Veterans village would help those who served

This letter is in response to an article in your Feb. 27 paper titled: “Neighbors rally in opposition to project before formal application, Veterans’ village envisioned.”

It was good to know that you have reporters that try to stay unbiased and report both sides. And, please let Mr. Homer Davis know that after much time and expense, we had already come to the conclusion that the site we hoped for would not provide enough water for our project and are now looking at other sites.

And, now that we know that Hayden Lake neighbors do not want veterans in their backyard, we certainly would not want to place these suffering veterans in an ungrateful environment. And, as a veteran, I am surprised that Mr. Davis did not know about us as our Director of Veteran Mentors has spoken to about 17 veteran groups in North Idaho about our plans and he volunteers at Newby-Ginnings. To his knowledge, all of these veteran groups promote our plans.

Now when I say that reporters TRY to stay unbiased and report both sides, it proves that what we are trying to do is very complex and takes much education. Why do we need water, for instance? Even though Aquaponics uses only about 1/10th of the water that in-ground crops use, we hope to provide veterans with organic food and we will grow food/fish year round. And with the help of Dr. Abate and his trained staff, we will put veterans on a proper diet and exercise program.

Why? Many veterans try to self-medicate PTSD with alcohol. As a result, these veterans develop a disease known as adult onset diabetes. Geisinger Healthcare System has proven that a proper regime of organic food and exercise can bring insulin costs for these individuals from $33,000 a year down to $3,000 a year. This places the individual into better health to regain dignity. These lives were lost because of me and YOU, to maintain our freedoms and your freedom to complain about “these people” in your backyard.

So, instead of kicking the can down the road, we have stopped and are trying to devise ways to help our veterans/working poor where they can be self-sustaining, giving back to the community from THEIR HOME vs. renting in a populated rental area that keeps them in the candy store of alcohol and drugs. We place them in the country where nature heals and new relationships/lives are developed. Jobs are in place in the farm setting. We hope to be self-sustaining.

Now, since you did not educate yourselves about what we are trying to do, let me take this opportunity to say we promote ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) which ensures the “buy in” of a community. Here is an example of such efforts: https://www.havenforhope.org/SpiritualServices

So my challenge to you/your community is to use your efforts to unite and not divide. Knee-jerk opposition is not productive. Education of a subject and positive feedback shows the true substance of a community. Please help instead of fighting us. Call us 509-919-2829 and we will gladly come to any organization/gathering to discuss our efforts. Understanding is needed so that TOGETHER, we can find ways to treat others as you would want to be treated.

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Janie Dodd Fales is the COO at ChangePoint NW Center for Housing.