United Veterans Beacon House (UVBH) unveiled its newly renovated, Victorian-style group home in Freeport. The home will accommodate 13 veterans—all of them formerly homeless and now participating in the agency’s varied programs designed to foster stability and independence.

The $275,000 Freeport project was undertaken in its entirety by the Bolla Charity Foundation, which “adopted” the house in support of the nonprofit’s Restoring Homes Restoring Hope initiative.

“We thank the Bolla Charity Foundation—and specifically, Harry and Kamljit Singh and their adult children, TJ and Jay—for this incredibly generous undertaking,” said UVBH president and CEO, Frank Amalfitano.

“This residence shelters 12 veterans, but the word ‘shelter’ is inadequate. This is now a home, with beautiful landscaping, modern kitchen, redone hardwood floors, and more. Anyone would be proud to call this place ‘home.’”

“It is our goal to ensure that our veterans live in dignified surroundings befitting their service,” said Harry Singh. “Many soldiers return from military service and face unique obstacles. Some obstacles are physical, some are unseen. They all deserve shelter, at a minimum. It is an honor for me and my family to help provide that. They also deserve to live in dignified surroundings. I think the Freeport house is a testament to that.”

The Restoring Homes Restoring Hope initiative is an invitation to the business community on Long Island—many of which employ veterans that benefitted from UVBH’s varied programs, including job skills training—to adopt one of the remaining 10 group homes in dire need of rehabilitation.

The concept involves a business or organization adopting a veterans’ group home for purposes of funding—in whole or in part—the rehabilitation of the property. Many of these homes have sheltered thousands of veterans throughout the years, and the wear and tear on them outpaces the agency’s ability to obtain grant funding for improvements.

The gratitude of the veteran residents is written on the faces of each of them as they enter the formerly dated home. Some are quiet as they simply wander through the rooms, taking in the modern kitchen, fresh paint and new furniture. Others are more demonstrable, shaking hands and smiling, reveling in what they perceive as their relative good fortune in calling this place “home”.

Those adopting a Beacon House residence through the Restoring Home Restoring Hope program are recognized at the agency’s annual gala, attended by nearly 500 supporters each year, and through promotion on social media and media coverage. At the ribbon cutting, a plaque is presented, bearing the name of the donor, before a small crowd of veterans, supporters and friends. The plaque is then placed as a permanent fixture on the property, acknowledging the generosity of the donor.

UVBH operates 52 sites, including group homes, shelters and single-family residences, throughout Long Island. Those in need of rehabilitation are scattered through Nassau and Suffolk counties, and account for housing approximately 100-plus of the 550-plus veterans the agency shelters each year.