Veterans Community Project

Because of you, U.S. Air Force Veteran Maureen has a safe place to heal this summer.

At this time last year, she was piecing together hotel stays to keep a roof over her head in the summer heat—finances dwindling, debt climbing, and stability slipping away.

But now, thanks to your generosity, Maureen is instead on the front porch of her tiny home, surrounded by pink flowers she planted and part of a community that cares about her.

Since moving into VCP Village, that daily stability has led to meaningful progress as she has worked to unwind the aftereffects of homelessness. She has paid down debt, repaired her credit score, and recently purchased a car in her own name for the first time.

And most importantly, Maureen says, she also finally had the opportunity to face her past trauma head-on. Recently, she participated in an intensive VA-affiliated therapy program, returning home with clarity and the tools to rebuild important relationships in her life.

Today, her healing journey continues. But in this moment, Maureen feels a renewed sense of pride in her service, which spanned four years and included a deployment in support of Operation Desert Fox. She also has a message for those navigating similar challenges:

“Trauma does not discriminate—and it does not get to define your identity as a Veteran.”

Thank you, Maureen, for sharing your story of transformation.

And thank you to each of you who helped make it possible.

A few weeks ago, Veterans Community Project Operations Associate Dave left The Home Depot with products he didn’t pay for. “They hollered at me as I was walking out,” he laughs.

Here’s what happened: This Home Depot store happened to have a surplus of American flags. And its employee Gabe saw Dave wearing his VCP shirt in the vestibule. Having long supported our mission personally and through the store, Gabe asked if we would have a need for the flags.

Absolutely, Dave responded. You may not know this, but our Veteran residents can take all of the brand-new furnishings of their tiny home when they transition out of VCP Villages and into permanent housing—including the American flag that flies on their front porch during their stay.

Presenting the flag on move-out day is always a powerful and emotional moment. Replacing it, however, is also a very real cost when you’re serving hundreds of Veterans each year.

So, today on Flag Day, we’re grateful for our orange-vested friends who’ve been with us since our early days in Kansas City and now stand by our Veterans across the United States. And on a tour of our Village with Store Manager Rana, Dave, and VCP Co-Founder Brandonn, Gabe explained why:

“When there is a good cause in our communities, Home Depot doesn’t bat an eye,” he says.

Then adding, “We care a lot about our Veterans here.”

Thanks to you, this tiny home is empty today. Because of your support, a U.S. Army Veteran just used this space to completely rebuild his life after experiencing homelessness. Over a 15-month, rent-free stay in VCP Village, he stabilized his health, restored his finances, and accomplished every goal he set for himself. Last week, with a humble smile, he packed his bags and moved into his very own permanent apartment. But before he departed, he left a message for the next Veteran who will soon step inside to begin their own journey: “First, take the time to relax. Then, start making steady progress. And the VCP team will help you along the way—like they did for me.”

U.S. Army Veteran Kelly spent most of his 20 years of military service as a recruiter. Along the way and across the country, his pitch to potential recruits was consistent.

“'I saw you looking—and I’ve got a uniform that’s just your size,'” he grins. "I must've said that thousands of times."

But after retiring as a Sergeant First Class, life took an unstable turn. Following the passing of his parents and sudden medical crises—a heart attack and a stroke—Kelly found himself unable to work, unable to survive on his pension alone, and living in a homeless shelter.

“It was destitute—better than the streets, I guess, but not by much,” Kelly remembers. “I started to have those feelings of hopelessness. And there were times when I’d thought about throwing in the towel.”

Last September, everything changed. At a career fair, Kelly met Ian, a VCP Case Manager and fellow Army Veteran. He shared his story, and the pair jumped into action.

By October, Kelly traded his shelter bed for a key to a fully furnished, affordable apartment—one of 425 veterans helped by VCP of St. Louis last year.

Today, Kelly remains focused on health and housing. Between doctor and physical therapy appointments, he relaxes watching old Westerns with his Shih Tzu, Buddy. He still comes by our Outreach Center, too, sometimes for assistance and other times just camaraderie.

“I owe a lot to VCP... it has been a godsend,” he says. “As I tell other Veterans, if you are honest and forthcoming about what you need, this place will help you get it.”

To that end, as Kelly looks to his future with newfound hope, he also thinks back to that moment in September. The former recruiter says that it was a pitch of just five words—delivered from one retired soldier to another—that has changed the trajectory of his life:

“How can I help you?”

Today, our mission to fix Veteran homelessness across this country took a big step forward.

Or, perhaps you even could say, a Texas Two-Step forward.

Introducing: Veterans Community Project of Dallas.

Following a successful Dallas City Council vote this morning, VCP is officially beginning the process to bring our nationally recognized transitional housing model to Dallas. As our seventh nationwide location, this Village will expand our 85% success rate to Dallas Veterans.

VCP of Dallas will feature:

50 transitional tiny homes ranging from 260-square-foot individual units to 360-square-foot family units. The homes—designed to promote safety, healing, and dignity—will be arranged in a familiar barracks-style layout, will be pet-friendly, and designed using PTSD-informed principles.

A 7,000-square-foot community facility built to deliver comprehensive on-site support. That includes full-time case managers to help Veteran residents address housing barriers, develop personalized goals, and work toward sustainable permanent housing.

“Communities reveal what they value by what they build,” said Bryan Meyer, VCP CEO, Co-Founder, and USMC combat Veteran. “This project represents that Dallas stepped forward and decided that Veteran homelessness was its problem to solve. This Village will be a visible reminder that this community values its Veterans and is willing to invest in them.”

Shaped in close collaboration with local leaders, VCP of Dallas will be strategically located directly across from the Dallas VA Medical Center and adjacent to a major light rail hub—giving future residents immediate access to healthcare, transit, and employment.

Today marks the starting point. In the coming weeks, we will establish local fundraising and construction committees to guide the four-phase project with quality and discipline.

Now, we need your help to build it. If you or your company want to help bring this project to life for Dallas Veterans, drop a comment below or hit us up in our DMs.

Because together, Dallas, we can fix Veteran homelessness.

Welcome to the mission.

Today on Memorial Day, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. At Veterans Community Project, we honor their memory by upholding their legacy of service and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

U.S. Navy Veteran Holli is leaving Veterans Community Project with a smile on her face.

And although the dental work is the most visible change, it represents just a small part of a complete transformation while rebuilding her life in a tiny green home at VCP Village.

Over the past eight months, she has also gotten connected to healthcare and improved her mental health, stabilized her income by accessing the VA disability benefits earned through her service three decades ago, and recently celebrated two years of sobriety.

So, yeah, Holli says, “I have a lot to smile about these days.”

This past week, she took that newfound confidence on the road. She packed up her 240-square-foot home—including loading up her beloved 14-year-old pit bull named El Chapo who lived with her inside—and moved into a new apartment to start her next chapter.

Looking ahead, Holli is especially excited about her job at a local homeless shelter. It is a full-circle moment: this is the same shelter where she once received help of her own, and where a community partner first introduced her to VCP. Now, she is paying it forward.

“It’s very uplifting to have been there and now be able to return the favor,” she explained. “I get to put my knowledge and experience to work. It’s good for my soul.”

Before heading out, Holli shared another message—one of gratitude for the VCP supporters who gave her the chance to reset. With a subtle flash of her new smile, she said simply:

“Thank you for believing in me—in all of us.”

Through personal growth and adversity, Bill and Elizabeth Malzewski have worked steadily to help turn Veterans Community Project of Milwaukee from a vision into a reality.

Meet the power (tool) couple behind VCP of Milwaukee - Veterans Community Project Bill and Elizabeth Malzewski have rallied their community behind this mission to fix Veteran homelessness