Photo courtesy Veterans Place Chris Savoy, left, house manager, Karen Boyce, administrative manager and Mike Brennan, program manager, of Veterans Place ready the Vine Street facility to open this week. Veterans Place on Vine Street is having its grand opening and is inviting the community to come and see what has been done with the old Mayo Delary House.

Built upon the foundation of a dream of a formerly homeless Vietnam veteran, the grant approvals, purchase, renovation, and staffing of a VA sponsored transitional housing program for homeless veterans is ready to welcome its first residents said Kanen Haupt, the director.

The Board, Staff and some of the first residents will be opening the facility to the community to thank it and extend an invitation to join them at an Open House on Saturday September 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All are invited to come and meet the staff, see the renovations, ask questions and enjoy some light refreshments.

Over $1,400,000 was raised to remodel and update the facility including a loan from Northfield Savings Bank in the amount of $350,000 as well as substantial grants from both Federal and State governments.

The target date for opening had been May, 2009 but the certificate from the Veterans Administration was delayed so the first residents began arriving only this week.

When fully occupied, it is expected that up to 26 veterans will take residence.