Collier County is taking action to tackle homelessness among local veterans by approving a deal that will convert two vacant properties into affordable housing units. The decision marks a small but hopeful step to address the area’s severe shortage of affordable housing, particularly for veterans.
“Veterans have a lot of problems; they don’t really want to speak their issues out loud,” said Chief William Carl of the Collier County Veterans Association, emphasizing the often-overlooked struggles veterans face.
Homelessness remains an issue for many veterans across the country, and for struggling veterans in Collier County it is no different.
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Collier County approves converting two vacant properties into housing for veterans
“I went out to a Starbucks the other day when people told me that there’s no homeless in the Naples area. There was a homeless man that was sitting right outside the window,” Chief Carl told Fox 4 News.
The problem came into focus this week as the community celebrated Veterans Day.