POST FALLS, Idaho - Post falls is in the running for a new state Veterans home. Right now Kootenai County has an estimated 18,000 Veterans. The closest home is a 66-bed facility in Lewiston, with two other homes in Boise and Pocatello. With our Veterans growing older and a whole new wave coming back from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan the need is clear. In order to move the whole process forward, however, officials in Post Falls will have to wait another year.
The Veterans home proposal is in the very early stages with land not even having been bought yet. Post Falls officials say a potential site for the vets home could be right off of Highway 41, North of Poleline Avenue. Nearly three-thousand signatures were sent to Boise law makers recently, in a petition pushing for a new Vets home. Unfortunately those signatures just missed the budget deadline and will have to be reviewed for the state 2014 budget year. Vets are saying that there's a serious need for the home in Post Falls to keep close to home.
Mike Warren, a Post Falls Vietnam Vet, said "They live here and they should stay here, they got family here. What's more important than that? We have to take care of our vets more than I believe we are doing. So yes, it's much needed. Our Vets are growing and growing." The proposed 88-bed home is larger than the closest home to the area in Lewiston. If the proposal goes through, Veteran's affairs would fund 65% of the cost. The other portion would come from State money and donations.
The projected project cost is in the 20-million dollar range. Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin and some local veterans say they're continuing to push this idea to make it a reality.
