Rumshock Rising
Rumshock Veterans Foundation moves forward with innovative veteran housing in Port Jervis.
When Bill Whetsel heard that 27 veterans were found homeless in Orange County in 2019, compared to seven or less in nearby counties, he had a hunch about why.
“Orange County has a lot for veterans but no veterans-only homeless program,” he said. “Veterans go to the VA for problems with PTSD and drugs and then move to halfway houses. But after that they end up in the Newburgh homeless shelter among people with problems. That doesn’t work. Veterans are accustomed to being held accountable and living a regimented life with routine responsibilities. The military gives you food, clothes and a regimen. Then they drop you at Stewart Airport with nothing. What do you do? Veterans do better with veterans. There’s a level of trust there.”
An air force veteran from a family of veterans, Whetsel grew up near Pittsburgh and now lives in Highland Mills. He worked for TWA for 13 years and then, after 9/11, became part of a Transportation Safety Administration team traveling around the country for a year, transitioning U.S. airports from private to federal security. He retired after eight years as TSA security supervisor at Stewart Airport.
So in 2019, he was looking for something to do.
“I was bored to death,” he said. “My grandfather always said to look for a way to help out.”
He looked around for what might appeal to veterans coming out of Veterans Administration rehab programs and noticed that Dutchess County has a three-story apartment building where eight veterans live, surrounded by a garden. The hydroponic gardens he’d seen at Disney World 40 years earlier also came to mind. He envisioned gardens in tents.
“Every veteran housing place that worked had community gardens and transportation,” said Whetsel.
He devised a plan for a self-sufficient program and launched the nonprofit Rumshock Veterans Foundation, named for his veteran uncles and grandfather, to support it.
Veterans would initially grow micro-greens and mushrooms and eventually add enough hydroponic vegetables to both feed themselves and sell on a roadside stand or at ShopRite. Sales would help with the $1100 monthly payment for rent and utilities each resident would pay. They would do electronics recycling and have a garage with a lift available for veterans’ use. Solar panels would offset energy costs, and tiny houses would give each veteran their own space.
The right locale—with a little resistance
Recently Whetsel found a place for the idea to take root. When Jen Metzger was state senator she assisted Rumshock Foundation in getting $400,000 in funding from the New York State Dormitory Authority, but property for affordable housing was scarce, and one Hamptonburgh prospect fell through. Then on January 11, Rumshock closed on a .75 acre property on Main St. in Port Jervis for $200,000. Included is an 1899 house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a one-bedroom house occupied by a veteran, plus seven bungalows.
The fit seemed right. Port Jervis Councilman-at-large and veteran liaison Stan Siegel, had suggested the property, set back from E. Main St., with a brook running through it, previously used for a nursery. Siegel knew the owner, Lynn Roucken, whose late husband Walter had been Siegel’s high school pal and an air force sergeant. Siegel’s wife Sharon had regularly helped with the annual count of Orange County homeless and was aware of local homeless veterans. She is an advocate for tiny houses to address the problem.
“Port Jervis has Dial-a-Bus for fifty cents. People can get to medical appointments and the grocery,” said Whetsel.
Roucken held the property for Rumshock for a year while planning board concerns were addressed, although more municipal approvals are needed to determine what aspects of Whetsel’s plan will suit the property. The bungalows’ position on the property may impede their use, making tiny houses a necessity, as the topography has shifted over time. Whetsel plans to renovate the house, putting apartments upstairs and a common room downstairs.
Meanwhile, Mayor Kelly Decker has voiced reservations.
“What is their plan for those with mental health concerns? Additionally, having an alcoholic beverage store two buildings down does not help those fighting substance abuse. What programs are they using to help the veteran become independent? I have not seen their hydroponic program plans.”
Whetsel dismissed Decker’s doubts. “Those aren’t the kind of people who will be in the program. I’m not running a drug and alcohol rehab. I’ll keep them busy, so they won’t become addicts.”
He expects to house veterans who have been treated at the VA and now need a home and work, he said, and Rumshock activities will provide job training and keep residents constructively occupied. Plus, therapy dogs will be available, trained by Marie Fay, the Rumshock board secretary.
“If a guy wants a dog, we’ll get him a dog,” said Whetsel.
He also noted that Home Depot, Andersen Windows and Owens Corning have offered to donate materials. Apprentices from plumbers, electricians, carpenters and laborers unions plan to provide labor to fulfill their community service obligations.
“What attracted me was the crick. I like to go to sleep to rain sounds,” said Whetsel. “And we’re away from people–from the road. From the street, there’s no clue about seven bungalows. We’re part of Port Jervis but also our own entity and community.”
Renovation of the house is expected to begin in March.
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Excellent write up! I'm thrilled to see this happening, and I know my old friend Walt would be too. My thanks to Lynn for holding this for them.
And to Kelly Decker..... stop being negative about our Vets, stop being one of those people who think our Vets are dangerous. Some considered me to be a Veterans Advocate for years, many of my Social media friends are Vets, and I live with a Marine combat Veteran who is 100% disabled with PTSD. I know from personal experience that his fears are groundless. Mayor.... get behind this wonderful plan and give it your full support. Our Vets deserve our support and respect!