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Supportive Housing for Women Veterans
By Paula Green
Butler is the dwelling place of Robin’s Home, a unique facility that provides supportive housing for women veterans and their children. U.S. Army Veteran Mary Chitwood founded this 501©3 nonprofit, officially opening its doors on July 1, 2019. Chitwood named the place in honor of her friend Robin Arnold, who served in the Army during the Desert Storm conflict. After discharge, Robin received treatment for military sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She required surgery for a medical condition. Unfortunately, due to complications from the surgery, Robin passed away on January 27, 2017.
Robin’s Home honors her legacy and assists homeless female veterans and their families. The establishment serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Erie, Lawrence, and Mercer counties. The house is equipped with all the comforts of home, including a kitchen, laundry facilities, computers, and three bedrooms, each with a bathroom. “Our beds at our transitional housing program are typically full of single women veterans or with women veterans and their children. We are always striving to expand our program to meet the needs of the veterans we serve,” said Chitwood.
In addition, Robin’s Home offers Women Veteran Peer Support Services. Staff members and military peers provide counseling service at Robin’s Home at 401 East Pearl Street. “We have several women who attend the weekly women’s support group. Also, we have women veterans enrolled in our Certified Peer Specialist Program for Women Veterans,” Chitwood said.
Robin’s Home is excited to announce that they now support all veterans and currently serving service members with their Veterans H.E.A.R.T. Resource Center. The HEART stands for Housing, Empowerment, Assistance, Resources, and Training. The facility opened in March at 357 North Main Street, Suite 1 in Butler. The center assists veterans by offering various services, including education, employment assistance, health care advocacy, and community engagement. This program has proved to be successful. According to Chitwood, “The Veterans HEART Resource Center has been a wonderful resource to veterans in our community. The resource center has a recreational room for veterans to hang out and socialize. They can watch T.V., play Xbox, listen to music, or play board games; we host a weekly women’s support group and monthly social events for veterans. Our resource center has a computer lab for veterans to use.”
For more information on Robin’s Home, Women Veteran Peer Support Services, and Veterans H.E.A.R.T. Resource Center, visit https://robinshome.us/, https://www.robinshomepeersupport.us/, or https://www.veteransresourcecenter.us/.