Veterans Haven South

Veteran's Haven South
Leave No One Behind

Contact Info

Phone: 609-561-0269 or 609-567-5806
Toll Free: 888-849-7188
Fax: 609-567-5186

Mail

Veterans Haven
PO Box 80
301 Spring Garden Road
Winslow, NJ 08095-0080
Google Maps

Veterans Helping Veterans

The military teaches us to retrieve our wounded and bring them home - no one gets left behind. The Veterans Transitional Housing program aims to meet this challenge on the streets, in the shelters, and on the front lines of human existence, where our brothers and sisters find themselves in their greatest need.

Veterans Haven South is funded by the State of New Jersey, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and a wide variety of service organizations, community agencies, veterans groups and private citizens.

Resources

Video Overview

Veterans Outreach / Veterans Haven Brochure

NJ Military Veterans Families Resource Guide

Donation Wish List

Video Gallery

Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Veterans

Our nation and our State, grateful for its hard-won freedom and democracy, owes a special debt to its Veterans. For that reason, the word “Veteran” and the word “homeless” should never appear in the same sentence. Unfortunately, it is a reality. Therefore, it is an imperative that New Jersey works to restore dignity and purpose to those who so unselfishly laid their lives on the line for our country.

The Veterans Transitional Housing Program (Veterans Haven South) is a New Jersey State-operated facility for homeless veterans. After being medically evaluated at a VA Medical Center, eligible veterans must agree to a long term program focusing on psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation.

Veterans Haven-South is a program where residents must be willing to maintain their sobriety while enrolled. Random drug and alcohol testing is constantly performed and violators are immediately placed in an Intensive Outpatient Program to assist with maintaining sobriety.

Veterans admitted to Veterans Haven South come to a 100 bed facility with 3 different programs and staff who are sensitive to the multiple needs they present such as:

Bridge Housing

Individual Service Plan (ISP) designed for the short-term with the focus on the rapid move to permanent housing. Rather than the completion of treatment goals, Veterans are expected to receive case management and support, which should be coordinated with the HUD-VASH, SSVF, or other available community based programs. Veterans will receive support in accessing services as needed/requested by the Veteran.

Clinical Treatment

Treatment programs will incorporate strategies to increase income and housing attainment goals. Individualized assessment, services and treatment plans are tailored to achieve optimal results in a time efficient manner and are consistent with sound clinical practice. Program stays are to be individualized based upon the IPS for the Veteran (not program driven). Staff are licensed and/or credentialed for the substance-use disorder/mental health services provided.

Service Intensive Transitional Housing

The services incorporate tactics to increase the Veteran’s income through employment and/or benefits and obtaining permanent housing. Services provided and strategies used by the Veteran will vary based on the individualized needs of the Veteran and resources available in the community. Applicant specifies the staffing levels and range of services to be provided.

Staff

Veterans Haven South staff is comprised of diverse professionals specializing in mental health/social services counseling, addictions counseling, vocational rehabilitation counseling and nursing. There is also a 24 hour staff with varied duties to meet the needs of the residents ranging from mentorship to transporting residents for vocational and medical appointments, as well as transporting residents to and from required AA and NA meetings. The concept of Veterans helping Veterans is woven throughout the fabric of the program.

Admission Criteria

Veteran must be homeless.
Individual must be a veteran under US Department of Veterans Affairs guidelines.
Veteran must be eligible for VA healthcare benefits.
Applicant must be drug and alcohol free at time of admission.

**For Veterans that do not meet these criteria, a limited number of Veterans may still be eligible for admittance under the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program.**

Services

Veterans Haven South offers a variety of services for veterans enrolled in our program. During the initial orientation period, all residents are required to be processed through the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. This is so the veteran can be given a complete physical, assigned a primary care physician and if needed given a PPD (TB) test, which is required for admission to Veterans Haven South.

We also surround our Veterans with a host of supporting services such as Federal & State Veterans Service Officers (VSO) in order to process claims in a timely manner. Ventnor Community Base Outpatient Clinic provides weekly PTSD groups for those that wish to attend. Millville Multi-Service Center supports Veterans Haven-South by providing a program that provides credit repair services and debt forgiveness guidance for our Veterans. Thanks to our supporters and sponsors, we conduct morale building field trips such as visits to Gettysburg Battlefield, Statue of Liberty as well as tranquil fishing trips along with several social activities throughout the year such as Voices of Valor and People & Stories.

Each One Teach One

Veterans Haven South held a mentoring event called "Each One Teach One". This is a new iteration of the mentoring program brought back to life by Cara Giresi, Social Worker/Veterans Programs Supervisor. "Its a chance to share lessons learned and explore different things as well as boost comradery and simply a good time", said Ms. Giresi. Veterans come up with the query or mission for the "Each One Teach One" meeting and they present and lead. This week they are creating "vision/reflection boards". A vision of what they see for themselves in 6 months as well as a memento to reflect upon down the road.

View Images

Donor Appreciation Day

Donors across the Garden State visited the heroes they support and were recognized for their kindness, Oct. 15, 2023.

On behalf of VHS, thank you for helping us continue to provide stable housing and support programs for our Veterans year-round!

We appreciate all of our donors and your generosity!

View Images

View Video

Hard Rock Donates 75 Mattresses

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City donated 75 mattresses that Vice Superintendent Donshae L. Joyner and CMSgt. Michael P. Allen (Ret.), distributed amongst the Veterans at Veterans Haven South on March 19, 2023.

Nall Hall Opens

Veterans Haven South completed Black History Month with the opening of a new internet café/lounge Feb. 28, 2023, Winslow, New Jersey. Brig. Gen. Patrick Kennedy, superintendent, Veteran’s Haven South, hosted the festivities and the grand opening of “Nall Hall” – the Haven’s new internet café/lounge. The new space will offer web access and a rest and relaxation area to Veterans. The café/lounge is dedicated to retired New Jersey Army National Guard Col. Walter R. Nall, the first African American superintendent of Veterans Haven South.

Veterans Havens' Softball Game and BBQ

New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Veterans Havens’ North and South squared off October 15, 2022 at Lawrenceville, New Jersey during their annual softball game and BBQ. Veterans/residents and staff members teamed up for a seven inning duel to see who would take home the trophy and bragging rights this year. Veterans Haven North prevailed in the end with solid defense holding off a late push by Veterans Haven South to take the victory. Thank you to all the veterans, staff members, family, and friends who came out to show support and enjoy a great day in the park. View images on NJDMAVA Flickr.

Donation from Egg Harbor Township Elks Lodge

Veterans Haven South received a holiday donation from the Egg Harbor Township Elks Lodge that included sixteen micro-refrigerators and several boxes of new socks. Twenty-two more appliances will be sent to the Veterans Haven during the next six months to keep the spirit of giving alive year round!

Donor Appreciation Luncheon

Veterans Haven South hosted a “Donor Appreciation Luncheon” on October 2, 2022 in Winslow, New Jersey. Donors received certificates of appreciation and Veteran/residents of Veterans Haven South received awards for their hard work during their time at the Haven.

“We can survive and operate with our budget, but the vets thrive with the support of our donors, volunteers, and all the service organizations that assist” – Brig. Gen. Patrick Kennedy

A BBQ with live music followed as some of the Veteran/residents put together a band and played for those who attended. Thank you to all of the donors, partners, and Veterans for a fun celebration!

View images on NJDMAVA Flickr.

Generous Donations

A great week for Veterans Haven South! To assist Veterans Haven South in providing homeless veterans with housing, food, health care, counseling, and vocational assistance, the Hard Rock Casino Hotel presented a $10,000 donation on June 28, 2022, and the Egg Harbor Township Elks Lodge a $1,000 donation on June 30, 2022.

DMAVA truly appreciates each and every donor contribution to improve assistance to our veterans.

American Legion Makes Donation

Veterans Haven South received a $10,000 donation from American Legion Post 38 in Haddonfield, NJ on February 2, 2022. Jon Batchelor (left), past post commander, and Joseph McElroy (right), post commander, presented the check to Steve Ferrari, superintendent.

Money was raised at the Legion's 7th Annual 5K Race/Walk on December 21, 2021. The post has now donated a total of $73,000 over the past 5 years to Veterans Haven South.

Thank you to American Legion Post 38, race sponsors and all those who participated for this generous donation.