The new, 100-apartment complex reserved for homeless Veterans opened its doors Wednesday, September 20 after almost a decade of planning the $14.3 million project. Veterans East is located near the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

The homes were named Richard A. Brustad Homes, in honor of Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) Founder Brustad, who made this affordable housing possible. CHDC developed the project with funding from UnitedHealth Group, who invested $5.2 million and Minnesota Housing, who contributed $7.7 million in deferred loans. 

Eligible Veterans will pay 30 percent of their income for their studio apartments. For many, that income consists of Social Security or Veterans disability benefits. The five-story building includes a lobby with security, a community room, computer stations and laundry. 

Before the afternoon ribbon cutting, employees of UnitedHealthCare and its affiliated company, Optum, put together welcome baskets for the new Veteran residents to make them feel welcome. The baskets included towels, toiletries, clothes hangers, healthy snacks and more. All of the employee volunteers are also Veterans, said Shelley Mueller, a Senior Project Manager at Optum and also a Major in the Minnesota Army National Guard who has done an infantry tour in Iraq. 

Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin called the Brustad Homes “a welcome addition to Hennepin County and the great Minneapolis area. Today’s opening represents a model public-private partnership that will make a significant difference in the lives of many Veterans.” 

Veterans East is just one of the many projects geared towards eliminating homelessness in the state. 

*Portions of this story were taken from the Star Tribune*