Welcome Home, Veterans: The Post at Fort Whipple Now Provides 100+ Homes for Previously Homeless, Senior and At-Risk Veterans

Photo: One of the restored Officers’ Quarters

After six years in the making, The Post at Fort Whipple is now open, providing more than 100 affordable homes for veterans.

The Post at Fort Whipple is a new supportive housing community for Arizona Veterans who are seniors, facing homelessness, or otherwise at risk. The new complex features six early-1900s Officers’ Quarters now transformed into one and two-bedroom units. It also includes newly-built one-bedroom units. The Post includes a total of 103 affordable homes for veterans, honoring the site’s legacy while creating a brighter future for those who served.

“Our veterans deserve a place to call home, a place that provides them with safety, stability, and support, and that’s what makes The Post at Fort Whipple so special,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs. “Your veterans will have access to workforce development, case management, counseling, therapeutic services, and healthcare, both on and off site.”

Many veterans face a higher risk of becoming unhoused. About 20% of men experiencing homelessness are veterans, according to data from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. They can face lingering effects of mental health issues like PTSD, and substance use disorders. In the Prescott region, 24% of people experiencing homelessness are veterans. Officials estimate there are about 2,000 homeless veterans across Arizona.

“We are making progress. This is a prime example of how we end veteran homelessness,” said John Scott, Director of the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. “When we get things done, we honor those who have served our country.”

It took one week for the 23 units in the former Officers’ Quarters to be leased. Within two months, all 81 units in the new building were leased, too. Army veteran Joe Franzen just moved into one of the historic units. He and his wife lost their son and became homeless in 2020.

“We have a beautiful home now … my wife and I, we have a front porch. We can look at the beautiful sunsets, the sunrise. It’s just incredible,” Franzen said. “We thank everybody that was involved in this project, because we finally have family … we built the village. Everyone helps each other. We have so many services from the campus to everything, transportation, and finally we have friends, and we can say we have a home in the community that’s safe.”

The development is located at 1000 Veterans View Drive, steps from the former Fort Whipple, which is now Prescott’s VA Hospital. Gorman & Company and U.S.VETS started working together on the project in 2019. Its total development cost was over $40 million.

“Homeless, senior, and at-risk veterans are so well deserving of this beautiful housing,” said Sally Schwenn, Arizona Market President for Gorman & Company. “The Post at Fort Whipple symbolizes what is possible when public commitment and private expertise come together.”

The six Officers’ Quarters buildings are Victorian-era, constructed between 1904 and 1906. At one point, they housed doctors and medical staff. Eventually, some were turned into offices, and others were vacant. Their long history required collaboration between Gorman & Company, the Arizona State Office of Historic Preservation, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the VA, and the Yavapai Prescott Tribe.

“What we have here is not only housing for veterans, but we have an activated living part of history in community life,” said Kathryn Leonard, Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer. “It is a space of connection and a space of shared identity. And as the Yavapai people will tell you, it is also a healing space.”

U.S.VETS will provide supportive services for residents of The Post at Fort Whipple going forward.

Gorman & Company extends its appreciation to the many organizations and community stakeholders whose collaboration and commitment have helped bring this vision to life.

• U.S.VETS
• Arizona State Historic Preservation Office
• Arizona Department of Housing
• City of Prescott
• AZIDA
• Veterans’ Affairs
• CREA
• USAA
• Home Depot Foundation
• Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
• Home Matters
• Arizona Complete Health

About Gorman & Company: Gorman & Company is a leader in community revitalization through a steadfast dedication to high-quality affordable, workforce, public, and senior housing nationwide.