Vets group receives charter

An organization dedicated to assisting veterans with housing solutions recently received its national charter.

The Northeast Ohio chapter of Purple Heart Homes, serving Cuyahoga, Lake and Lorain counties, has received its official charter from the national headquarters of the Statesville, N.C.-based organization.

Following a presentation from co-founder and CEO John Gallina, chapter President Jeff Dean said the organization now can begin functioning as a board following an 18-month qualification process under the close guidance of Purple Heart Homes national headquarters.

“It was just a presentation, but it was a formal thing,” Dean said. “And it was very good for us and we were happy to finally be able now to do what we need to do.”

Purple Heart Homes provides housing solutions to veterans through home ownership programs and additional services in providing assistance in allowing them to stay in their homes longer.

Dean, of Chagrin Falls, said the Northeast Ohio chapter has assisted on projects in North Carolina and involved in about 10 different housing projects locally in providing homes to veterans.

The chapter has given away six homes in South Euclid and assisting with mortgage payments, he said. The chapter also works closely

with Home Depot and the organization is looking forward to stepping up its efforts locally.

“We have local people here who have worked hard to put together the board,” Dean said. “Now we are able to bring in other veterans groups in the area, other nonprofits in the area.

“We have the resources to do that because we’re local

and we’re able to find folks in need.”

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Dean said he sees the need locally and the board of between 7 and 11 members and numerous volunteers want to help veterans stay in their homes later in life in addition to addressing the needs of younger veterans.

“I’ve worked a lot with

different veterans groups,” he said. “And then as I’ve been meeting veterans there more and more who have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), it’s hard to define and it’s hard to spot.

“I’m talking to guys my age on a regular basis who are sharing stories about PTSD from 50 years ago, and they still can’t sleep at night.”