Providing vets an “entry point to a changed life”

By Sara Wiercinski

On June 17, community members, veterans, elected officials and donors attended a groundbreaking celebration for the Veterans Community Project (VCP) of Kansas City’s new Navigation Campus Welcome Center at 87th St and Troost.

The new 2,900 square-foot building will house a welcome center for veterans, the second in a three-phase plan to construct a central location for support.

“We listened to the stories. The need is great,” said VCP Executive Director Chris Admire. “This isn’t just a place, it’s a promise: No veteran will go without services because they don’t know where to go.”

Centric Construction will begin work this month with completion expected in January 2026.

Veteran Bryan Meyer founded VCP in 2016 to address the crises of veteran homelessness and suicide. The project has since grown to other metropolitan areas. Kansas City’s campus includes 49 tiny houses and wraparound services including mentorship.

Veterans spend on average 480 days at the center. Success rate is high: after 5 years, more than 85% of participants have met their goals.

Veteran Service Officer Chuck Lear, who served during the Vietnam War, spoke of the impact of assisting vets navigate complex systems. “VCP has done great things for vets. I look forward to a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach.”

Sandy and Joe Ratterman have worked with individuals experiencing homelessness for twenty years. They are major donors for the project.

“We cannot save everyone, but we can make a huge, deep difference in a person’s life,” said Joe Ratterman. “This is truly an entry point to a changed life.”

The project’s third phase is the renovation of next door office space to house resource providers. The work is funded by a $5.7 million capital campaign, of which $3 million has been met.

“So long as the community has our backs, the people here everyday have the resolve to deliver on this mission,” said Meyer.

Learn more at www.veteranscommunityproject.org/kansascity