Collier veterans' group gets $500,000 anonymous gift. What to know

Warrior Homes of Collier County is receiving a $500,000 gift to help get more homeless veterans off the streets.

The gift is the largest single contribution to the nonprofit organization and will be a game changer for the mission of getting veterans into housing and providing other support, said Dale Mullin, the organization’s founder and president.

“It puts us at a level we have never been,” Mullin said.

The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous and is local, has given to the organization before but not of this magnitude, Mullin said.

A survey in January found 96 veterans were homeless in Collier, based on what’s called a “point in time” count where volunteers span out into the community to known homeless camps, soup kitchens and elsewhere to anonymously interview the homeless. A year ago there were 51 homeless veterans.

The data, which is far from scientific, is submitted to state authorities and helps with securing grants.

Factoring in all demographic groups, the count this year found 660 people countywide who have no place to live, which is down 6% from 703 last year, according to the Hunger and Homeless Coalition of Collier County.

What help does Warrior Homes provide?

Warrior Homes operates four residences to house veterans with a total capacity of 33 beds.

A 10-unit apartment in East Naples, called Delta House, that cost $3 million was the most recent addition to the organization’s line up and the gift could be used to help pay down some of the remaining debt.

There are two housing needs for veterans that are going unmet that could be addressed with the gift, he said.

The first would be offering “low barrier housing” that is similar to a nightly emergency shelter with no qualifying restrictions other than no substance use.

The second need is memory care support where the idea is to work with a memory care center to accept homeless veterans. Warrior Homes would pay part of the residential fee.

Mullin has his eyes on a potential fifth property off Davis Boulevard for future housing. He is engaged in talks with the owner.

Michael Overway, executive director of the Southwest Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, said: “I would love to see a low barrier project for those veterans who need access to housing based on where they are in their mental health or substance use disorder walk.”

The gift of $500,000 could get Warrior Homes and its supporters nearly halfway toward ending veteran homelessness, Overway said.

Mullin said the most difficult homeless veterans to serve are those who need low-barrier housing or memory care support.

“We need two different strategies,” he said.

How did the gift come about?

Veterans who are helped through Warrior Homes pay rent on a sliding scale but it does not exceed 30% of their income.

The nonprofit does not receive any government funding and relies solely on private support or grants from other nonprofits.

Mullin said the donor reached out a couple of weeks ago about the legacy gift upon his death yet he may opt to provide it while he is still alive.

“He has been out to a number of events and to our properties,” Mullin said. “We are very thrilled about it.”