Vancouver housing project for homeless women veterans moves ahead

May 11-A long-awaited housing project for homeless women veterans in Vancouver's West Minnehaha neighborhood is gradually moving forward.

Veterans Village, 32 unit planned for 5118 N.E. St. James Road, has been nearly a decade in the making. Since the America for Veterans Foundation broke ground on the project last year, the nonprofit has spent more than $1 million on site preparation, including utilities and other infrastructure. But completing the project will require $3 million more, said Rosemary Fryer of the organization.

"This milestone shows what is possible when a community stands behind its veterans," Ron Fryer, the organization's president, said. "Now, we need partners to help finish the job."

Long road

On Wednesday, Rosemary Fryer, who serves as treasurer and secretary with the organization, grinned broadly as she watched a bulldozer maneuver across uneven ground.

"We're going from the vision now to the reality," she said.

In 2017, Ron Fryer helped raise money and secure a grant for Veterans Village. But the funding expired during the COVID-19 pandemic, setting the project back.

The America for Veterans Foundation finally broke ground on the site in June after real estate agent Ingrid Bradley read about the nonprofit in The Columbian.

"It would be really great if others could look at this project as a blueprint," Bradley said.

Construction started in March. Rosemary Fryer estimates the project will begin housing veterans in about two years. In the meantime, the Fryers hope to set up one of the units on the property within the year and invite community members to visit it.

Before beginning work, the Fryers had formal discussions with neighbors; many showed interest in the project, helping it gain traction in their neighborhood.

"For the most part, it's been very positive," Rosemary Fryer said.

The need

The Fryers said they will continue to push the project forward, despite the obstacles, because they are passionate about their mission. Women make up roughly 17 percent of today's military. Studies show women veterans are more likely to experience homelessness than male veterans. While overall veteran homelessness has decreased, homelessness among women veterans has grown. In 2023, women veterans experiencing homelessness surged nearly 24 percent from the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Unsheltered homelessness - women living on the streets or in cars - jumped nearly 48 percent.

Suicide rates among women veterans are also steadily rising. From 2001 to 2021, suicide rates for this population increased 104 percent, according to VA.

The Fryers said the property will help connect the residents to resources in the community.

"This is different from just a place to live," Rosemary Fryer said. "This is a place where they can live and find their way back to stability."

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Veteran's Village will be apartments.

This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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