programs through Tuscaloosa's One Place and possibly other community partners will also be in place on site for residents who are not veterans, said developer Scott McGee. Although the housing complex is targeted toward homeless veterans and homeless veterans will have priority placement, it's possible that there will be non-veterans living there as well, he said. Residents will pay rent, but it will be based on income and will vary, McGee said.

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Apartment complex for homeless veterans underway at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center