Organization raising funds to build housing for Winnipeg’s homeless veterans

Eldren Thuen and Rick Mayhew discuss how the Knights of Columbus are raising money for the ‘Homes for Heroes Foundation Winnipeg Village.’

One not-for-profit organization is raising funds to help put an end to veteran homelessness in Winnipeg.

Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s organization committed to community improvement, is holding a fundraiser for the Homes for Heroes Foundation’s Kinsmen Winnipeg Veterans’ Village.

Through this project, Homes for Heroes will build a new development in Transcona that will offer homeless veterans transitional housing.

“These are designed for veterans to assist them in reintegrating into society,” said Knights of Columbus’ Eldren Thuen in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Tuesday.

“It’s all homeless veterans. Winnipeg has 250+ homeless veterans at any given time.”

The housing development will be built at 3 Transcona Blvd and will consist of 20 small, inward-facing homes. It will also include a resource centre with two on-site social workers, who will provide care for the veterans.

“We look after them,” Thuen explained. “We look after their health care. We reintegrate them through teaching personal hygiene and things like that.”

According to Thuen, the organization needs $10 million to build the Veterans’ Village and operate it in perpetuity.

At its upcoming gala, Knights of Columbus is hoping to raise $100,000 to contribute to the project. The event includes speeches, live entertainment and a three-course meal.

“[The gala] is for an amazing cause,” said Knights of Columbus’ Rick Mayhew.

“Because we’re a non-profit, we’re a charitable organization, we get to give tax receipts.”

The gala is set to take place at The MET on March 8. More information can be found online

• With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé