New Veteran's home takes shape in downtown Fresno

The ground breaking for the Fresno Veterans home was led by a smiling. Then governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. His enthusiasm was met by its staunchest supporter and Marine Corps veteran Charlie waters. "We can see this filling up in a hurry."

On Tuesday morning, nearly a year later he's as eager to share the progress as he was to turn that first dirt. And the progress at California & Marks is pretty impressive!

Charlie Waters were there at every delay, every fight for funds and every potential road block, "It was nine years, almost 10 years, of a fight and now we're into the actual building. But it's been up, it's been down but, it's been up, it's been down, twice the money was taken from us."

The state of California finally agreed to build the five housing areas and their central common area with shops, cafes, visiting and recreation for 3-hundred veterans who need assisted living or who have memory problems.

Andre Arnold is the state's veterans home project director, "And those needs are going to be met by those who are looking out for their fellow community members." Each veteran will have a private room with bath and television. The contractor is using a mock up of the individual rooms see what different adjustments are needed to best meet the needs of those who will live here BEFORE they are built. That says Arnold is good thing, "To the make sure the product and the space they'll be living in is precisely what we want."

The one-hundred eighty-six million dollar cost is being funded by both Federal and State dollars says Waters, "It's for the guys and gals who really need it. And there are so many that really do."

It has taken about year to get construction to this point in the new of veterans home. They say it will open in Southwest Fresno in April of 2012.

The non-profit Central California Veterans Home Support Foundation was created to continue to assist who will live in this veteran's home with whatever is needed. And they welcome folks to join in that mission. You can reach the CCVHSF by email or attend a meeting. General meetings are open to the public.

Central California Veterans Home Support Foundation, Inc
http://www.ccvhsf.org/

Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM unless noted at the:

Clovis Veterans Memorial Building
5th Street & Hughes
Clovis, California