Liberty Manor gets a makeover
listen 
07/28/08
Concetta DeLuco
WMNF Evening News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Veterans, Homeless, Liberty Manor
On Saturday, hundreds of volunteers gathered to begin renovations on Liberty Manor, a home for disabled and homeless military veterans located in Tampa. After becoming subject to costly code violations in May, the Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation and Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, both nonprofit outreach groups, became partners and coordinated the repair services for Liberty Manor.
Nearly 15 months after being established in March 2006, Liberty Manor I was targeted by the Fire Marshall for violating safety codes. By law, the residents were forced to leave Liberty Manor and find other housing arrangements. Most found accommodations at New Beginnings, a temporary shelter, but five occupants who suffered from severe medical conditions did not leave.
Jesse Taylor, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who was active in the Vietnam War, is a resident at Liberty Manor. He said his involvement helped bring light to the situation at Liberty Manor that “got the ball rolling for the renovations.”
Rebuilding Together is a national organization that provides home repair services to low income families. Their Veterans Housing Unit specializes in assisting retired, disabled and active service members with housing modifications and refurbishment.
Quenten Wentworth, vice president and general manager of Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) in West Florida, said Rebuilding Together partnered with PBG in five sites across the country including Tampa Bay which brought to life Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, a local branch.
Formerly known as “Christmas in April,” Rebuilding Together began more than 30 years ago and branches are located wherever there is a housing population in need, including all top 20 U.S. cities.
Olga Gonzalez, a local liaison for the Tampa Bay sector and overseer of the restoration at Liberty Manor, discussed the transformation that is taking place with the help of PBG employees.
With 70,000 employees engaged in community service throughout the country, the mission of PBG through its foundation is to bring about positive change through volunteerism, executive outreach, financial support and product donations.
Liberty Manor I on N. 9th Steet in Tampa was the first of three veteran housing units that were acquired as part of Liberty Manor for Veterans, a nonprofit organization that was created to house homeless veterans. It currently houses 16 disabled military veterans that range in age from 28-83 and represent every war or major conflict since WWII. In accordance, the other two homes are “strategically situated in Temple Terrace and Largo, near Veteran’s hospitals” so medical assistance is readily available, said James Cherry, the director of Liberty Manor, resident and former US army ranger. He said the number of veterans that are homeless today would surprise people.
Financing Liberty Manor is a daily struggle for the veterans. The home is funded by the $500 each resident pays in rent per month, but affording the rent can often be a problem, said Cherry.
Jeffrey Luddeke, is the co-founder and executive director of Liberty Manor. He said funding from the repairs came from mostly from donations including national and local Florida companies such as Home Depot and Scott Paints, consecutively, who provided supplies.
Renovations that will bring Liberty Manor up to code are expected to be complete by Aug. 1, then residents can move back in.
Learn more at LibertyManor.Or.
Comments
SoldierReal Vet about 6 months ago
James Cherry is a complete phony, as is Luddeke. They have been exposed as fakes and this article, its author and the owners of this site should be ashamed of themselves for not conducting the due diligence. Cherry is a fake....PERIOD.
Cherry & Luddeke are LIARS
Vet about 6 months ago
Neither James Cherry nor Jeff Luddeke were Special Operations Soldiers. They are phonies. Cherry was not a Ranger, and saw NO combat. His Liberty Manor bio is complete and utter B.S. Luddeke's is also. Expose the fakes for what they really are.
Luddeke and Connie Blaney are Lairs and Theives
MARINE1 about 6 months ago
Jeff haywood Luddeke is a fake and was not a Ranger...Come on..the media here in Tampa and St.Pete need to do their research before printing such BS...Connie Blaney and Jeff Luddeke are theives lairs and con arists. I used to live at libery manor and seen first hand, in what they do...they lie and get companys to donate to the vets...but the vets who live there do see it or get it...jeff uses it for myself or connie blaney uses for herself.....Jeff luddeke use escasty and other drugs I seen it.
SF Engineer
Ken Cook about 2 months ago
Please do not assist Liberty Manor as it is a scam. Cherry and Luddke are rent collectors and harrass the guys there for money. They are not and have never been Special Forces or Rangers. Connie Blaney is a FRAUD who drapes herself in false patriotism, while ripping off needy veterans.
CEO
Connie Blaney about 2 months ago
Anyone intersted in the facts should contact us directly to receive documentation from the State of Florida. IRS, City of Tampa and Hillsborough County that disputes the alleged allegations. To Whom It May Concern; The staff, Administration and residents of Liberty Manor for Veterans, Inc. would like to provide you with the disposition of the complaint made on behalf of Jessie Taylor. The Division of Consumer Services, Bureau of Mediation and Enforcement favored Liberty Manor in this case and found to be completely exonerated from any business misconduct. Many erroneous allegations were made that could be litigated by Liberty Manor regarding Mr. Taylor and others that surprisingly listened to this convicted felon. However, recognizing that we serve a troubled population of our community it is our Board of Director’s contention to disregard any further retribution regarding Mr. Taylor. The allegations that were made by Mr. Taylor were serious connotations which were proven to be to be groundless. The situation between Mr. Taylor and Liberty Manor was provoked as a result of our refusal to be extorted by Mr. Taylor. All of us at Liberty Manor are devoted to the cause of providing quality housing to homeless veterans. Interestingly, Mr. Taylor moved at the same time as three other complainants, two of these four were case managed by Liberty Manor and they all enjoy financial independence today as a result of Liberty Manor’s efforts. Our Executive Director, Jeff Luddeke put this in perspective best by stating, “No one comes to Liberty Manor on a winning streak.” Those of us at Liberty Manor understand all too well the dysfunction of the population of individuals that we serve. We hope that you too have an understanding that this sector of our community does not always use protocol or discretion. According to the Veterans Administration in Washington, Liberty Manor was recognized as one of the most successful programs that serves indigent, homeless veterans. It was suggested that Liberty Manor apply for the Veterans Per Diem Grant which would provide $36.00 daily per bed, when we only receive $16.39 (providing the resident doesn’t skip once they receive their funding which happens all too often). I would like to dispel some of the allegations Mr. Taylor made such as suggesting that we don’t care about veterans and in this business for the money. 1. When I originated Liberty Manor, I had my personal residence paid off, I owned luxury automobiles such as a convertible Mercedes and Lexus, yet today, I reduced the quality of my personal vehicles and don’t own either one as a result of a lein against them for the purpose of Liberty Manor. Today, I have incurred a financial debt that exceeds three quarter of a million dollars and I risk my own home located in Carrollwood Village for the sake of Liberty Manor. I am willing to provide proof of this fact. Those that are close to me know that Liberty Manor has costs me everything - even my family has suffered. 2. Now that Liberty Manor has fire suppression equipment we could chose to convert Liberty Manor into an Assisted Living Facility whereby we would receive more than $2,200.00 per resident monthly instead of the $500.00 a month that we hope to receive from homeless veterans. I am convinced this would dispel any notion that we are in this for economic reasons. 3. Our staff goes beyond the call of duty as each resident last year received an extravagant Christmas gift such as Fender guitars, $300.00 Play stations - though Liberty Manor is not obligated to provide gifts to our residents. 4. Last Thanksgiving the staff at Liberty Manor made it possible for each resident to receive a fifteen pound turkey with all of the trimmings!!! 5. Staff at Liberty Manor procured a sponsorship for food – the residents have a surplus of food more than they can consume weekly - another service that we were not obligated to provide but did so because we are devoted to helping veterans. 6. We have a resident who receives a handsome pension and pays his rent the minute he receives his check, he has also resided at Liberty Manor for three years. I have mandated he vacate Liberty Manor twice as a result of his continued drinking and using drugs. One would not resort to this if merely in it for the money. This individual also occupies a private room at a much higher room rate! The residents are required to subscribe to zero tolerance. 7. If we were in this merely for the money, wouldn’t it have made better business sense to purchase a slum house instead of a $167,000.00 elegant home especially in light of the fact that we could have collected the same amount of rent for a low end house! Instead, I purchased a pricy residence that includes a heated whirlpool spa in the master bedroom - I would venture to say that most individuals don’t have a luxurious heated spa in their home – I know I don’t have one in my bathroom. 8. The property purchased in prestigious Carrollwood only houses four veterans. We could make the rooms semi-private rooms and double the income but these particular veterans suffer from PTSD and they have private rooms. This is another compelling argument that dispels any allegation that Liberty Manor is in it for the money. I could continue for hours stating the various sacrifices that we all make daily, weekly, monthly and yearly for the sake of Liberty Manor, however, our objective is to have you understand our dedication to this initiative and we sincerely regret that Mr. Taylor involved you in this travesty and regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused or any doubt that you may have regarding our business practices. As always, we will continue to conduct business by remaining legally compliant and providing full financial disclosure upon requested. I appreciate the Commission’s case and I am pleased the Commission found no cause to support the complaint, finding no probable cause. We are ecstatic this matter is concluded and we look forward to delivering the services that we have dedicated our careers which is to assist homeless veterans by providing quality housing. With Kindest and Sincere Regards, Connie Blaney - CEO (813) 900-9422 Fax 813-269-4735 www.LibertyManor.org
Connie Blaney the Slum lord
www.socnet.com about about 1 month ago
read all about her and her fake special ops guys at www.socnet.com
connie is a thief
A freind about about 4 hours ago
I have guys she has ripped off all she cares for is the money they have to share a room and pay 500.00 dollars a month thier rent voucher is 450.00 if you do not come up with it she will throw you out i have seen it first hand each room cost 1000.00 a month were does all that money going she is some kind of lawyer but you all know how they are nothing but thiefs a 1000.00 per room you all add it up how much does that money go in her POCKET . she is a thief and does not care about any of them its what she can collect and gets rid of the good ones and sted of trying to help them money first then she will help she is NOTHING BUT A MONEY BRUBING B--CH I really think someone should check into her. She really hurts the vets not help them