SUMTER, S.C. — Veterans in Sumter will soon have access to a new housing community designed exclusively for them, making housing more affordable and accessible.
The Hidden Wounds Village, a 12-bedroom complex, was just approved by the Sumter City-County Planning Commission. Advocates behind the project say it will offer affordable while bringing veterans closer to critical resources.
“Knowing that we can have a special place for veterans who deserve it, to be able to have a place to stay and call theirs—some call it a place a home—that would be awesome,” said Lance Newman of the Hidden Wounds Resource Center.
The Hidden Wounds Resource Center provides financial assistance and emotional support to veterans. The new housing complex will be located directly across the street from the center. Newman says the veterans staying there will have easy access to the center's resources, like peer groups and food pantry.
“There will be government money coming in... through the HUD-VASH program that will assist veterans to be able to live in these housing and being able to afford it,” Newman explained.
The development will include one-bedroom apartments and a community building. Because of its limited capacity, Newman says outreach will determine which veterans are in the greatest need.
The project is a collaboration with VALanthropy, a nonprofit that builds housing for low-income veterans facing homelessness.
“We'll be able to at least start out with 12 veterans, and then we're hoping to be able to build more of these, to have more veterans be able to come in and help those who are having issues with housing and finances,” Newman added.
Now that the plans have been approved, the project is expected to break ground in January.