The Platoon - Help End Veteran Homelessness

ABOUT OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE PLATOON:

My name is Michael Carew and I am U.S. Army Infantryman Veteran, Delta Company, 2nd Platoon, 3/7 Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, Persian Gulf War, 1990 – 1991, “Cottonbalers – Volens Et Potens.” That’s me in the above photo with my squad, back row, third from the left. I served as the point man carrying a M203 Grenade Launcher - Hooah!!

We are sure you have seen many homeless veterans as you drive about the streets. Or perhaps you have heard of the number of veterans who have lost hope and commit suicide. We decided to do something about this, so we made the commitment to help some of our fellow soldiers with our own money, but we need your help too. The Platoon is our own Non-profit organization based in Texas, and it is our small way to do our part to help our fellow veterans. The intended site will be somewhere between San Antonio and Fredericksburg, Texas. This is a long-term project that will not begin land acquisition until all funds are acquired to complete the mission.

The Platoon gets its name from the number of American soldiers in a platoon, usually from between 20 to 50 soldiers, and from 3 to 4 squads, depending on its mission and military branch. We wanted to keep The Platoon small so that it remains manageable and cost-effective, so our goal is to build and maintain 10 apartment home units, housing about 10 veterans and their families, hence the name, “The Platoon,” to help prevent soldiers, and their families, from falling victims to homelessness. The apartment homes will be rent free with all utilities paid. There will be a community recreational center, business / employment center, gym, exercise courts, pool, dog park, and a playground.

We are not building a homeless shelter or a rehabilitation clinic – the purpose of The Platoon is to prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place. We believe that homelessness is the catalyst for drug abuse, criminal activity, it causes a lack of counseling for PTSD, and ultimately, suicide. We are here for veterans and their families who are leaving the service and do not have a place to live upon exiting which happens quite often. It is our philosophy that by keeping veterans together and by removing the issue of homelessness that we can give soldiers the footing they need to go forward. By maintaining camaraderie with fellow service-members while undergoing transition, we believe that a sense of foundation will be maintained to help, “fill the gap,” left behind by leaving their military lives. As such, The Platoon will also follow military and first responder traditions. As a few examples, there will be morning exercise (PT), a challenge coin rack, a patch wall, Missing Man Chair, and an area to string up boots on one of the rafters.

Your contributions to our non-profit will help us fund this much-needed project. Anything you give will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way to helping prevent homeless veterans from hopelessly wandering our streets.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

The Outpost, located in Fredericksburg, Texas, is our German-styled pioneer rental log cabin dedicated to the US military and first responders. We are a proud Texas military and first responder family consisting of soldiers from all branches, law enforcement, firefighters, EMT’s and nurses. As such, this cabin is our tribute to all those who served, and it is a place of reverence for those that gave so much for our Country with a focus on our Texas heroes. Many portions of The Outpost's building materials are from reclaimed military barracks, first responder buildings, war memorials, military museums, and pioneer cabin homes of military officers. The Outpost even has four firing ports located at each corner of the cabin. There are also numerous military and first responder items in the cabin. Unlike a museum, here you can read, touch, examine, and hold military/first responder artifacts. A portion of all rental fees will be donated to fund The Platoon. We hope guests will take advantage of this unique military/first responder learning experience and that it will inspire the next generation of America’s heroes.

Check it out at our Facebook page: @TheOutpostFTX

GOALS / SCOPE:

To build and maintain 10 apartment home units, called The Platoon, to help prevent soldiers, and their families, from falling victims to homelessness. The apartment homes will be rent free with all utilities paid. There will be a community recreational center, business / employment center, gym, exercise courts, pool, dog park, and playground.

Residents will be expected to contribute their skill sets and actively participate in the upkeep of The Platoon. There will also be numerous monthly, weekly, and/or daily activities such as:

·       Job Fairs

·       VFW, American Legion and Department of Veterans Affairs outreaches

·       Morning exercise (PT)

·       Catered events & get-togethers

WHATS NOT IN SCOPE:

Adding additional units; operating as a homeless shelter, rehab or PTSD counseling center (such services are offered at Camp Hope in Houston, Texas).

CONSTRAINTS:

Funding, land acquisition, and ongoing sponsorship.

FUTURE STATE:

Adding an area for retired military animals, planting a garden & vineyard, building a wood/metal shop, and opening a veteran-crafts gift shop.

EXPECTED PROJECT PHASES:

Phase I:

·       Fundraising

·       Marketing

Phase II:

·       Site assessment

·       Land acquisition

Phase III:

·       Land development

·       Well

·       Power

·       Septic type

·       Road access

·       Land clearing

·       Fencing

·       Legal

Phase IV:

·       Building design

·       Construction

·       Occupancy fulfillment

Phase V:

·       Grand Opening Event

·       Phase VI:

·       Maintenance

·       Ongoing sponsorship

·       Future state projects