Veterans’ House Edmonton

Veterans’ House Edmonton will feature a 3-storey, 40-unit apartment building that will provide permanent, affordable and supportive housing for homeless Veterans. The building has been specifically designed to meet the needs of Veterans. Full accessibility is provided for 20% of the units and all common amenity spaces, while the remaining suites are ‘visitable’. Communal spaces including a multipurpose room, a fitness room, a laundry room, a library, and a shared kitchen are provided to promote community engagement and healthy living. A calming outdoor space includes a meditation garden, a covered barbecue patio, a vegetable garden, and a fenced dog park. Shared offices in the building provide support services for the Veterans as they adjust to civilian life

Guests, friends, and family members will be greeted by a bright foyer featuring a story wall highlighting the beginning of Veterans’ House Canada and our journey. Upon entering the foyer, a small seating area will provide a comfortable setting for gatherings and casual conversations. Naming recognition will be featured on a Sponsor Recognition Plaque, prominently displayed in this welcoming space.

The main floor is planned to include communal spaces such as the community room, fitness room, community kitchen, laundry room, and office spaces, along with 8 fully accessible units. The second and third floors will each consist of 16 bachelor units. Consideration has been given to the selection of finishes on each floor to avoid trigger colours for those suffering from PTSD. Additionally, exposed wood accents will be used throughout the building to create a calming ambiance

Veterans’ House Edmonton will provide an environment for Veterans to support each other. This includes having a space to cook and share a meal together and with other guests, serving as a bridge to transition from military culture to civilian life. The kitchen will come fully equipped with commercial ovens and stove tops as well as pots and pans, kitchen utensils, dishes and cutleries.

The bright community room will serve as the main social hub of the building. This fully accessible space will be available 24/7, it will feature a large-screen TV, comfortable couches, and chairs. Located right beside the community kitchen, it will also feature large dining tables – a perfect place to host large gatherings. This space will also host a variety of support and social programs for the Veterans.

Fitness is synonymous with the military culture and helps with the transition and recovery of the Veterans. Veterans’ House Edmonton will feature a fully commercially equipped Fitness Room. In this dedicated space, Veterans will have the opportunity to work with a personal trainer to design an individualized training plan or execute a rehabilitation plan.

Located adjacent to the foyer, this office space will house the Community Developer who will work closely with each Veteran tenant to ensure that they are accessing the support programs they are qualified for and receiving the care that they need. This dedicated office space will ensure that Veterans’ privacy is respected while addressing needs around mental health problems, alcoholism, and drug addiction that contribute to and perpetuate homelessness and instability among Veterans. The transition from military to civilian life is dislocating for many; the abrupt change to the relatively unstructured civilian world from a very highly structured one can also disrupt focus, and trust, and destroy families and friendships.

Located on the main floor and fully accessible at any time, the cozy library offers a quiet space for Veterans to spend some time catching up on their favourite novels or the news. A wall-to-wall bookshelf will house a variety of books for Veterans to choose from. Additionally, the library is equipped with a computer and printer to facilitate access to their online support system. The library serves as an indoor space where Veterans can reserve per-time to meet with friends and reconnect with family members.

40 furnished studios (including 9 fully accessible). Each one is designed to meet the specific needs of Veterans and features the following: a bathroom, storage spaces, a kitchenette and fridge, a table, bed, new mattress and chairs, a starter kit (bedding, towels, cleaning/ cooking/laundry supplies, an alarm clock, a quilt or afghan, etc.)

Located on the main floor, the private therapy and meeting rooms are specifically designed to facilitate one-on-one support between our Veterans and their diverse support staff. These rooms are an ideal, dedicated space for confidential discussions with their caseworkers and counselors.

Featured prominently in the foyer, the Wall of Honour plaque will highlight the generous donors who have made Veterans’ House Edmonton a reality. More importantly, it reminds the Veterans who live there that the community cares for them and that they are not forgotten.