Our chapter meeting will be held on Saturday, February 2012 at 11am at Buster’s on the Lake, our usual spot (8320 N. Hayden Road, 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258).

Our Special Program
Joan Sisco, “Mary Ellen’s Place,” Affordable Housing for Women Veterans
* Please see below for additional information on Mary Ellen’s Place. *

Daughters, Can You Spare a Can
Please bring cans of food or non-perishable food items for St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. They are running very short on food supply.

Mary Ellen’s Place
Affordable Housing for Women Veterans
224 E. Hatcher Rd. Phoenix, Arizona 85020

From the Revolutionary War to the present, women have made vital contributions to our nation through embracing citizenship’s highest responsibility, Military Service.

The lack of housing is cited as the No. 1 unmet need of America’s veterans, according to a recent VA CHALENG report. Research also states there is one common thread our women veterans desire and need, and that is social interaction with other women veterans when looking for and receiving services.

The Community Housing Partnership (CHP), a leader in providing affordable housing in Arizona and Veterans First Ltd. (VFL), is dedicated to assisting and enhancing the lives of veterans past, present and future. Their families and caregivers are collaborating to address the lack of affordable housing for women veterans. CHP and VFL are working together to provide affordable housing for women veterans through Mary Ellen’s Place. CHP owns and will manage the property with VFL assisting in renovating, obtaining tenants, developing programs, and services. They will also work to engage the support of veteran and community organizations, corporations and individuals.

Mary Ellen’s Place is named in memory and honor of Mary Ellen Piotrowski, a U.S. Navy Woman Veteran serving our Nation from 1950 to 1952. Mary Ellen worked diligently through her dual membership in the American Legion and Auxiliary since 1953, along with years of community service to bring recognition, appreciation and equal entitlements for our military women past, present and future. She also was a dedicated friend, mentor and advocate for all our Nation’s veterans.

Mary Ellen’s Place will assist in addressing the housing need and provide the common thread of social interaction, while creating a culture to meet the unique needs of our women veterans. It will provide a comfortable, supportive and safe home for our women veterans with no limit on age or tenancy, and will assist in preventing homelessness through affordable rent. For our current women veterans, it will provide a safe environment for those who need to decompress and slowly reintegrate back into the family and social atmosphere they once cherished.

Upon completion, it will house 15 affordable furnished studio apartments, a manager’s office with two computer stations for tenants, along with a community living room, library, kitchen and laundry room. The back yard will feature a covered patio with plenty of space for a vegetable garden, flower beds and outdoor group activities.

The onsite manager will play an intricate role in creating and sustaining the supportive culture, social interaction and community engagement with our women veterans.

The property originally consisted of four suites of doctors’ offices. CHP purchased the property with a forgivable loan through the City of Phoenix’s CDBG Program. As an adaptive reuse project, we have spent the last three years transforming the office building into studio apartments for use as affordable housing for women veterans. Grants from the Stardust Foundation and Arizona State Housing Department Trust Fund through the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services have assisted with the major renovation elements of the property. With the financial and in-kind support of Veteran and Community Organizations, Arizona Department of Veterans Services’, Corporations, Non-Profits and individuals we have been able to fully furnish the common areas, apartments and provide a comfortable back yard. Our many volunteers have and continue to participate in fundraising, interior/exterior design, cleaning, painting, landscaping, flooring installation and handyperson work.

Tenants will be found through, but not limited to, statewide women veteran network and referrals from Phoenix VA Medical Center Women’s Program, Homeless and VA OEF/OIF Programs, Phoenix VA Regional Office, VA Vet Centers, Veteran Benefit Counselors, Veteran and Community Organizations and Individuals.

ALSO: Here is a website if you would like to listen to one of the residents living at Mary Ellen’s Place. Sherri Wilson is a lovely young woman rebuilding her life because she has the opportunity to do this through Mary Ellen’s Place and the generosity of those who care to support our veterans.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/9pm-extra/Mary-Ellens-Place-helping-women-veterans-134796768.html

Our Christmas meeting and party will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11am at Buster’s on the Lake, our usual spot (8320 N. Hayden Road, 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258).

Our Special Program
Sharlot Hall presented by Georgia Hier.

Homemade Goodies – Christmas Item Auction
Bring something yummy you baked, made, or a Christmas item for our live auction. It will be fun to see who wants to bid the most and take home a baked item or new Christmas treasure. If you bake or make, include the recipe so the lucky winner can do it again at home. All proceeds from our auction go to charity.

Daughters, Can You Spare a Can
Bring non-perishable food items for St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. They are greatly in need of anything this Christmas Season. Please help with a meal for our neighbors.

Please RSVP by December 14, 2011 to Yolanda McDonald, President of UDC Dixie Chapter 1679.

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, SCV Camp 1525 will be presenting a Jefferson Davis ceremony at the monument. It is located on Highway 60 East, just past Apache Junction. It will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Our meeting will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11am at Buster’s on the Lake, our usual spot (8320 N. Hayden Road, #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258).

Let’s dress up for Halloween. Wear a crazy hat, mask, or be creative. If you would like, please bring a friend.

A UDC Program
“Ghost Stories from the War Between the States”

Daughters, Can You Spare A Can
Please bring non-perishable food items for St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. They are greatly in need of anything.