The Heroes Who Take Care Of Our Heroes

MASSACHUSETTS’ BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: VETERANS’ INC. (WORCESTER)

It’s that time of year when people around the country (and globe) reflect on their year and think about making improvements going forward. New Years represents that “fresh start” for so many people and we applaud everyone out there planning on taking steps toward a successful 2023.

But something as simple as having the opportunity for a “fresh start” is something so many of us take for granted. Thousands of servicemen and servicewomen (Veterans Inc. was the first facility in the U.S. to offer in-house services to female veterans) who have sacrificed for their country find themselves in need of significant support once they return to the country they’ve fought to protect. Veterans Inc. is a non-profit organization that targets veteran homelessness with locations throughout New England and in Montana and North Dakota. Nexus’ Greg Rice had the pleasure of sitting down with Bill and Ian of the Worcester, Massachusetts’ branch, the largest in New England, and we’re honored to share their mission with our subscribers.

WHAT VETERANS INC. DOES

Veterans Inc. has helped more than 85,000 veterans since they opened their doors in 1990. Bill and Ian discuss how the focus is to address the “total veteran” because just putting a roof over their head is not enough. Their teams work to support veterans by giving them tools to rebuild their lives so they can regain self sufficiency and reconnect with the civilian world around them. At the heart of this effort is high quality job training and employment services, health and wellness, and other support services such as transportation and legal advice.

The Worcester location has about 80 beds and is located at the Worcester Armory at 69 Grove Street. They connected with Jesse Mayo and his Nexus Property Management® team as part of their final and most important steps with their clients: Housing Retention. For veterans it is especially difficult to secure housing because of major gaps in their work history and/or difficulties since they’ve returned home. While they’ve been sacrificing themselves overseas, they’ve failed to develop the hallmarks of what a “good” tenant looks like on paper, so the support of Veterans Inc. and the partners they form relationships with is essential. Bill and Ian referenced between 15 and 20 local landlords who have been especially cooperative and who are reflexively appreciative of the high quality tenants Veterans. Inc has for them.

LEARN MORE: VETERANS INC. IN THE NEWS: ANNUAL HOLIDAY HARVEST

“THEY WERE THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, SO WE MUST BE THERE NOW THAT THEY NEED US” - BILL CORCORAN OF VETERANS INC.

The mission of Veterans Inc. is to end homelessness for veterans and their families. These are people who we’ve counted on to secure our way of life and now people like Bill, Ian, Veterans Inc. President Vin Perrone, and their teams work to ensure that those heroes can access the lives they and their families deserve.

Due to the nature of their sacrifice, veterans are at higher risk for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Being away from family and close friends for so long naturally adds stress to veterans’ lives. In addition to the highly stressful training and occupational demands, veterans may suffer mental or physical injuries during combat. Additionally, many veterans joined the military at a young age and subsequently never acquired skills necessary to hold civilian jobs. All of this leads to an unfortunate situation where veterans are at high risk of joblessness, homelessness, and are likely to struggle with self-esteem and the ability to successfully function in civilian life.

LEARN MORE: PTSD IN VETERANS

BEST PRACTICES

During their interview, Bill and Ian touched on a couple themes that are near and dear to our heart and have been the focus of so many of our past articles:

LONG TERM FOCUS:

Time and time again we’ve discussed how important it is to keep your mind focused on the long game. Smart investors don’t chase the market or cut corners to maximize short term gains. We establish consistency and value that will last as long as (and longer) than the mortgages on our properties.

Veterans Inc. supports their clients with the same mantra. They’re not just getting veterans off the streets and giving them a place to sleep; they’re catering to that “total veteran” and providing job training and other skills that are going to lead to long term success for those individuals and their families.

WIN-WIN RELATIONSHIPS:

The other major theme that Nexus pushes is creating win-win relationships. Strong companies create incentives and goals that clients and employees alike all share. At Nexus, the better our leasing agent performs, the more rent the owner can collect, and the more units there are for the maintenance team to add value to, which also leads to more income for them. When you do it right, members of your team support one another.

Veterans Inc. was started and built by an all volunteer team of Vietnam Veterans. Listening to Bill and Ian it is apparent that there is a love and bond that they feel for the men and women they support. When they ask viewers (and readers) to “help them help our veterans”, they’re continuing the sacrifice of the men and women behind their organization and the men and women they support.

LEARN MORE: THE NEX-CESS STORY OR INVESTOR TURNED FRANCHISEE, JESSE MAYO

NEXT STEPS

Our readership consists primarily of real estate investors and in that role we are all in the positions we are thanks to the capitalism our military has been fighting to protect and proliferate for generations. At the very least, we must extend gratitude to being able to build our portfolios in a free market to the people who continue to make that possible. For those whose sacrifices now interfere with their ability to live the lives they deserve, we need to do more.

Visit Veterans Inc.’s website to learn more. There you’ll find out how to make a donation, become a volunteer, and sponsor or take part in any of their fundraising events. Also, if you know a veteran in need of help, have him or her call Veterans. Inc at (800) 482-2565.

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Mick Lefort is the Vice President of Operations for Nexus Property Management®. A National Property Management Franchise that manages all types of rental property from single family homes or condos to large apartment buildings and complexes.

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