Residential facility for female veterans is Volunteers of America project
Rendering of Sara J. Harper Village, a Volunteers of America project to be built in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood
Volunteers of America along with Cleveland Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell and District 7 Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell broke ground to begin construction of the Judge Sara J. Harper Village in Glenville, located at 10531 Lee Avenue, in Cleveland’s Glenville area. on Wed. June 23.
The $2 million project will consist of two buildings with 12 thoughtfully designed, efficiency-style apartments. Each building will be approximately 3,000 square feet, housing four one-bedroom apartments and two, two-bedroom suites for women with children. All units will be ADA accessible/compliant. The site will also include indoor and outdoor common space, an office, community room, laundry facilities and parking.
“Judge Sara J. Harper Village will provide affordable housing for the community’s most underserved segment of the veteran population and help meet the unique needs of women veterans as they return to civilian life,” said John R. von Arx III, Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana’s president and CEO.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, women make up the fastest growing segment of the homeless veteran population with an estimated one in four experiencing sexual trauma.
“We are honored to provide a safe place for women veterans to heal and rebuild their lives,” von Arx said.
Volunteers of America is dedicated to helping people achieve well-being by offering hope, restoring dignity, and transforming lives, to ensure communities thrive. For 125 years, the organization has supported individuals, families, and communities including veterans, homeless individuals and families, men and women returning home after incarceration, low-income seniors and those recovering and healing from addiction.
Supportive wrap-around services and medical care will be close by at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veteran’s Affairs Hospital (VA) as well as at nearby Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. In addition, access to Volunteers of America’s case management, employment services, support groups, individual counseling and other services will be made available.
“I’m very excited about the development,” said Kevin Conwell. “It’s going to benefit Ward 9. This site is going to bring jobs. It will help stimulate growth.”
Randy Graves, Volunteers of America director of field operations, said, “There’s a lot of things that went into it,” when asked why they selected this site. “It needed to be close to the VA, in a walkable neighborhood. The Fisher House was also a huge draw. It set the standard.”
Retired Judge Sara J. Harper, right, with her sister, Gloria Jean Fort [Photo/Lewis Burrell III]
Graves also said once they learned about Judge Harper, it became a no brainer to name the facility in her honor. “With her credentials, there was no more discussion.”
A Cleveland native, Harper was the first African American woman to graduate from Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law and the first female ever to serve as military judge in the history of the Marine Corps Reserve. She retired from the Eighth District Court of Appeals in 1997, having passed the age where Ohio law would permit her to run again.
Harper, who turns 95 this summer, attended the groundbreaking along with several members of her family.
“Making sure all people are aware of their basic human rights has been paramount to the values held by Judge Harper. Defending those rights has been our mother’s passion. She has been an uncontested warrior for justice for Black people and especially for women and children,” said Constance Trumbo Haqq, the judge’s eldest daughter.
Pastor Larry L. Harris of Mt. Olive Baptist Church described the project as “continuing the legacy of Judge Sara J. Harper” and referred to her as “a doer for justice for all.”
“What I love about you is that care,” said Harris to Harper, a longtime of Mt. Olive member. “And, what I love about today, you’re able to smell the flowers.”
Kevin Conwell said, “By naming this facility after Judge Sara J. Harper the residents will know the history of what she’s done. She’s been very successful, and children need to see the success every day.”
Retired Judge Sara J. Harper (center) with family members, Cleveland-area elected officials and Volunteers of America staff during the groundbreaking ceremony for The Sara J. Harper Village on Lee Avenue in Glenville. [Photo by Lewis Burrell III]
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