STILL SERVING AMERICA

Public Hearing on Homeless Transitional Housing

June 22, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Montana Healthcare System provides notice of a public hearing to present VA's proposal and receive views on an Enhanced-Use Lease (EUL) project at VA's Fort Harrison, MT campus (VAMC). The VAMC proposes to establish an EUL for transitional homeless housing with priority for Veterans utilizing Building No. 2 located on the VAMC campus at 3720 Liberty Lane. Building No. 2 is currently underutilized and is used mostly for storage. Building No. 2 was originally designed as an infirmary and was built in the year 1895. It is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The public is invited to attend the hearing and encouraged to submit comments on the proposed enhanced-use lease project in writing prior to the hearing to:

Teresa E. Bell
Planning VA Montana Healthcare System
3687 Veterans Drive
Fort Harrison, MT 59636

HEARING DATE AND TIME:

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. (MST)

HEARING LOCATION:

VAMC Fort Harrison Recreation Hall
Room 112 of the Hospital building
3717 Veterans Drive
Fort Harrison, MT 59636

IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTY TO BE LEASED:

The Fort Harrison VAMC is located at 3717 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT. The campus consists of approximately 136 acres and 37 buildings. The targeted EUL site on the VAMC campus consists of Building No. 2. Building No. 2 is a two and one-half story late Victorian style brick building. It is currently unoccupied due to handicap access, lead based paint and seismic deficiencies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED USE OF THE PROPERTY:

The proposed use of the property is to provide transitional housing for homeless Veterans on a priority basis. The project will improve their quality of life by providing housing and better access to health care services. VA will benefit from reduced operational expenses of maintaining underutilized assets. The lease of this building will result in significant cost savings to the VAMC in reduced hospitalizations, residential rehabilitation episodes of care, and energy consumption.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED LEASE:

Using VA's Enhanced Use Leasing authority, VA plans to lease the site to a selected lessee for up to 75 years. The lessee would develop the VA property for the proposed use. In exchange for the EUL, VA seeks to obtain in-kind consideration from the lessee in the form of services to Veterans. This project is a direct result of the Secretary's Site Review Initiative to develop housing for homeless veterans. This population's housing choices are very limited or non-existent. The location of housing for homeless Veterans on the VAMC campus will enhance access to health care services to these Veterans.

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