Volunteers of America North Louisiana (VOANLA) will celebrate the opening of its new Veterans Safe Haven facility with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on Tuesday, November 10, at 2 p.m. The new facility, located at 1717 Irving Place in Shreveport’s Highland Neighborhood, represents an important investment in the organization’s ongoing commitment to helping homeless Veterans find stability, healing, and a path toward permanent housing.
Since 2014, VOANLA has operated the Safe Haven program in partnership with the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center (OBVAMC), providing room, board, and supportive services to Veterans experiencing homelessness. The program offers a low-barrier, recovery-oriented environment where Veterans can build trust, address mental health and substance use challenges, and develop the resources and skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. Unlike traditional shelter models, Safe Haven does not require sobriety as a condition of entry, allowing Veterans facing significant barriers to access the support they need.
As the program grew, VOANLA and OBVAMC recognized the need for a space better suited to the unique needs of the Veterans served. The new facility was purpose-built to provide a bright, welcoming, and secure environment that balances personal privacy with opportunities for meaningful interaction among residents, staff, and VA personnel.
“Safe Haven is about more than providing a place to stay. It’s about creating an environment where Veterans feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to take the next steps toward rebuilding their lives,” said Carolyn Hammond, President and CEO of Volunteers of America North Louisiana. “This new facility allows us to better support that journey by providing a space intentionally designed around the needs of the Veterans we serve. We are grateful to our partners and supporters who helped make this vision a reality.”
Over more than a decade of continuous operation, VOANLA’s Safe Haven program has served 331 unique Veterans. The program maintains an average occupancy rate of approximately 90%, reflecting the continued need for supportive housing options in North Louisiana. Through individualized service planning, case management, benefits navigation, food services, and coordination with VA clinical teams, Safe Haven helps bridge the gap between homelessness and permanent housing.
The new facility was made possible through the collaboration and generosity of individual donors including Mr. and Mrs. Harry Avant, Mr. Will Atkins, and The Cecil W. Talley Estate, and numerous community partners and supporters, including the Angel Build, APEX Natural Gas, Carolyn W. & Charles T. Beaird Family Foundation, DT Midstream Foundation, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, First Methodist Church of Shreveport, First Presbyterian of Shreveport, Katy Build, The State of Louisiana, The Home Depot Foundation, and Willis Knighton Health. VOANLA will recognize these partners during the dedication ceremony, and a permanent plaque will be installed at the facility in acknowledgment of their contributions.
The new facility, renovated in collaboration with contractors at Brown Builders, LLC and architect team at Vintage Design Group, LLC, represents more than a new address for Safe Haven. It reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that Veterans who have served our country have access to the support, dignity, and opportunity they deserve.