The Facts - Why Today?
Homeless Headlines
"Number of Homeless Vets rises for First Time in Seven Years" - Military Times, December 6, 2017
"Homeless Vets Rise in New Count" - The Palm Beach Post, March 19, 2018
"Team finds 34.9% drop in chronic homelessness but
73.3% jump in homeless veterans, officials say."
The Community
- The average starting rent for a one bedroom apartment in Palm Beach County is $1,093.
- On average, only 27 out of 100 units needed for low income housing are available in Palm beach County. Nationally, the average is only 35 out of 100.
About Us
The Past 29 Years
Chris Noel founded Vetsville Cease Fire House, Inc. in 1993 as a Florida Not For Profit Corporation. Vetsville was created to provide food and shelter for homeless American Veterans.
Vetsville opened their first shelter within walking distance of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Riviera Beach, Florida in February 1993. Two months later, Vetsville expanded its facility to include the property next door. The Riviera Beach facility housed up to 25 homeless Vets per night. In May of 1994, Vetsville acquired the Boynton Beach property, which has housed up to 12 people every night since. In 1995, the City of West Palm Beach provided an apartment complex as well as a grant to improve the property. The MacIntosh facility housed 15 veterans a night. Vetsville currently operates the facility in Boynton Beach, receiving referrals from the Veteran Administration Hospitals in Riviera Beach and Miami.
In 29 years of continuous operation, Vetsville has (conservatively) provided more than 93,000 nights of sanctuary and hundreds of thousands of meals to homeless male Veterans. In our history, we have received a few grants, but the individuals and the Veteran Community have been our biggest supporters.
Today & The Next 25
Homeless Male Veterans' Shelter
Vetsville currently operates a homeless shelter in Boynton Beach, Florida, which serves single male Veterans with limited disabilities, in a drug and alcohol-free environment. Vetsville also provides two meals a day, lunch and dinner, while promoting self-sufficiency through meal preparation and clean-up. We also provide clothing, access to medical treatment at the VA Hospital, and employment opportunities, while providing referral services to other providers.
Community Service Outreach
Vetsville is partnering with local high schools and Veterans’ Groups to assist our local communities.
Events
If you would like to host something, please let us know. We continue to receive donations through organizations and individual gifts. We do not have any in person fundraising events currently scheduled.
Real Estate
We need, are looking for, and would welcome facilities – residential, warehouse, office/retail, agricultural and multi-family.
The Hope for the Future
We would like to close our doors. Yes, we would, but we can only do so when there's no more need for our services. We hope that day is soon!
Who We Are
Chris Noel, Founder
Allyson Timms, Program Development Director