After undergoing nearly $10 million worth of construction, the building that formerly housed San Francisco's Stanford Hotel is set to become a residence for 130 homeless veterans. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the renovated residence is part of the city's initiative to decrease the amount of veterans living on the streets by June of next year.
According to the Chronicle, the city is set to lease the home, which features single rooms, for $2 million per year, and that 73 percent of the cost will be handled by the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Veterans will need to be clean of addictions and complete a survey before qualifying for the new residence, reported the source. They will also be held accountable for paying 30 percent of their monthly rent. The facility will offer its residents private bathrooms, Internet access, jacks for phone and cable and access to social workers. The Chronicle also noted that 10 units are reserved for veterans with specific handicaps.
According to Military Times, the number of homeless veterans across the nation has been steadily declining. The source reported that research for 2014 showed that there are just under 50,000 homeless veterans across the country. This number has been cut by 25,000 since 2010. The federal government is hoping that projects like the one in San Francisco can be implemented in other U.S. cities to eradicate homelessness in life after service.