BIDDEFORD — Last week three local lawmakers toured Biddeford’s Veteran Career House – a program of Volunteers of America Northern New England, which opened in 2009 and provides temporary housing and assistance finding employment to homeless veterans.

Rep. Martin Grohman, D-Biddeford, organized the tour of the West Street facility to raise awareness of the program and draw attention to the need for volunteers there. Joining Grohman were Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, and Rep. Stedman Seavey, R-Kennebunkport, as well as retired U.S. Air Force Col. Jennifer Fullmer, who was the guest speaker at this year’s Biddeford-Saco Veterans Day Ceremony.

The Veteran Career House is an eight-bedroom living facility for male veterans who are homeless, Program Manager Michael Merrill explained to the group during the tour. It is one of two veterans’ programs Volunteers of America operates in the area; the other is the Huot House in Saco, a 10-bedroom facility for homeless male and female veterans.

“Here we really focus on building independence,” Merrill said of the Biddeford program. “We really encourage (veterans) to do checkups for years after leaving the program.”

Besides giving veterans comfortable housing – the facility includes two bathrooms, a kitchen and dining area, living space with a flatscreen television, a computer room, office space and eight bedrooms – the program gives them volunteering and networking opportunities, with the goal of landing them decent-paying jobs.

“They’re reliable, they’re trustworthy,” Merrill said of the vast majority of veterans. “They usually go above and beyond because they have pride in their work.”

Veterans are placed in the program through self-referral as well as by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other veteran service organizations, said Merrill. Men who have been convicted of certain crimes, such as sex crimes, felony assault and arson, are not accepted, he said.

Once in the program, the veterans can stay for up to 20 months, but many are able to leave earlier, and nearly all leave able to live independently. “It’s very rare that we have a negative discharge,” he said.

Merrill said the program has 18-20 graduates per year, and it has successfully discharged more than 100 veterans since opening.

All who toured the facility last week were impressed with what it has to offer.

“This is a great facility,” said Fullmer.

“It’s very homey,” added Grohman.

But for all the successes of the program, it still faces several challenges – namely the need for volunteers. For example, there is a pressing need for volunteers to provide transportation to the veterans, who often need to be taken to and from job interviews and other appointments.

“There are times when we don’t have anyone to drive,” said Merrill. “My staff and I are tasked out.”

The ultimate goal, the representatives said, will be to convince the city to extend the bus service to that portion of West Street.

“The bus already runs to (the University of New England), so it’s not much of a diversion,” said Fecteau.

But until then, other means of transportation are needed.

Although the program receives federal funding, Merrill said it is largely kept running by “the kindness of others,” with donations from local community and veteran service organizations.

Those interested in opportunities for volunteering at or donating to the Veteran Career House should contact Michael Merrill at 571-3359 or [email protected], or Brian Bouthot at 286-9641 or [email protected].

— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].