Special to
L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE — Leaders in the community are planning on spending a night outside to draw attention to the plight of homeless veterans.

Jefferson Parish President John Young and Lisa Carey, director of Veterans Housing Outreach Ministries, along with members of the community and veterans supporters will stay outside the Veterans Housing Outreach Site in Hahnville for 12 hours, starting Oct. 4, sleeping in cardboard boxes and tents and eating only food provided by the community.

Carey said the effort brings awareness to the hundreds of homeless and hungry veterans throughout area parishes.

The Hahnville Site can house and feed at least 25 veterans, but it remains closed due to red tape, Carey said.

“Unfortunately, the Hahnville Site has been met with months of resistance, code violations and setbacks while trying to house and feed veterans, and St. Charles Parish officials continue to keep the doors closed to 25 American needy veterans,” Carey said.

Veterans Housing Outreach Ministries is a veterans organization focused on housing, feeding and clothing veterans and the needy to enrich the lives of American veterans by connecting them to community resources.

Team members will stage the “sleep out” and collect donations for the Hahnville site, a transitional- to permanent-housing project and service site for veterans.

Those who want to participate will meet in front of the Hahnville Apartment Complex Site, 116 Byrd Lane, from 6 p.m. Oct. 4 to 6 a.m. Oct. 5.

The community is encouraged to drop off a nonperishable food item or unused male or female hygiene item that will be donated to homeless veterans. For more information, call Carey at 504-340-3429 or visit veteranshousingoutreach.webs.com.