Residents of Veterans Haven – transitional housing program
Mrs. Barbara Wilfing, widow of Veterans Haven founder LTC (ret) Steve Wilfing
Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General
Col. Emil Philibosian, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs
Robert Durante, Veterans Haven superintendent 

WHEN:  Thursday, October 24, at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:  202 Spring Garden Road, Winslow, NJ.
Due to current construction on local roads, the media is advised to call first for directions, 609-567-3715 ext. 114

DETAILS: Veterans’ Haven, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ transitional housing program for homeless veterans, was founded in November 1993 by the late Lt.Col. (Ret) Steve Wilfing who was then the director of the Division of Veteran Programs. 

Wilfing established a transitional housing program, “Veterans Haven” to help more than 7,000 homeless veterans in New Jersey.  Since the start of this program, his dream has allowed 410 homeless veterans to successfully complete the program and become productive members of society.

 The normal stay is up to 24 months while the veteran prepares him or herself to return to independent living.  The program, divided into three phases - treatment; self-reclamation and community reintegration, currently has 53 residents many of whom are working full-time or attending to school.

 To be admitted into the program, the veteran must agree to a long-term program focusing on psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation.  The program is drug and alcohol free, and has a staff specializing in mental health, addictions, social work, vocational rehabilitation and nursing. 

  Since the program began, more than 68 percent of the Haven’s residents have successfully completed their recovery and returned to society as wage-earning, tax-paying citizens.

  “We are proud of the outstanding success of Veterans Haven, which was initially funded by Governor James J. Florio,” said The Adjutant General of New Jersey Brig.Gen. Glenn Rieth.  “We are committed to taking care of veterans – ensuring the benefits and entitlements are there for those that we owe so much.”

Veterans Haven is funded jointly by the State of New Jersey through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. New Jersey provides one-third of the Haven’s funding.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has also made an ongoing commitment to Veterans Haven. Through per diem funding, the Haven currently receives approximately one-third of the total operational costs from the VA.  “The VA has no plans to cut off per diem funding to Veterans Haven,” said VA Spokesman Steve Westerfeld.  The VA has also recently help fund the purchase of a van for the Haven.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has also reaffirmed their commitment to the Haven with a grant of $358,000 for fiscal year 2003.  The last HUD grant the transitional housing program received was a three-year grant for fiscal years 1999 to 2002.  Beginning in September all HUD grants are now renewable annually.

Veterans Haven Superintendent Robert Durante also indicated that the program could not have become what it is today without the caring and generous donations of many people and organizations like the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Rolling Thunder and Vietnam Veterans of America. 
For more information on the Veterans Haven transitional housing program call (609) 561-0269.