VERO BEACH — Camp Haven, a homeless shelter for men received its certificate of occupancy for its new facility in Vero Beach just in time to provide a warm bed for some of Vero’s homeless as cold weather recently moved into the Treasure Coast.
Lalita Janke, president of Camp Haven was at the center with Indian River County Tax Collector Carole Jean Jordan to ensure all goes well as local homeless men prepare for a night out of the cold.
“There are no words to express how good it feels to finally be open and provide shelter for our area homeless men,” Janke said.
“It has been a long battle but at last we are here and grateful to so many who have made this vision actually happen,” Janke added.
Some of the men were on hand to begin work on a vertical hydroponic growing system being installed that will grow organic vegetables that will be sold to the public to help fund Camp Haven. The organic garden was funded by local charity Lauren’s Way.
The opening of Camp Haven is just in time for the group’s fund raiser being held Thursday, Jan. 23 at The Elks Club in Vero. The event will raise funds to help house, educate, counsel and mentor homeless men in Indian River County.
“The timing couldn’t be more perfect as the unpredictable weather quickly creeps to a rainy low tonight,” Janke said. “Men that have been sleeping in the woods for years, struggling to find a way to positively change the course of their lives but now, because of Camp Haven, they will have a chance,” Janke added.
“Every single thing we have gone through to make this happen has been worth it. What we had to overcome doesn’t compare to the obstacles these men face daily,” Lalita concluded.
Jordan, who is a co-chair along with Dr. Deepti Sandwani and Connie Bishop of the Jan. 23 fundraiser, said the problem of homeless men living in the woods in Vero Beach, “is everyone’s problem. It is a community problem and all of our responsibility.”
To ensure the success of Camp Haven’s project for the homeless, it needs continuous support from the community. To find out how you can make a difference in someone’s life today, call (772) 999-3625 or visit www.CampHaven.net.