BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) - The North and Central Division of the Salvation Army is creating transitional housing for veterans experiencing homelessness, but in doing so, other people are being forced to leave their homes.
Salvation Army used a grant from the U.S. Veterans Administration to buy 107 Oak Creek Plaza and 1908 and 1910 Tracy Drive in south Bloomington—the non-profit plans to update and provide 19 apartment units for veterans and their families.
However, those units are currently occupied.
Nineteen tenants received a letter from the Salvation Army’s project manager on July 19 informing them of the recent purchases and asking them to move out by Aug. 31.
“We’re not prepared for this. We’re not financially stable to just pack up in 30 days and move out,” said Douglas Manley, who’s been there for seven years.
A spokesperson for the Salvation Army said at the time of purchase, all tenants were on a month-to-month lease agreement, and the transitional housing program for veterans was expected to be operational by October.
Since the original announcement, the organization requested an extension for the opening date with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to give families more time to find a new home.
Aubrie Grabowski, who’s been there for 13-years, said she was aware the buildings were for sale, but assumed they’d be sold to another leasing company.
“We really didn’t have a problem with moving. It was the way that they went about it because what you’re doing for the veterans is great, but you’re also potentially making 18 families homeless,” Grabowski said.
Earlier this year, a McLean County Housing Coalition report found that 7,500 units are needed in McLean County, including Bloomington.
Manley wanted to move to Tennessee last year, and now he might be able to follow through with that. However, Grabowski prefers to stay in Bloomington to keep her daughters in Unit 5 schools.
The Salvation Army’s spokesperson said the organization is working with the VA to provide financial help to current tenants during this transition, but the amount of financial aid and a new move-out date aren’t known yet.
“We’re not wanting to stop them from doing what they want or need to do, we just want to be treated fairly,” said Manley.
According to the Salvation Army, 8% of the homeless population in the U.S. are veterans.
This story first appeared on 25NewsNow.com.
