About Us

Beginning in 1994, members of the US military veterans community in the Philadelphia area had an idea. Inspired by the success and humanitarian mission of the Ronald McDonald House, they proposed a place where vets, currently commuting daily between the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and their homes across Pennsylvania, could live comfortably and have meals during weekdays, free of charge.

It was a helping hand from veterans to other veterans, a gift to and from family.

Representatives from groups across the community spectrum including the veterans service organizations, labor unions, government and the private sector joined forces to buy the building, renovate the structure and purchase the needed materials to make their idea a reality. After much hard work, the Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House(PVCH) was born.

Working with the VAMC and the community, the PVCH over fifteen years helped countless veterans and their families make their time here restful and free of the burden of a daily commute. However, over time the PVCH realized they could do more for veterans and decided to tackle the issue of veteran homelessness.

In January 2010, working with the VAMC's social work staff, the PVCH welcomed its first homeless guests and continues to offer that service to veterans seeking to rebuild their lives. With eleven beds, full baths, a modern kitchen, entertainment and recreational rooms, it is well suited to that task.

From its first beginnings in 1994 to today, the PVCH's mission remains the same: to leave none of our brothers and sisters behind as we work day by day to make their lives more rewarding and less complicated. It is a mission we are proud to accomplish.

How We're Different

Out of an emphasis on compassion, many homeless shelters emphasize relieving stress, inner healing and self-actualization.

We are not that type of shelter.

Accepting only former military personnel, the emphasis here is on meeting challenges, not relaxing. Here, nothing is given, everything is earned. Adhering to a rank structure and duty roster, we seek to reinstill discipline and a proper bearing to those who, when on active duty, were once sharp as razors. We then take that military sense of devotion to duty and seek to redirect it to the civilian challenges of a steady job and independent living.

However, this shelter is not for everyone. Those who value the free-wheeling independence of living on the streets will likely not take to our structured environment, especially during the initial two week probationary period of residence here. The stringent duties of that first two weeks, which we have all been through, earns the way into this very elite platoon of people regrouping to fight life's battles another day.

But this time, with better weapons.

We also have in residence VA cancer patients and our primary mission during the work week is to ensure their time with us is relaxing and stress free. We do this by maintaining strict hygiene, decorum and other lifestyle standards conducive to that goal.

Thus, if you're looking to play the victim, take a vacation at the expense of our donors, or believe you are God's special little snowflake, go someplace else.

However, if you want to be challenged in an atmosphere of camaraderie and devotion to mission, and you want to work very hard to put your life back together, we may be just the place that puts you on a path to surviving and succeeding in today's world.

That is our mission and we're proud of it.

Volunteer Opportunities

As a charity we accomplish our mission of helping homeless vets through the generosity and hard work of our great volunteers. Any skill, any level of time commitment and any resources you can provide are always welcome. Typical duties can range from clerical to meal prep, cleaning to media outreach and research.

Also, every other Monday night 6pm-8pm we launch our “Operation Sleigh Ride”, bringing supplies and hot food to homeless veterans across Philadelphia. We go to Love Park, Logan Square and all over the city to help homeless vets who can’t get to our University City HQ.

If you'd like to help with any mission, please call or email us to get details.

And Thanks.

Officers

Board of Directors
President - Siegfried Honig
Vice-President - Allan Abramson
Treasurer - Francis X. MacLeod, Sr.
Secretary - John T. McGrath, Jr.
Bill Castillo
John Fielding
Larry Holman
Chris Hill
Tom Mumbower

Trustees
John Paone

Honorary Board Members
Hon. Jannie L. Blackwell, City Council
Edward Coryell, Sr
Hon. Patrick Dugan, Municipal Court .
Hon. Michael J. Stack, State Senator
Hon. Thomas P. Murt, State Representative

Executive Director
David Kamioner

Assistant to the Executive Director
George W. Roache, Jr.

Volunteer Director of Mental Health Services
Hope A. Heffner

Volunteer First Sergeant
Wallace J. Presley

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