WYTHEVILLE (WSLS 10) - More than two dozen homeless veterans in southwest Virginia may soon have a permanent roof over their heads.
Tuesday, Wytheville broke ground on a new housing project called Freedom Lane.
It is 24 affordable housing units, with 12 units built specifically for the disabled. The goal is to fill the complex entirely with veterans, but any leftover space will be opened to elderly non-vets.
So far, 25 veterans have applied for Freedom Lane. It is estimated there are 150 homeless vets in the Wytheville area.
"Too many veterans taking their own lives because of problems like this," said Vietnam veteran Gary Donaldson. "I don't think it should be that way."
Freedom Lane is expected to be finished by this time next year.