Effort forming to establish a ‘village’ for homeless veterans
Published 5:30 am Wednesday, August 22, 2018
- Wonder Woman cosplayer Katie Olvera helped raise awareness for a good cause at Goat Island Brewery recently, partnering with Forever and Always Patriots, a nonprofit habitat organization for homeless veterans. Pictured with Olvera are Forever and Always founder Karla Albertus, right, and Sonya Nail, left.
Forever and Always Patriots, the brainchild of Sumiton’s Karla Albertus, has already begun clearing land for a veterans’ tiny house community Albertus describes as a “village” — a place intended to give homeless vets a place of their own, while also giving them a helping hand.
“We are building a veterans’ village for homeless veterans in Walker County now,” said Albertus recently at Goat Island brewery, where she was joined by local supporters to raise awareness and expand the organization’s network of potential local volunteers. “Once we’re done in Walker County, Cullman County will be the next place that we come to. This is God’s mission and I firmly believe it will happen.”
The organization’s first village will consist of ten 12’ x 32’ tiny homes, each finished out with a 4’ x 12’ deck, with room for more homes as funding allows. And although the concept revolves around the idea of providing shelter, said Albertus, it’s really all about integration — not isolation.
“Our idea is to get them out of the house and into a social atmosphere,” she explained. “We’ll have a main house that they check into where those who are required to receive medication can take it. Each veteran will also be required to tend a raised bed garden. Once they harvest their food, they can freeze it, sell it, do whatever they want to do with it. We’ll even teach them how to make salsa.”
Auxiliary buildings will house training areas for woodworking and small engine repair — “places where they can socialize while also learning job skills,” Albertus said. Additional facilities for laundry and fitness also will help reinforce the village concept, bringing residents together while remaining within a convenient walking distance from their homes. The village also will be home to a 24-hour on-site resident administrator.
For more information on Forever and Always Patriots, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, visit its website at foreverandalwayspatriots.com, and connect on Facebook @foreverandalwayspatriots.
Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.
