Fodor Farm May be Future Site of Housing For the Brave
By David Hennessey
Posted: 12/26/2008 11:34:28 AM EST
The city's decision on a land bid from Bridgeport-based Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute could have female military veterans living at Norwalk's own Fodor Farm.
If the bid is accepted, two homes on the Fodor Farm property would comprise the first such exclusive female veteran rehabilitation center in the state of Connecticut.
According to information provided by the Norwalk Purchasing Department, ABRI has bid $75,000 on the 322 Flax Hill Road property and $37,500 on the 25 Pogany St. property, both of which make up the 7.7-acre historic Fodor Farm property. Other bids on the land include $41,000 by Douglas Peoples on the 25 Pogany St. property and $110,000 on the 322 Flax Hill Road property.
Shalini S. Madaras, president of the Kick for Nick Foundation, told the Norwalk Citizen-News that ABRI would renovate the property and buildings to house "between 12 and 15 women," and the women would remain on site for up to two years while they reintegrate into the community after duty.
Madaras' son, Nicholas Madaras, was killed in Iraq on Sept. 3, 2006, before he had the opportunity to fulfill his wish to give some children in Iraq the chance to play soccer with a real ball. To honor her son's wish for hope, Madaras created the Kick for Nick Foundation. Through her involvement with the military, Madaras became aware of the large number of female soldiers currently in combat zones, as well as a program entitled Homes for the Brave - a transitional supportive housing program for male veterans operated by ABRI.
Now, Kick for Nick has teamed up with ABRI to begin to address the needs of some 1.8 million female veterans who are serving, or have served, the United States.
"There isn't anything else in Connecticut like [what we would be doing at Fodor Farm], which surprised me completely. There's nothing dedicated to women veterans," Madaras said.
Madaras explained that, in conjunction with ABRI, she looked at different possible locations for the center in Fairfield, Stratford and Milford. Fodor Farm, she said, was the best fit for their vision.
"This would be the absolute ideal location. It offers peace, serenity, a historic location the right kind of accommodations for the women. We like the idea of the historic houses .It all works very well for the program and what we are trying to develop."
Madaras went on to say that support for the program has already been overwhelmingly positive, and that it has been met with little resistance thus far. She also said she would like the community to become involved in the project.
"I think a lot of people would be really proud to see something like this happen," she said. "There has not been one person who has stepped forward and said one thing negative."
Madaras expected total refurbishment costs for both properties to run between $800,000 and $900,000. City officials said a decision on ABRI's bid is expected by the end of January.
"This is something my son would want to do," Madaras said.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
There is a great need nationwide for women veterans facilities build more of them
Friday, December 26, 2008
Fodor Farm May be Future Site of Housing For the Brave
