March 28, 2024

First Home for Homeless Vet Taken to Greenwell

homeless vet

A program to place local homeless veterans in homes at Greenwell State Park has marked a major milestone as the first home,for the first homeless vet, is placed on the property. The home was placed due to the collaborative efforts of several organizations, including the Three Oaks Center, Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, Patuxent Habitat for Humanity, Compass Systems, Inc. and the Greenwell Foundation.

Greenwell State Park is at 25420 Rosedale Manor Lane in Hollywood, MD.

In the program, veterans who have been homeless are being placed in homes designed for homeless vets and sited on the nearly 600 acres of the park. The homes are being constructed in part by students at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. The first home for a homeless vet was transported by Dan Orwig, owner of First Rate Construction.

The interior of the home is being finished through the efforts of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity, with the help of local contractors such as Andy Shizak, owner of Blake Creek Design; John Quirk of A Better Plumber; and Austin Davis, vice president of W.M. Davis Inc.

Patuxent Habitat for Humanity provides volunteer support and knowledge about the best building practices for this unique home for a homeless vet.

Land for the first home was cleared by the Patuxent River chapter of the US Navy Supply Corps Association. US Naval Academy midshipman engineering leadership students are designing and building a deck. The local Junior Navy ROTC will do landscaping that provides both privacy and beauty for the veteran who will live in the home.

Students at the tech center soon will begin construction on a second home. Patuxent Habitat for Humanity continues to provide assistance to veterans through its Veterans Critical Home Repair Program. The program has provided critical home repairs to more than 17 local veterans, giving them the opportunity to age in place gracefully.

Community sponsors Compass Systems Inc., SAIC, AMEWAS, GTMR Inc., J.F. Taylor, Hollywood Lions Club, Northrop Grumman, Precise Systems Inc., Southernwood Roofing & Siding, Wyle, Elks Lodge of St. Mary’s County,  Toyota of Southern Maryland, Smartronix Inc., Winter’s Heating & Cooling, and an anonymous donor have all stood behind this initiative from the beginning. The support of these sponsors has directly purchased the materials necessary to build the first home.

To learn more about how you can support construction of future homes, contact Kaitlyn Fernald at [email protected] or call 301-373-9775.

To learn more about Three Oaks Center, visit their Leader Member Page.

Leave A Comment