2011 Annual Report

2011 Annual Report
changing the end
of the story
a Message from Jack
John F. Downing
In fiscal 2011, the hard work of the previous decade
Police Academy in Agawam, Massachusetts has
began to produce results on a whole new scale for
brought hope for a brighter tomorrow to hundreds
Soldier On and the veterans we are dedicated to
of veterans. As you will see in this report, Soldier
Mansfield Veterans Community in Pittsfield was one
serving. We continue to work toward changing the
On is in excellent financial shape. We have worked
of fourteen projects nationwide to be recognized
end of the story for formerly homeless veterans.
hard over the past ten years to establish Soldier On
by HOME with a 2011 Door Knocker Award. It was
For many, the end of the story has changed. We
as an organization defined not only by caring and
one of just four nationwide, and the only project in
are providing men and women who have served
innovative thinking but also by a fiscal philosophy
the northeast, to be recognized in HOME’s Reaching
our country with an unprecedented opportunity
that stresses integrity and transparency. The
Underserved Populations category. The work we have
to achieve stability in their lives. The success in
immediate payoff to that approach is evident in
devoted ourselves to — and the hope we set out to
the first year of the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans
our state and federal audits and in the fact that
create and spread — is taking shape every day.
Community in Pittsfield, Massachusetts has
we have been cited for modeling best practices.
brought dignity to the 39 veterans who own the
That work has also allowed us to develop a unique
cooperative. The veterans who bought equity shares
vision built around the idea that by providing a full
in the cooperative are the first in the history of the
platform of services, we give formerly homeless
United States of America to make the transition
veterans the best chance to succeed. The work we
from homelessness to homeownership. They
have done and that we continue to do in Western
have the ability to spend the rest of their lives in
Massachusetts offers a model to veterans devoted
homes of their own within a community of veterans
to ending veteran homelessness on a national
dedicated to helping and serving each other,
scale. In May 2011, as our fiscal year drew toward
surrounded by the services they need. The awarding
its end, Soldier On became the first veterans
of a Veterans Administration Innovative Technology
organization ever to be honored with a Door
Grant to build the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans
Knocker Award from the United States Department
Community in Leeds, Massachusetts along with
of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME
the transfer of the former Massachusetts State
Investment Partnerships Program. The Gordon H.
President/CEO
Board of Directors
John F. Downing
President/CEO
John Notsley
chair
Lee Murray
vice-chair
Mike DeAngelis
Treasurer
Gary Burt
Secretary
David Tela
Karen Gravelin
John Bresnahan
Bruce Shepley
Corey Murphy
Bernard Jones
David Markham
October 2010
On October 28, we officially laid the welcome mats
at the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community in
Pittsfield, Massachusetts. After years of planning
and developing our vision, and a year of construction,
we welcomed residents of the United States’ first
limited equity cooperative housing project for formerly
homeless veterans. The 39 veterans who moved into
the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community will be
able to spend the rest of their lives in a community
of veterans devoted to helping and serving each
other, surrounded by the services they need.
the people
veterans served in 2011
567 285
total in 2011
on any given night
March 2011
On March 24, we took a major step forward in our plans to create a Gordon H.
Mansfield Veterans Community on 8.7 acres of land leased from the Veterans
Administration in Leeds, Massachusetts. We secured $8.1 million in promised
funding from the VA, which will allow us to create the first 60 to 80 units of
permanent, limited-equity cooperative housing on the VA campus.
community service
Treatment/Programming
Leeds Groups per week
Peer-led groups per week
Pittsfield
Groups per week
Peer-led groups per week
59
29
2,989 HOURS
36
15
1,080 HOURS
in Leeds, on average per month
in pittsfield, on average per month
170
205
Placed into employment
Placed into training/education
Average Hourly Wage
permanent housing
Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, Pittsfield
Berkshire Veterans Residence
Placed in community housing
86
SUFFER FROM ADDICTION
79
%
SUFFER FROM MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES
39
10
117
1%
1%
6%
9%
30%
54%
71
%
ARE DUAL DIAGNOSED
53
average age
<
Employment
%
50
World War II
Korean War
OIF/OEF
Persian Gulf
Vietnam
Post Vietnam
income
sources
3,627,683
$
Veterans Administration Grant and Per Diem Program
600,000
$
Department of Labor
240,000
$
Massachusetts department of veterans services
121,173
$
City of Northampton HUD
220,650
$
Private Contributions & Fundraising events
525,786
$
$
Program Income
5,725,728
$
388,383
Soldier On Veterans Village I
total revenue
$
2,053
Investment Income
May 2011
In May, we were honored by HUD’s HOME
Investment Partnerships Program with a Door
Knocker Award for 2011. The Gordon H. Mansfield
Veterans Community in Pittsfield was one of
fourteen projects nationwide to receive a Door
Knocker Award. The HOME Program is the
largest federal block grant program dedicated
to producing affordable housing at the state
and local level. Each year, HOME recognizes
the best of the programs it helps fund with the
Door Knocker Awards. The Gordon H. Mansfield
Veterans Community in Pittsfield was honored in
the Reaching Underserved Populations category.
The Door Knocker Award recognized the Gordon
H. Mansfield Veterans Community as a model for
developing innovative housing solutions.
Cost-BENEFIT
The Soldier On model provides for veterans at roughly a third of the cost
of more traditional approaches. One homeless veteran can typically cost
taxpayers $80,000 per year with recurring needs including the costs of
shelter, police and emergency medical response, medical and mental health
treatment, substance abuse services, court costs and incarceration. The
annual cost per veteran at Soldier On is $16,666. Within that cost is payment
to veterans for on-site work that contributes to daily operating maintenance.
october 2010
On October 28, we presented the 2010 Soldier On
Award to United States Congressman John W.
Olver. Rep. Olver provided support in the House
that was critical to our success in creating the
Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community in
Pittsfield. The 2009 Soldier On Award honoree was
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff of the United States Armed Forces.
August 2010
On August 24, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
transferred to Soldier On ownership of the former
Western Massachusetts Regional Police Academy
in Agawam. Lt. Governor Tim Murray was on hand
for the ceremonial signing over of the 6.9-acre
parcel for a price of $1. We are moving forward
with plans to develop a Gordon H. Mansfield
Veterans Community on the property, starting
with conversion of the police academy building
into 50 studio apartments. The project will provide
formerly homeless veterans, men and women alike,
with the opportunity to become homeowners.
expenses
926,706
$
4,483,565
$
administrative
represented by the orange area
Homeless Services
represented by the blue area
ASSETS
Total Current Assets
Total Property and Equipment
Total Assets
$822,768
$9,196,653
$10,019,421
LIABILITIES
Total Current Liabilities
Long-Term Debt
Deferred Payment Loans
Total Liabilities
Unrestricted Net Assets
Total Liabilities and
Net Assets
$1,459,096
$1,001,109
$4,527,260
$6,987,456
$3,031,956
10,019,421
$
Veterans Affairs Financial Service Center Grant and Per Diem Audit performed September 2010
Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Communities
are named for Gordon H. Mansfield, former
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A highly
decorated Army veteran of two tours of duty in
Vietnam, Mr. Mansfield was appointed to the
position of Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
in November 2003 and served until January 2009. Mr. Mansfield served as
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the Department of
Housing and Urban Development from 1989 to 1993. While serving as company
commander with the 101st Airborne Division during his second tour, he was
wounded during the Tet Offensive of 1968 sustaining a spinal cord injury. For his
actions while his unit was under fire, he was decorated with the Distinguished
Service Cross, the second highest personal decoration for valor in combat.
The passion and perseverance Mr. Mansfield has exhibited throughout a
lifetime spent in service to fellow veterans has inspired and empowered
veterans to live their lives to the highest possible level.
changing the end of the story
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