Group Turning Absecon Motel into Community for Homeless Vets

A nonprofit organization is turning a vacant Absecon motel into a living facility for homeless veterans.

Veterans 101 is Giving Homeless Vets a Living Community

A volunteer veterans organization is taking a shuttered motel on Absecon Boulevard and making it a living community for homeless American veterans,

Veterans 101 purchased the vacant Crest Motel in Absecon in 2023 and, with the help of donations from local people and businesses, they are transforming it into a place homeless veterans can call home.

Their Facebook page is tracking the progress of the motel renovation, including cutting down trees, landscaping, and making over the motel rooms.

A few of the rooms are already occupied.

Veterans 101 told CBS3 that one man living in his car for several months moved in just days ago.

The group hopes to have all 26 rooms in the motel renovated and ready for occupation by September.

Veterans 101 plans to call the living facility "Veterans Village of Absecon".

Thousands of America's Veterans Are Homeless

Although the  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that the number of homeless veterans has declined by more than 50% since 2010, they estimate that over 35,574 vets in America are homeless.

Of the vets who are homeless, about 20,000 are in shelters and 15,000 are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, meaning that they live in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings, and literally on the street.

What is Veterans 101?

Veterans 101, based in Pittsgrove, Salem County, is a nonprofit /501(c)(3) organization with the slogan "Watching Over Our Veterans". Their programs include helping vets with housing assistance, case management, and resources.

Gladys Krasicki, the CEO of Veterans 101 is an Army veteran who has 35 years of experience working with veterans and navigating the VA system to assist veterans in getting benefits/services.

Krasicki is committed to transforming the former Crest Motel in Absecon into a suitable living space for needy vets.

Speaking with CBS3, Krasicki said, "We are not making a plain Jane living facility We are actually turning this into a community. We want to make sure that first thing we are servicing the veterans and getting them off the street and giving them everything they need."

The 26 rooms are being completely renovated and equipped with a fridge, a bathroom and a bed.

If you are interested in donating or would like more information, email Gladys Krasicki at veterans101.gk@gmail.com