A small focus group comprised of veterans (and some current duty service members) recently selected William J. Wood Veterans House as the name of the Multi-Service Center’s Veterans Housing Project being built on Pacific Highway near Dash Point Road in Federal Way. The selection committee represented a diverse group of veterans from all branches of the military. Name suggestions were solicited from the community at large, and then narrowed down to ten names for the selection committee to choose from. It was a close vote, and very hard to select a name out of the many great suggestions that were submitted.
William J. Wood was a tireless advocate for veterans. He served in the Army as a Warrant Officer during the Vietnam War. Mr. Wood was a long-time member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, an organization based on the principle: “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” The organization advocates for full access to quality health care, in particular for disabling injuries and illnesses incurred during military service.
After retiring, Mr. Wood, with another veteran, created the Veterans Incarcerated Program that assists veterans who are having issues with the criminal justice system, helps them obtain VA benefits and provides counseling to address service related problems. In 2005, Mr. Wood was part of a group of veterans who advocated for a local property tax levy to fund additional services for veterans. By the end of that year the residents of King County voted and overwhelmingly passed an initiative creating the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy which provides a broad array of services for veterans, their families, and others in need.
MSC is currently seeking donations and sponsorships for the William J. Wood Veterans House. A donation of $500 or more will get your name on the wall in the lobby of the building. Limited room sponsorships ranging from $5,000- $15,000 are also available. For more information on how you can be a permanent part of the William J. Wood Veterans House, please contact Sarah Villian at [email protected] or 253.835.7678, ext. 104.
The roughly 13 million dollar housing facility is being developed in partnership with Shelter Resources Incorporated. The project will offer 44 one, two, and three bedroom units to homeless veterans and their families. All units will be fully furnished and eligible for rental subsidies through the HUD VASH Program in collaboration with King County Housing Authority. The building should be completed in November, 2016.
MSC’s William J. Wood Veterans House is possible due to the generous funding of the Washington State Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund; King County Housing Finance Program; King County Veterans and Human Services Levy; King County Housing Authority; Federal Home Loan Bank (Umpqua Bank as the sponsor); the National Equity Fund in conjunction with the MetLife Foundation; LISC/Impact Capital, Bring Them Homes Initiative; The Home Depot Foundation; Washington Federal Bank; tax credits through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission; and the generous resources of MSC and Shelter Resources, Inc.
