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In February of 2008, Prince Home opened its doors on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans Home - Manteno. Prince Home provides housing and supportive services for 15 homeless and disabled Illinois veterans at a time. It serves as a national model for how to overcome challenges in financing housing for disabled veterans, including veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Pictured from left are: Deanna Mackey, program director at Prince Home; Anna Manson, a social worker and program supervisor at the residence; and Rosemary Irons-Lewis, a rehabilitation counselor. photo by Tracy Ahrens
Helping hand Manteno facility serves veterans with respect and dignity  Share
In 2006, the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs and its top-level administrators had a vision - to create a pilot program to provide homeless Illinois veterans with housing and assistance. They made this vision come true through a facility called Prince Home at Illinois Veterans Home - Manteno. Prince Home would help provide housing and supportive services for 15 homeless and disabled veterans at a time. It would serve as a national model for how to overcome challenges in financing housing for disabled veterans, including veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Deanna Mackey of South Holland, a licensed clinical professional counselor, gladly took the helm as program director for Prince Home. Her experience with years of social service work for Indian Oaks Academy in Manteno, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and in private practice attracted her to leading this pilot facility for veterans.
''These people (veterans) have given the ultimate sacrifice for me,'' Mackey said. ''It is the least I can do to hold their hand when they come back home. Veterans affairs is my home.'' In February of 2008, Prince Home opened its doors. Since the home opened, 42 male and female veterans, ages 25 to 62, have utilized its services. ''We take Illinois veterans first,'' Mackey said. Veterans must have started or ended their military career while living in Illinois, or spent the last 365 days living in this state. Many veterans programs do not serve women, Mackey said, but Prince Home does. Women are housed separate from men. Not all residents have mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Mackey said. And some residents have physical disabilities. On average, residents stay about five months, Mackey said, but it depends on individual needs. Some have been living at the home since it opened. Most residents simply need to get back on their feet, such as finding a job, obtaining medical treatment, an Illinois Link card for cash and food stamp benefits, Social Security disability insurance, or veterans disability. ''Veterans who come here have to want to follow through our program,'' Mackey said. ''This isn't a flop house. Veterans come here to reach self-sufficiency.'' The purpose of Prince Home is to serve homeless veterans with respect and dignity. By providing housing, advocacy, therapeutic and supportive services, Prince Home fosters integrity, duty and commitment to cultivate individual growth and independence. Residents are required to participate in a curriculum, programs and activities. Some veterans come to Prince Home and quickly realize that it involves too much daily structure, Mackey said. Therefore, they voluntarily leave. Every resident follows a schedule that includes a wake up time (everyone receives an alarm clock), curfew, exercise, employment search, housing search, volunteer work (many volunteer in the Veterans Home on campus), treatment hour if needed and chores. ''We do not breed dependence,'' Mackey stressed. If residents need instruction on Internet use to look for jobs, group instruction is held weekly. Prince Home staff comprises nine professionals who work as a team to provide each resident with the skills needed for successful independent living. A staff member with a social services background is with residents 24 hours a day. The home provides a structured, safe and caring environment, in which a sense of belonging and achievement enhance the opportunity to succeed. A point system for each resident is kept on a wall in a common area. Each resident receives a maximum of 98 points per week and if they fail to complete a task on a common schedule, such as not doing volunteer work, they have points subtracted. ''This is a therapeutic way to see who may be falling behind,'' Mackey said. If someone falls behind, a therapist talks with him or her personally. Residents are also encouraged to help shape programs and activities at the facility. A ''bright ideas'' box hangs on a wall outside of Mackey's office so residents can place written requests in it - requests for things such as supplying bicycles for residents so they can exercise and journey around town, and for creating a community garden on the residence home grounds. Mackey placed a small garbage can outside of the front door and tells residents to ''throw away'' their ''issues'' before they enter. Residents write words on the can with black marker, words such as ''frustrated,'' ''depressed'' and ''bored.'' Residents are allowed free time, but they are encouraged to not stay in their rooms. ''We do not have televisions in rooms,'' Mackey said. ''We do not allow isolation.'' A television and DVD player is located in a living room area for all residents. Each room is supplied with dishes and eating utensils, along with a microwave, small refrigerator, sink, bed, bedding and bathroom linens. A communal kitchen and laundry room are available for all residents to use. Area businesspersons and political figures have donated money towards supplying needs in the home. For example, Illinois Senator Debbie Halvorson donated funds to furnish the front porch of the home with swings, a table and chairs. ''Many times veterans come here with no spare clothes,'' Mackey said. The Veterans Home receives donated clothing that Prince Home residents can use. Each resident has an income while living at the home, whether that income is unemployment benefits, social security benefits and so forth. They are taught how to budget their income, Mackey said. For example: - Thirty percent of their income goes towards the residence home, as a rental payment of sorts, Mackey said, because ''you do not live anywhere for free.'' Rent money is placed in an account to help offset expenses at the facility. - Thirty-five percent goes into a discharge savings trust fund that is saved at a local bank until they are ready to discharge. - Thirty-five percent is used for their basic needs while living there. ''Some residents have left with up to $6,000 in savings to start their lives by renting an apartment or purchasing a car,'' Mackey said. One resident who lived at Prince Home nine months is now a manager at a store in the area. ''He told us that he disliked us for being so hard on him, but if we hadn't been so hard on him, he would not have gotten the job he has today,'' Mackey said. Most veterans face the same challenges once they stop serving in the military, Mackey said. Some end up moving between friend and family member's homes until they are asked to leave. ''For some veterans, the military is their home and fellow members are family to them,'' Mackey said. ''When their service is over, they do not see those family members again.'' At Prince Home, everyone is family, she said. When residents leave, they can always call staff members if aftercare, or advice is needed. Prince Home has become a model for future residence homes across the country that will serve veterans with temporary housing and assistance. People from other states have toured Prince Home to study how the facility is run. ''Several other states are now in the process of trying to obtain government funding to create homes like ours,'' Mackey said. She shared a thank you note from a former resident that shines light on the benefits of Prince Home: ''I pray every day that my life and the way I live it influences others in a positive way, exactly the way that Prince Home has blessed and influenced my life.'' Veterans who are interested in living at Prince Home must fill out an application. A staff member will then interview them in person where they are currently living. A background check is also completed. If a room is available at Prince Home and a veteran meets qualifications, they usually move in within several days to two weeks. Prince Home is located at 1 Veterans Drive, Manteno. Call Deanna at 815-468-6581, ext. 355 or e-mail her at deanna.mackey@illinois.gov. You can also view more at www.veterans.illinois.gov/homes/homes.htm#PHM Tracy Ahrens is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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