Vista Maria housing for female veterans

Well, women veterans are a growing population in need of support across Michigan, but their needs often go overlooked. Now, a longtime Metro Detroit non-profit is opening a newly renovated housing space designed specifically for them. Fox 2's Tanisha Cordell takes us inside. So this is all about healing, safety, and long-term stability. Vista Maria, one of 19 Michigan organizations to receive the Veterans Affairs GPD grant, this team ready to get started. From a HUD perspective, the number of homeless has gone down nationally year to year, which is fantastic, and it's a lot of work and a lot of great people. Thank you. However, For women veterans, it's gone up. Women, just by their nature, don't necessarily seek out shelters, emergency shelters, because they don't feel safe for them. It's mainly populated by men. They typically stay in relationships that may not be safe. They may be sleeping in cars. Odds are you have kids who may be going to school with somebody who actually is homeless. You just don't know it. What's so unique about this space to help them heal? Yeah, so not only to get on this campus is it secure, but also you saw the building itself, you have to be badged in. They have their own bedroom, their own personal space, you have a lot of community space, There aren't 30 women in one building. We have smaller home-like settings because we want you to feel as if you can connect with others, but you don't have to connect with 30 people all at once. So how many women are we expecting, you know, once doors open? Yeah, so our VA program has the capacity for 14 women in one building along with four children. We do have, we're waiting for the final signature on our VA grant, but as soon as they start referring folks, we're ready. Like I said, the staff has been hired. They're in training right now as we speak. And so we're very excited to get started. We're just trying to make it comfortable for everyone. And we take that very seriously. We want people to feel secure. If you choose Vista Maria as the place you want to come to, then we want to make you safe. You may not be raising your hand, but we see you. We do see you. And we want to help in any way, shape, or form. Tanisha Cordell, Fox 2 News.