Legion home wins HGTV competition

Thanks to thousands of votes cast by Legionnaires and others, a house for homeless veterans in Philadelphia will get a $45,000 renovation from Home and Garden Television. Located in the city’s historic Frankford district, the home is a three-bedroom townhouse where homeless veterans receive shelter, food, and help finding jobs and permanent housing. It was one of two top vote-getters in HGTV’s “Change the World, Start at Home” contest; the other winner is another community-based facility in St. Louis.

Sponsored by The Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans, Inc. – a nonprofit organization – the home’s renovation will include a remodeled kitchen with new appliances, new insulation and windows, front-porch repair, duct work, fence replacement and landscaping.

Ron Conley, a past national commander for The American Legion and president of the Homeless Veterans Corps, says a special thanks goes out to 1st District Commander Tom Tomosky “for initiating our participation in the contest, and to the thousands of Legionnaires, Auxiliary, SAL members, and family and friends who went online to cast their votes for this home in Philadelphia.

“It goes to show you that, when we as an American Legion organization pull together, we can accomplish our goals of ‘care for him who has borne the battle,’” Conley said.

Carrie Rothman, executive director of Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, said the homeless veterans facility will be renovated in June or July. “Our organization will get the grant money from HGTV and we’ll do the project management,” Rothman told the Update. “But we’re already putting out a call for volunteers.”

Those who wish to volunteer for the renovation project in Philly can call Rebuilding Together Philadelphia at (215) 568-5044.