On October 4, 2019, Meta Housing Corporation and sponsors gathered to officially open the Loma Linda Veteran’s Village. The village is an 87-unit apartment community available to veterans and their families who are low-income residents.
The village caters specifically for the veteran population by providing on site Veteran’s Affair (V.A.) personnel and medical services, as well as upgraded amenities including a clubhouse, a pool, a play area for kids, twin barbecues, and a volleyball court to name a few.
The ceremony began with guest speaker Kasey Burke, president of Meta Housing Corp., who gave thanks to sponsors including U.S. Bank Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, Veteran’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program (VHHPP), the Home Depot Foundation and many others who contributed to the construction of the village.
The old saying of “It takes a village to get things done,” echoed through each guest speaker, including James Ramos, California Assemblyman in the 40th District, who spoke passionately about the community coming together to give their veterans a community with benefactors that they can call home.
“I’ve seen my great uncles go off and fight in World War 2. And yet when they came back, the resources weren’t there on the reservation [San Manuel],” Ramos said.
After the speakers concluded their speeches, the gathering moved toward the heart of the village to cut the red ribbon that would officially open the new complex. The village features single, dual, and three-bedroom apartments with a variety of amenities that strive for communal growth, cooperation and activity among guests.
Alonzo Figueroa, a village resident and United States Army veteran, spoke on how the village has transformed his life and how his family now has a place to foster and come back to at the end of the day.
“Coming in here has been a total blessing. It has given us hope.” Figueroa said. “I still get choked up because of everything that’s offered here. I have access to my social worker on site, a registered nurse on site. All of my medical issues have been addressed.”
David Rodes, a village resident and National Guard veteran, was skeptical when he first found out about the Loma Linda Veterans Village. Rodes thought the village was too good to be true, until he stepped into his new apartment. Rodes became overwhelmed with emotion as he had stepped into a new world, his new world. He is able to share and relate with other veterans around his community as well as find solace in his space.
Rodes never thought he'd be a part of a close-knit community like Loma Linda. Everyday Rodes believes that the village is helping him make new friends he'd never thought imaginable.
The Loma Linda Veteran’s Village is located on 25259-25303 Van Leuven Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354. For more information regarding the village, you can contact Meta Housing Corporation at (909) 992-0931 or visit their website http://www.metahousing.com/location/loma-linda-veterans-village/ for more details.