Helmets to Hardhats to Build Chicago Home for Veterans

Teamsters Join Gov. Quinn to Announce New Construction

Teamsters Helmets to Hardhats joined Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday to announce the construction of Illinois’ first veterans’ home in Chicago.

The 200-bed facility, which will begin construction in 2010, will offer a new home for retired Illinois veterans, while creating hundreds of new jobs and strengthening the Helmets to Hardhats veterans program. The $65 million project is part of the Illinois Jobs Now! capital plan, signed into law by Gov. Quinn earlier this year.

“When Chicago’s veterans’ home is built next year, it will be the first structure of its kind for the Teamsters Helmets to Hardhats program,” said Michael Yauger, the Teamsters’ national Helmets to Hardhats coordinator and Teamsters Local 786 President. “It will be a retirement home built by veterans for veterans.”

The Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago will be built on 10 acres at 4200 N. Oak Park Ave. on Chicago’s northwest side. It will be separated into five, 40-bed units, including a wing specifically for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. It will also be built with all-new construction, designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver standards.

“Helmets to Hardhats works nationwide to train and transition veterans from active military duty to sustainable jobs in the construction trades,” Yauger said. “Over half of Illinois’ 1.2 million veterans live in Chicago and this project allows us not only to house those most in need, but put many to work in the process.”

The new facility will be the fifth veterans’ home in the state, joining other current centers in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy. Construction is expected to last 12 to 14 months. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs also operates the Prince Home, a 15-bed facility for homeless and disabled veterans in Manteno.

Teamsters Joint Council 25, which endorsed Pat Quinn in August for his first term as governor, represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women in Illinois and is proud to assist our veterans in this development.

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