In my industry I work with a wide variety of businesses, investors, and developers. Occasionally, I have the opportunity to work with some non-profit and charitable organizations. One such organization that I have had the fortune of working with is the Salvation Army of Champaign. Recently, the Salvation Army has indicated a need for housing and counseling services for roughly 25 homeless veterans in Champaign County.

The Veterans Administration expressed the need to the Salvation Army and hoped there was room in the their North Market Street men’s shelter. Unfortunately, the shelter is at capacity and has a constant waiting list. By the way, a handful of veterans are already being housed at the Salvation Army’s shelter. A new veterans center would open up additional space at the current shelter for other homeless men.

When a longtime client of mine was briefed on the situation, he immediately expressed interest in helping. He owns a vacant office building in a centralized location capable of being converted into a veteran’s center. Being that he does an extensive amount of work with non-profit organizations, there is no better person to be proactive and assist the Salvation Army. We have already worked with an architect to show us how the space could be modified to provide sleeping quarters, gathering space, a kitchen and cafeteria, a counseling office, and even the potential for an in house medical clinic. We have also approached city officials to discuss any necessary zoning changes and to ask for their support.

So where are we now with the project? Support of the V.A….check. Desire by the Salvation Army to supply the shelter and staff the center…check. A quality building in a centralized location and a sympathetic seller…check. The final piece to the puzzle is financial support.

While the Salvation Army could put together a capital campaign to raise the funds, the process is too time consuming. The need is now, and no one wants these veterans to be forced to brave another cold Central Illinois winter without proper shelter. Salvation Army officials are in the process of pursuing grant programs that could help, and the local United Way has expressed their support. However, it will take more than a few grants and donations to get this project off the ground.

That is where the readers of Halfway Interesting come in. Who do you know who might be sympathetic towards a cause such as this? Perhaps the descendants of a fallen veteran would be interested in honoring their family member with a large donation that could help kick this project into high gear. The Salvation Army would certainly be interested in giving naming rights to a local veteran. Maybe you are aware of a local company or organization that would be interested in financial support of a community veterans shelter. It is hard to imagine anyone living in our community that does not have some sort of connection (current or past) with a veteran of our armed forces.

These veterans are our neighbors, our family, our friends. They fought for us to keep our country free and to give us the opportunities that we all enjoy today. The thought of these men on the street in the extreme heat and humidity that we have faced this summer makes me sick. If you are reading this article, I bet you feel the same way. Feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or would like to help. The people of Champaign County are some of the most generous and compassionate in the world, and I hope this message reaches the right people.