Local veterans’ organizations are applauding Piquette Square after a tour of the facility that will provide permanent supportive housing for 150 homeless veterans.

The $23 million project near New Center is being developed by Southwest Solutions and will open in the spring. Construction is now about two-thirds complete.

About 30 organizations that serve veterans or are deeply interested in veterans’ issues attended the tour on Saturday morning. The tour was conducted by leaders at Southwest Solutions.

The new four-story brick building, at 285 Piquette, consists of 150 affordable one-bedroom units, as well 11,000 square feet of common area and commercial space.

“Our goal is to create an environment that is welcoming and promotes recovery,” said Joseph Tardella, executive director of Southwest Counseling Solutions, on the tour. “Decent affordable housing is the key to recovery, but it is only the beginning of a process of comprehensive care to help these veterans reintegrate into the community.”

Piquette Square will offer on-site job training, computer labs, mental health counseling and other support services to help the veterans develop healthy and independent living skills.

‘This place is phenomenal and beautiful,” said Alan Opra of the UAW Region One Veterans Council. “I think Piquette Square is the next logical step in providing what is needed to change the lives and mindset of veterans who’ve lost their way.”

Carlton Pace, also with UAW Veterans Council, added: “This is place where life can start over on a solid foundation. I know that we can rally our members around Piquette Square as a focal point for the veterans’ community.”

“The environment and services here multiply by ten-fold what had been available before for homeless veterans,” said Dan Duderstadt of the Ford Veterans Network.

“The building is absolutely wonderful,” said Pat Bliss, auxiliary president of American Legion Post 108. “It will uplift the self-esteem of the veterans who come here tremendously.”

Organizations and individuals that attended the tour:

• American Legion Auxiliary
• American Legion Post 108
• American Legion Post 108 Ladies Auxiliary
• AMVETS Riders Post 29
• AMVETS Auxiliary Post 57
• Bell Title Agency
• Detroit Bureau of Substance Abuse
• Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
• Detroit Wayne County Community Mental Health
• Ford Motor Veterans Employee Group
• Ford Veterans Network
• John Dingell VA Medical Center
• Jewish War Veterans
• Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary
• Knights of Columbus
• Our Lady of the Rosary Church
• Masco Corporation
• Military Order of the Purple Heart
• Military Order of the Purple Heart Ladies Auxiliary
• Michigan Department of Community Health HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Section
• Pontiac Veterans Memorial
• Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center
• Strategic Organizational Services
• UAW Region One Veterans Council
• VA Medical Center Domiciliary
• Vietnam Veterans of America
• Washtenaw County VA