Charge of the House Brigade

A room to call one's own.

That’s Shalini Madaras’ goal for homeless female veterans. Madaras started the nonprofit organization Female Soldier:Forgotten Heroes, or "FS:FH," in 2008. Next October Connecticut will open the doors to its first female-only housing for women warriors.

“This is something that never existed before. At the end of the year we are going to see residents come into this home,” Madaras, a Wilton resident, said of the $1.2 million project.

Located in Bridgeport, the Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras Home honors Madaras’ son. A roadside bomb killed the graduate in Iraq in 2006. It's designed to serve as a haven for female veterans recovering from physical, mental and emotional combat scars.

Madaras leads a tight-knit group of men and women who banded together after Kick for Nick was founded. A soccer player, Pfc. Madaras wanted to bring soccer balls to Iraqi children. He never had the chance. But through Kick for Nick, more than 32,000 soccer balls are now in the hands of Iraqi and Afghani children. Each ball bears Madaras’ name.

FS:FH grew from that group of committed volunteers. They hold fundraisers and raise awareness.

Recently, FS:FH held its annual springtime gala at the . It honored three fallen Connecticut female soldiers: Army Spc. Tyanna S. Avery-Fedler from Bridgeport, Army Pfc. Melissa J. Hobart from East Haven and Cindy M. Beaudoin from Plainfield. 

“We had over 200 people in attendance, numbers are still being tallied but expect our numbers to be around $160,000,” Madaras said.

The CT Army National Guard participated that evening and SGM Caterina Veronesi sang the national anthem. Sponsors included the Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation, GE Capital, Marsh & McMellan and Nestle Waters NA.

To date, more than 200,000 female soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are between 6,000 and 8,000 homeless female veterans nationwide, according to the VA. Connecticut has between 200 and 300 homeless female veterans. Female veterans are four times more likely to be homeless than a non-veteran woman.

“When I met Shalini about three- three-and-a-half years ago the partnership melded so nicely,” said Joy Kiss, CEO of Homes for the Brave in Bridgeport. “Through her presentations, and our presentations, we’ve really been able to reach different parts of the state and raise awareness. It seems more and more talk shows and papers are addressing the issue.”

Kiss said unique challenges face more than those female veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan: They face all female veterans.

The state has about 106 transitional supportive beds for veterans. Less than 10 are designated for women. And while this house will be in Connecticut, female veterans from the greater New England region can use it.

“Our residence is designed exclusively for Female Veterans who are homeless and who have been honorably or generally discharged from the military.  It is a transitional program, so the length of stay is limited to 2 years,” Madaras said.

FS:FH is now working to secure a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh grant. If it wins, the money would go toward furnishing and decorating the home.

There are less than a dozen such housing facilities in the nation. And the Bridgeport house will be the state’s first. It was an arduous journey for FS:FH. The group withstood three rejections for potential properties in three years.

Part of the problem was no zoning category existed for a multiple-residence veterans’ facility. A previous location had been classified as a “halfway house” or “homeless shelter/group home,” Madaras said. Local residents balked and the Connecticut Post ran an unflattering editorial about the house.

“From comments and objections made at various zoning meetings, it was clear that the average citizen was not concerned about the problem we were addressing. This adding to local politics made for some very discouraging meetings,” Madaras wrote.

Madaras soldiered on.

Finally, last summer, Bridgeport’s Zoning Board of Appeals approved the house, on 66 Elmwood Avenue. The spacious house is well situated, Madaras said. A nearby bus line makes it easier for veterans to reach jobs. And the Veterans Administration Hospital is close. 

Those female soldiers moving into the home will get case management, counseling, skills training and health care. There is room enough for 15 women, including five with a young child and facilities for three handicapped residents.

“It really sunk in when I went to the house after the renovations started,” Kiss said. “Since then it’s just been a snowball. I’m so blessed to know such a giving community.”

There are many local organizations for area residents interested in helping both veterans and active duty service members. Some of them are listed below. Please add more in the comments section below, and Patch will update this table:

[Editor's Note: Also helping female soldiers is Zoe Howard in Weston. As part of her Girl Scout Silver Award Project she’s collecting toiletry items for an all-female platoon based in Afghanistan. She’s holding the drive between May 16 and May 20.]

Basic Information

Kick for Nick

Weston Supports the Military

Homes for the Brave

Patriot Guard Riders (Facebook page here)