By Jordee Kalk, KCRG-TV9 | Posted 6:09 PM, Oct 17, 2017 | Updated Tue 11:50 PM, Oct 17, 2017
WAVERLY, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) — A shelter specifically for people who’ve served in the military is celebrating a milestone.
The LZ Phoenix House in Waverly has helped 30 veterans find permanent housing.
Marine Corps veteran Tony Richmond was homeless and stuck a few years ago. Until he found support from the group that is behind the L-Z Phoenix House in Waverly.
“Now I’m going to school at UNI or graphic design and I’m about to graduate with my bachelors,” Richmond said.
Richmond’s story is why the director of the shelter, Neal Jarnagin, says this program has to survive.
“These individuals they are out of the house nine hours a day, they are looking for jobs, housing or going to substance abuse treatments,” he said.
The shelter houses four veterans at a time,
Each case is different, some need to stay a few days, others stay for months. In some cases, the veterans don’t even need a home, just help connecting to other agencies. But now the shelter needs a new home.
“When we were granted access to the home by Waverly Homes, they told us they were going to demolish it in three years and make more Waverly Homes,” Jarnagin said.
The donated house they are in is set for demolition, the owner is putting in affordable housing.
The nonprofit is working to raise money, so far it has raised about $20,000.
The group behind the shelter, the Rally Point Cedar Valley Veterans, provide a variety of services for veterans in the Waverly area.