Wheaton planners back expansion of shelter for homeless veterans

They've been good neighbors since opening 19 months ago, providing needed help to veterans who have fallen through the cracks.

And on Tuesday, Wheaton's planning and zoning board gave a local transitional shelter for homeless veterans some help in return, approving the group's plans to expand its facilities and operations.

The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans is hoping to triple the five-bed capacity of its facility at 119 N. West St.

The only such organization of its kind in DuPage County, the shelter provides a variety of services to homeless veterans in an effort to help them to become self-sufficient.

The shelter, operated by a staff of seven people, hopes to begin lodging and providing care to female veterans after the expansion to a 15-bed facility.

"We started this project more than three years ago after seeing so many fellow veterans struggling to survive," said Bob Adams, the center's director. "We thought we might be able to help."

Adams had a long line of supporters Tuesday speaking on his behalf.

"I don't think veterans should be second-class citizens in a country where, in some cases, they've given their lives," said Ken Jacobs, a member of the Wheaton chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The newly minted local chapter donated $10,000 to the shelter last month and promised future financial and volunteer support.

Linda Potter, the pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, attested to the positive work the shelter was doing in helping veterans to become productive members of mainstream society and urged the planning board to help the shelter to continue those efforts.

"We've had a fabulous relationship with them," Potter said. "Their residents have worshipped with us. We've shared meals together.

"For me (providing services to female veterans) is a personal thing," Potter said. "It's about time we had something for the women who are coming home" from war.

The expansion project could come before Wheaton's city council for approval as soon as its next meeting on July 21.

If approved, the project could take as long as nine months to complete.

But it's not clear when the expansion work would begin.

Final cost estimates for the work haven't yet been established, and the shelter's staff is still seeking financial backing to pay for the project.

Veterans: Military chapter donates $10,000 to shelter