Click here to view or download photos of the event and interior/exterior shots of A Safe Haven Veteran Suites.

CHICAGO – On a bright, brisk morning the day before Thanksgiving, A Safe Haven held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the “A Safe Haven Veteran Suites,” a transitional housing site where homeless veterans can rebuild their lives to sustainable self-sufficiency with pride and honor.After a few speeches, including one from a homeless veteran who is moving into the site, the group formally cut the ribbon and went on a tour of the facility.

Veterans begin moving in Monday to A Safe Haven Veteran Suites, long-term community-based transitional apartments dedicated to homeless vets. The newly renovated building offers safe, comfortable, well-appointed accommodations for 30 men and women who served in the military, in which they can live for up to 2 years while finding work and permanent housing. The property is strategically located across the street from A Safe Haven Harvest, an urban farm to help our veterans learn to grow fresh herbs and vegetables, learn proper nutrition, and eat healthy, balanced meals.

Congressman Danny K. Davis commented how glad he was the site was opening in his district.

"A Safe Haven is one of the most creative, one of the most effective, and one of the most dynamic social service institutions in America. Not just in Chicago, not just for veterans, but in terms of a vast array of creative ideas,” said Davis. “I can't commend [A Safe Haven] enough for what it is that they do, and what it is that they mean, to not just this community, but as I just indicated, to people all over the world."

Anthony Watson, a veteran moving into the apartment, was very grateful on the day before Thanksgiving.

"I thank God for A Safe Haven. They saved my life. And I can speak for some of the other veterans, they saved their lives,” said Watson.“I was homeless, I was on the floor. Thank God for A Safe Haven. Keep pouring everything you got into A Safe Haven, because we need veterans to be housed."

A Safe Haven now has 17 sites throughout Cook County. For this site, A Safe Haven partnered withnational Department of Veterans Affairs and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Brian Rowland, CEO of A Safe Haven and himself a veteran of the Army, commented on the importance of serving homeless veterans.

“Most Americans are one paycheck away from being in crisis. Veterans come back and fall into that even quicker,” said Rowland.“But people get stable, and some people don't need a lot, they just need a little help, a little time, a little support.”

An astounding 30% of homeless adults in the United States are military veterans. A Safe Haven has served over 500 homeless veterans this year. Since September 11, 2001, A Safe Haven has been increasing the services it provides to homeless veterans. Two more dedicated sites are on their way, in addition to exclusive job training programs.

Neli Vazquez-Rowland, President of A Safe Haven Foundation, planned the ceremony.

“At A Safe Haven, our mission is clear,” said Vazquez-Rowland. “That is, to end homelessness.”

The event began with the national anthem sung by Olivia Reyes of Niles North High School. It ended with Vazquez-Rowland presenting two awards to Rodrigo Garcia, Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, and Michelle Y. Blakely, Associate Director of Operations at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, for their partnership with A Safe Haven on behalf of veterans in crisis.

Mark Williams, Executive Director of Disabilityworks at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and Robert Steele, Cook County Commissioner also spoke.

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About A Safe Haven

A Safe Haven empowers families and individuals experiencing homelessness or crisis to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency. After a crisis struck their own family, Neli Vazquez-Rowland and Brian Rowland left their jobs in finance to found A Safe Haven in 1994. Frustrated by fragmented services, Neli and Brian integrated supportive housing, case management, addiction treatment, education, and life skills, with a network of affordable housing, industry training, and job placement (including landscaping, food service, security, housekeeping, and customer service) at A Safe Haven. Now people in crisis, particularly the homeless, have a comprehensive, integrated path to self-sufficiency and independence. After finishing a program customized to each resident’s needs, A Safe Haven graduates thrive as they contribute to society. Graduates earned $3.2 million and paid nearly $500,000 in taxes in 2010, due to some of the United States’ highest job placement and retention rates, measured by the Department of Labor. At a time when economic and political realities demand a new approach, A Safe Haven helps people help themselves, partnering public and private interests to deliver a sustainable, evidence-based social business enterprise model that makes a direct and lasting impact. A Safe Haven has been lauded by leaders in academia, policy, and business, and other stakeholders for developing the model to solve homelessness and crisis.A Safe Haven relies on public and private support at every level.Learn more and watch a video of veterans at A Safe Haven at www.ASafeHaven.org or www.Facebook.com/ASafeHavenFoundation.