Grand Rapids Home for Veterans - crime in progress part 1..

Part 1 The basics.

For those who do not know, the state of Michigan runs 2 homes for veterans. One is located in the Upper Peninsula the other in Grand Rapids Michigan. I am going to write about the one located in Grand Rapids, or GR for short. The home is called GRH4V for short. It is run by the State of Michigan, on Michigan land, funded with Federal dollars, thru the Veterans Administration and Social Security administrations, and private funding from members own retirement plans - if they have any.

First of all the name is misleading. While it may be home to some, The way it is operated makes it clear that it is definitely not FOR the veterans.

Due to the economy, my past job, and my health, I found myself with no place to live, so I was told I qualified to come here. I applied and was accepted. I have No income so to say, because when you come here, you give up your claims of Unemployment or any other government assistance - so they tell you.

Now I have been here for just over a year, and I tell you folks, this place is a criminal enterprise in action. They are defrauding the public (tax dollars) and the veterans. Cronyism is well documented here by the members (the vets are called members).

The Complex has 4 main buildings, with ruffly 750 people living here. Mann, McCleash, Main, and Rankin buildings. Rankin is where the "non income" people go. Those without any insurance or retirement or pensions.

Rankin has 3 wards, Rankin 1 is separate, on the first floor, and Rankin 2 and 3 act as one unit. These are the Temporary people who are here for the most part, while they heal up from medical issues and wait for paperwork to be processed to get Disability status from the Service or Social Security. Most move out after a few years, but a small bunch are there until they die, due to court orders. The Rankin building is the oldest in the complex, and needs updating badly. Its air recirculation system is described by members as a health hazard.

The cost of living in Rankin 2 and 3 is the cheapest of all the wards and buildings. $2,300 for a 8x10 living area where your bed, dresser and small table is, a 3x3x12 foot closet space, 4 men to a room, with shared toilet and sink for each room. The showers are 4 common showers in a separate room. They try to keep the rooms to 2 men, but many have 3 in the winter time. Other wards can cost up to $8,000 a month, depending on their level of nursing care.

The complex has a chapel, a common day room called Kozy Corners that gets locked up at 9pm and opens at 6am, an outside covered pavilion capable of seating 300 people, an APR (all purpose room) where bingo and movies are shown, 2 lane bowling alley in the basement, Ceramics, wood shop, bike repair shop, outside nature trail, Common dining room for those who can use it, A limited library, limited movie library, but no swimming pool. Bingo is played in the APR room, just to name a few things.

They have a clothing room located in another building, where donated clothing is free to members.

Part 2, the crimes, next posting.