City Council hears podcast on veteran housing nonprofit's mission
The Andover City Council heard a podcast interview featuring Bart Ward of Haven for Heroes, a nonprofit providing transitional housing and support services for veterans in Anoka County. The discussion highlighted the organization's renovation efforts, community partnerships, and ongoing need for volunteers.
During the July 10 meeting, the council listened to an Anoka Community Podcast episode featuring an in-depth interview with Bart Ward, executive director of Haven for Heroes. The nonprofit operates four buildings at the Anoka County Rum River Human Services Campus, providing housing and reintegration services for veterans who often lack resources and have experienced homelessness.
Ward explained that Haven for Heroes operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a rigorous intake process designed to ensure safety and security. The organization conducts background checks on all volunteers, staff, and veterans, with particular attention to protecting women veterans who may have experienced sexual trauma. "Safety, security, housing — if you come to the Haven and you probably don't have a lot of resources, housing is really important to these people," Ward said. The program connects veterans to federal housing vouchers and VA services to help them transition to permanent housing.
The podcast detailed extensive renovation challenges at the historic campus buildings, which date back roughly 100 years. Cottage 3 required major work after flooding and mold damage, while other buildings needed asbestos abatement and roof repairs. Ward credited an all-volunteer construction crew that has donated 30 to 40 hours per week since 2017, along with corporate partners like GAF, Mortonson Construction, and Marvin Windows.
Ward emphasized the organization's need for continued community support. "We always need volunteers," he said, noting that the nonprofit accepts contributions of any size — from one hour per week to full-time skilled labor in plumbing, electrical work, and construction. The organization also welcomes food donations and financial contributions. Haven for Heroes has attracted support from a credible board that includes State Senator Jim Abler, and partnerships with veteran organizations across Minnesota, including the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and the 23rd Veteran organization in Duluth.
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Votes (1)
Anoka Community Podcast: Haven for Heroes Feature
This podcast episode features an in-depth interview with Bart Ward of Haven for Heroes, discussing the organization's mission to provide housing and support for veterans in Anoka County. Topics covered include the nonprofit's operational model, renovation efforts on historic campus buildings, veteran intake processes, partnerships with other veteran services, and various ways for community involvement and contributions. The discussion highlights the impact of volunteerism, corporate donations, and collaboration with government and non-profit partners.
Notable Quotes (6)
Haven for Heroes is a nonprofit 501c3. Uh, we have control of four of the buildings at the Anoka County Rum River Human Services Campus.
This was not a project for everybody. Like we talked you talked a little bit about a lot of people taking a look at it before before uh you guys uh really came uh into formation in 18. And it was really uh I mean it obviously the board collectively has a lot of great experience that that led to um the business model but but can you just speak a little bit about your history and um the expertise that you brought to the Haven and h and how to make this business business model work?
We interview everybody. We do background checks on our volunteers, on people who are uh are at that campus and we do background checks on uh veterans as well. There's some people we simply cannot take in. um sexual predators and violence. Yeah, we're probably not going to be having a person, you know, we're group housing and um unfortunately uh you know, a lot of women veterans that we take care of have had some type of sexual trauma in their life, either in the military, out of the military, or both. And we take that vis that really seriously. So, that building has extra security in it.
Well, safety, security, housing. I mean, if you come to the Haven and you probably don't have a lot of resources and housing is, you know, food, shelter, really important to these people. I mean, a lot of people that we have had stay with us have been on the streets at one time or another.
Uh uh asbestous abatement. Uh cottage 3 was flooded out. Uh a water mane broke in it and so there was mold in the building we had to abate. So, those are the first places that you get started is is abatement and or in the case of cottage 3, the first place to start was to put a roof on it.
So we always need volunteers. I mean, if you know how to do a little plumbing and you know how to do some electricity, you know how to pound some nails, we'll take uh, you know, an hour's worth of your time a week, we'll take 10 hours worth of your time a week. Our all volunteer construction crew has been coming there since 2017. 30, 40 hours a week.
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
Nonprofit tax-exempt status held by Haven for Heroes.
Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher, offering Section 8-like assistance with additional veteran support.
General housing assistance program, used as a comparison for HUDVASH vouchers.
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Other Topics from This Document
Organizational Credibility, Funding, and Volunteerism
Veteran Intake Process and Support Programs
Campus Renovation and Historic Preservation
Community Engagement and Future Development
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