Niagara Gospel Mission opens Veterans Space

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Niagara Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter and recovery center in Niagara Falls, tells us 10 percent of the men they serve are veterans.

"When I got out of the Army I faced homelessness with my family and so this is something that's always been on my heart to do here at the mission," said Rev. John Cooper Jr., the executive director of the Niagara Gospel Mission.

The shelter is opening up a new space for the male veterans they serve, including ten bedrooms and a lounge. They're also launching a program called "The Re-Deploy Program."

"Redeploy has a dual message, so a guy who's kind of just given up on himself, redeploy's saying here's a new mission you can fight for and fight forward for your own life and for your family, and then redeploy for someone who's in their mind has been at war this whole time, wrestling with the issues that they have, it's time to come home, it's time to find rest," said Cooper.

They tell us their mission of the Re-Deploy Program is to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, combat trauma, spiritual emptiness, and other service-related challenges.

"This is so vital for the veterans. There was a season in our nation when they were totally neglected. Things are really beginning to open up for our veterans now and thank god for that," said Jessie Scott, who attended the event with her husband, Bernie Scott, a Vietnam veteran.

Their new veteran space has ten bedrooms, which come with beds, closets, desks, three meals a day and counseling classes. This veteran space is currently for men, however, the mission says they are working on building a new women's shelter, with the goals to open it by next winter.

For veterans who are seeking assistance, they encourage veterans to call them at (716) 205-8805.

People can learn more about the Niagara Gospel Mission by visiting their website here.