Anger motivates developer to purchase 3 apartments building to house homeless vets

[Liberal_in_LA]

Anger motivates developer to house vets

Real-estate developer Matt Heslin is an avid cyclist. As he rode the streets of Orange County and Los Angeles, something disturbed him greatly.

"As I rode, I continually saw very young homeless men and women," said Heslin. "I'd see them at the beaches, on freeway off-ramps, in river beds, and under bridges.

"In talking with these young people, I learned many of them are veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars."

Heslin says they've come home and have been turned loose into society without any reintegration plan to make the transition from soldier to civilian.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/heslin-350731-veterans-homeless.html

A grateful mother of two children who served in the Iraq war and was sleeping in a homeless shelter was the recipient of one unit. Another veteran of the war in Afghanistan bounced from his car to homeless shelters. Now, he has a bed, a stove, a couch and a place to call his own.

[Zalatix]

1. Let's get 500 recs for this by day's end. Push for it, folks!

[BlueIris]

33. Yeah, really. If any event deserves attention, this is it.

Homeless veterans are the shame of our nation. Anyone trying to make it better deserves recognition.

[Zalatix]

35. And donations, too. This guy is actually doing something in a meaningful way.

[Fearless]

40. That would be one hell of an accomplishment.

I've been around years and only seen that barrier broken a few times... President Obama elected and support for Occupy Wall Street are the only two this year that I can remember... even 400 is rare.

Still a very important issue.

[Zalatix]

42. True. Perhaps something more substantial should be done.

Fan mail, donations, anything that results in more veterans receiving this kind of help... as well as the rest of the down and out 99%!

[Fearless]

43. +100!

[atheous]

2. It's plain for all to see..

It's a clear cut case of communism at play when a private citizen can care for his fellow man..
Where does the madness end? The next thing you'll know soldiers will want their country to acknowledge their services.

[riverbendviewgal]

8. I thought the same thing...Bill O Liar

would call this guy a commie.


But to me Heslin follows the teaching of what Jesus preaches....

PS. I am not religious but believe in doing good and that we are all in this boat (blue marble) together.

[usrname]

19. The teachings of Jesus

are written in a book. It doesn't require believing in a god to read and follow it. It's too bad that those who profess to be religious and christian rarely follow those teachings.

[Saving Hawaii]

28. Saint Rand would not approve of this altruism.

[Ikonoklast]

57. But the Randians of this world have no problem profiting off the sacrifices made by others.

The Randians are all hypocrites, right down to the soles of their selfish feet.

Rec'ced for someone who is actually putting their money where their mouth is.

[SolutionisSolidarity]

68. No she would not - charity enables parasites.

It's funny watching the randites marry their anti-altruism ideology with the psuedo-Christian fetish of the private act of charity as the only acceptable way to better mankind. The "Christians" spend so much time insisting their anti-government dogma is all about helping the poor, while their atheist counterparts in the conservative movement gleefully pronounce that the whole point of eliminating welfare programs is to cleanse society of our dead weight.

[xiamiam]

3. nice thing to do..the ridiculous waste of war for profit

chewing up lives and potential for WHAT? destroying us at every turn. There is NO EXCUSE.

[tallahasseedem]

4. K&R

[rtracey]

5. fantastic

I wish I could shake Matt Heslin's hand. This guy needs to meet with the President......

[siligut]

6. Matt Heslin is a hero himself

I hope this becomes a trend, to show not all people with resources are selfish greedy teabaggers.

[Egalitarian Thug]

7. This is, on a smaller scale, what we will have to do in the end.

"If we don't hang together, we will most assuredly hang separately."
K&R

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. My Obama campaign t-shirt says: "One voice can CHANGE the world"

More power to you Matt Heslin!

[marias23]

10. Vacant Florida Housing

There are hundreds (probably thousands) of vacant apts and houses in Florida. It is my understanding that some could get torn down. Why not set up a program - perhaps a work for equity program and get homeless folks in them. Probably too logical and certainly too compassionate for the right.

[freshwest]

14. We've tried to integrate some housing for vets with TBI here, but the state won't do it. Instead,

It appears they are determined to keep the property with no chance to occupy despite proven needs. The housing units are now dormant and deteriorating to advance the conservatives' land seizure scheme if they get their way, getting it for pennies on the dollar. Thus destroying what could be a homes for hundreds of people. There is no compassion or ideas on the Right, only private interests and profits to be made. This is going on nationwide. n/t

[progressoid]

11. See? We don't need big government to coddle these people.

The generosity of Americans and the free market will fix it.

[snappyturtle]

13. I think you have hit it on the head. This will be the

repuke line should they acknowledge the generosity.

[WCGreen]

12. And the Mercenary Thugs were each getting what the a squad of grunts earns for the year...

To me, that was the foulest of the foul things that Dick Cheney and Georgie Boy concocted from the evil minds...

[jwirr]

15. Not a vet but have been homeless. This is great.

[Piazza Riforma]

16. Pardon me for leaking on this parade

but I'm not giving this guy any props. He only became indignant because they were veterans not just because they were homeless. This has become the new PC, give veterans free meals, free tickets, free this and free that.

More of the same "patriotic" hero worship. Pick up a gun and you're somebody, don't and you're nobody.

Maybe I might think this he is some kind of angel when he does the same for ALL homeless and not just veterans.

[AmazingSchnitzel]

18. The difference...

... is that veterans have at some point put their well being on hold to advance the interests of the US, of which Mr. Heslin is a citizen and from which he has benefited.

[Piazza Riforma]

25. So you're telling me that a non-vet who lost his job and was tossed out on the street

is not as worthy as a vet because he didn't "put his life on hold to advance the interests of the US"?

Wow.

[AmazingSchnitzel]

29. The scale is not static...

... nor is it black and white.

The things I listed above are merely accomplishments that Mr. Heslin has chosen to reward that some do not have.

Every charity in the world has some limiting characteristic to it. Age, region, ethnicity, work history, drug use, professional affiliation, specific need etc.. etc.. etc...

Do you cast your asparagus at all those organizations as well or just those who support veterans? You seem to have a particular bone to pick with how other choose to recognize what they consider to be services rendered by veterans.

[Egalitarian Thug]

47. Which clearly demonstrates exactly why it is vital that our government be the primary

source of this welfare. Military service, race, age, sex, religion, and every other division you can think of become points of exclusion or contention when the general welfare is left to "private" organizations (plus the fact that they have never in history even come close to filling the need).

[AmazingSchnitzel]

56. There has to be some limiting factor...

... otherwise you include the entire population of the planet Earth.

Everyone, yes everyone, has a need of some sort.

[Egalitarian Thug]

60. You say that is if it were a bad thing. How about we just try to catch up

with the rest of the world and take care of our own, to start?

[AmazingSchnitzel]

70. The rest...

... of the world also has some limits on who gets what.

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. +1000

[Luminous Animal]

37. Yes. To advance the interests of a bullying empire for which

very few benefit and millions are left homeless, starving, and diseased.

[TahitiNut]

58. So, the abject failures of the PEOPLE in a democracy

... to adequately shoulder the responsibility for their own government is, according to you, to be blame-shifted to those who put their lives on the line in an act of faith and service to that very notion of a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people"??

Wow. Talk about clueless.

[_ed_]

22. Amazing that someone could find fault here

A guy provides a home for homeless vets and he doesn't get your "props" because he hasn't single-handedly solved the homeless problem in America? Feeling sorry for a homeless vet mom with two kids is "patriotic hero worship?"

The damn jerk hasn't cured cancer, either.

Get a fucking grip.

[Piazza Riforma]

24. It is "patriotic hero worship"

when this guy wouldn't give one hoot much less two if that had been a non-vet mom with kids in a homeless shelter. As far as fixing the problem packing all the homeless vets into apartment buildings doesn't do anything for the rest.

[whathehell]

27. And what does your bile stem from?..."Patriotic hero Resentment"?

and by the way, you have no idea WHAT he has, or hasn't done,

for the homeless population in general..Duh.

[Odin2005]

39. Thank you! I agree!

[gateley]

44. The groups he rode by/talked to were veterans and he wanted to help them.

Who's to say he wouldn't have done the same if the people he spoke with WEREN'T veterans?

One person can only do so much, and this guy has done a LOT.

[magical thyme]

55. no pardon offered here for your pissing on one person's action

A person can only do so much, and has to choose where to focus their resources. Your complaint that he is that he is only helping needy defined by *his* parameters, instead of your parameters. Someone else could just as easily bitch that he should be helping children without food or sick people without health insurance or whatever their pet cause is.

No matter how any one individual chooses to help, they will still only be able to help so many. Instead of bitching that he isn't helping the particular group *you* deem worthy, try applauding him for helping, period, as well as highlighting one of many messes the 1%ers have created.

[LanternWaste]

65. You are minimizing his deeds because he picked an arbitrary demographic

You are minimizing his deeds because he picked an arbitrary demographic to assist from limited assets? Seems to me that behind the stains of "he could do more" often lies the syncopated rhythm of "he did more than I ever have, but I hold others to a higher standard than I hold myself..."

[flamingdem]

17. I love Matt Heslin

Great story, thanks.

[BanTheGOP]

20. 100% caused by the GOP... Hands Down

They started the war...

They started the killing...

They created the global hatred...

Now they turn out the instruments they used to achieve the above...

This, in a nutshell, is the legacy, they goal, and the ultimate destructive result that the American republican Party has unleashed on the world.

This, in a nutshell, defines what republicans think about EVERYONE other than the 1%'ers...

The bottom line...we MUST DESTROY THE rEPUBLICAN PARTY...

Once destroyed, the stark realities that face the vast majority of humanity will forever be ensconced in misery.

Destroy the GOP, NOW!!

[FSogol]

21. K & R. n/t

[SunSeeker]

23. Looks like you can thank HUD for this, which Romney wants to dismantle.

According to the article: "So far, 25 veterans are being housed through Serene Haven. Rents for the veterans are subsidized by vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program."

Heslin bought the apartment buildings, but he's not giving the apartments away. He's getting market rent for them, subsidized by HUD and the VA. That's guaranteed rent--hardly a risky investment. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes money off those buildings. I hope he does--it might encourage more of this.

What is sad is that when people actually GIVE property to house vets, there have been instances where the vets still aren't allowed to live there, especially if the property happens to be a beautiful area, like the VA property next to Brentwood in Los Angeles (see below article). Heslin's three apartments are in pretty marginal neighborhoods, so he had no pushback. I see he's trying to buy some apartments in Orange County. Good luck with the NIMBYs--Orange County Republicans are the worst.


Homeless Veterans' Lawsuit Against VA In West Los Angeles Moves Forward

3-28-2012

A lawsuit filed by a group of homeless veterans accusing VA of failing to build promised permanent housing on its West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus is moving forward after a federal judge refused the government’s request to dismiss the suit.

This came after mediation talks between VA and the veterans’ advocates broke down, prompting the plaintiffs to ask U.S. District Judge James Otero to either rule on VA’s motion to dismiss the suit or let the case go to trial in June.

The lawsuit was filed last summer by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the veterans, alleging that VA had failed to use its large West Los Angeles campus for its intended purpose. The 387 acres were donated to the government in 1888 with the intention that it be used to provide care and permanent housing for veterans. According to the ACLU suit, VA has, over time, strayed from that original purpose. Large portions of the property have been given over to private social services and a number of private companies, including a rental car company.

Los Angeles has the highest reported number of homeless veterans. They make up over 8,000 of the city’s nearly 50,000 homeless.

The lawsuit also contends that VA’s benefits program discriminates against veterans with severe mental disabilities. Without stable living conditions, these veterans cannot access the necessary medical and mental health services they need. And VA has refused to offer supportive housing to the plaintiffs and other disabled veterans in Los Angeles, the ACLU said.

“This lawsuit exposes the truth of how the VA’s policies exclude veterans with serious mental disabilities,” said Melissa Tyner, a staff attorney with Inner City Law Center’s Homeless Veterans Project when the suit was filed last year. “Rather than honoring their sacrifice, VA policies deny access to needed services. As a result, many veterans become homeless.”

http://www.usmedicine.com/news/2012/03/28/homeless-veterans-lawsuit-against-va-in-west-los-angeles-moves-forward.html

[gateley]

46. I was going to say this is the Government's responsibility, then I was heartened as I read it

was at least being subsidized. THEN I read the rest of your post.

WTF is the matter with the people in this country?

[SunSeeker]

48. Greed.

The problem, like with so many things, is greed. These 400 acres the article talks about are wedged between some of the most prime real estate in Los Angeles, if not the world--it sits between the millionaire bedroom community of Brentwood and UCLA, right on Wilshire Boulevard. It is beautiful, with flowing lawns, long-shuttered art deco veteran boarding houses sitting vacant, and an old veteran's theater that has been converted to a community theater, the Wadsworth. And the rich neighbors want to keep it that way: a huge park-like open space with no scruffy veterans walking about. It really is a crime. I don't know how they got away with it. Sure hope the lawsuit is successful.

I drive by there often, and there is usually some poor old homeless vet sitting outside the locked gates of the lush property, begging or holding up a sign in protest. It is sickening.

[gateley]

49. I spent all day reading The Appeal by John Grisham. The last line in the book was

(the guy was up to $3 Billion). He wanted six.

You're absolutely right. It's so sad.

(GREAT book by the way, about Big Money buying judges.)

[Bodhi BloodWave]

59. John Grisham is quite good at writing books about the justice system in its different forms nt

[BrendaBrick]

30. K&R: Calling out all the mudruckers at Vanguard and/or Lisa Ling

to capture this incident and bring it to the masses and NOT LET IT SLIP as an afterthought. IMPORTANT STUFF!!!!!

[karnac]

31. Heslin is a Tea Party Republican

Well, at least he does SOMETHING positive....


(bottom half of this report)
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Newport-Beach/matthew-j-heslin-P3464032.aspx

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.php?name=heslin&state=CA&zip=&employ=&cand=&c2012=Y&c2010=Y&c2008=Y&sort=N&capcode=szyfv&submit=Submit+your+Donor+Query

[DaveJ]

32. He is still a role model Teabagger

Everyone who supported starting the wars should pay to repair the damage. Maybe he's starting to grow a heart. Maybe there is hope that the other side can progress into a sentient species.

[karnac]

34. Either that or he is after the bucks

Don't have the link but read somewhere that the average post-war vet aftercare expense paid by the state is about 1-2 million each. Great market to tap.

[gateley]

45. How do you know he was for the wars? Ron Paul wasn't. nt

[Luminous Animal]

38. So Heslin is a T(axed) E(nough) A(ready) Republican sucking off the taxpayers teat.

The rent on these market rate apartments are subsidized by HUD.

[varelse]

36. K&R

[shimonitanegi]

41. GHWB & GWB

These guys are a real piece of work.
They gave us S&L crisis, Sub-prime crisis, Gulf Wars and severe recessions.
The GOP establishment will try to give us another Bush in 2016.

[pinboy3niner]

50. Remember what GWB said about his 'ownership society'?

The lies are coming home to roost...

...if you own something, you have a vital stake in the future of our country. The more ownership there is in America, the more vitality there is in America, and the more people have a vital stake in the future of this country. - President George W. Bush, June 17, 2004

We're creating... an ownership society in this country, where more Americans than ever will be able to open up their door where they live and say, welcome to my house, welcome to my piece of property. - President George W. Bush, October 2004.

[MattSh]

51. While I applaud what this guy is doing...

He is, however, doing exactly what Republicans want.

Republicans want to prove that government doesn't work. They want to prove that "if" someone wealthy thinks it's a worthy cause, private individuals will take up the slack. Then they can say "See, government doesn't need to be doing this. Private charity is the way to go." Then more funding for the homeless and sick, and yes, veterans too, will be cut.

And what if you're not helped out by this wealthy businessman? Well then, you are obviously not worthy. Says some wealthy businessman.

[cstanleytech]

53. Actually whats not working is the military here which must mean they need to divert money from

defense into helping those leaving the military by making sure they make a safe transition back into civilian life since after all it is the responsibility of the military to see that their people are taken care of.
Now if they want to save money on it one idea would be to close some of the military bases we have in the US and convert them over into transition centers where ex military personal can live and work from for a year or two in order to get used to it.

[lonestarnot]

52. K & R!

Amen brother!

[MrMickeysMom]

54. K&R...

Shameful to find the statistics for veterans are like this.

[The Wizard]

61. There are shuttered hospitals

that would serve as ideal centers for homeless vets. Is the United States moral enough to correct this tragedy.
Raising taxes on the wealthy elites who made most of the money from the sacrifices of these brave combatants would be a good source of funding such an effort.
But wait, the Repubes would block all efforts to make the wealthy war profiteers pay their fair share as that would cut into money that gets sent to secret Cayman Islands accounts.

[sylvi]

62. Good for him

Maybe this will inspire others to follow suit.

[juajen]

63. Finally! Multiply those he has seen by the thousands.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

64. Excellent story!

Restores one's faith in mankind.

K&R

[qb]

66. K&R Shame on Congress for not adequately funding veterans' programs.

[Vidar]

67. K&R

[maveric56]

69. REC!!!