Bruce and Wanda Fyfe’s son, Brendan Macdonald Fyfe, is a Marine who survived three tours in one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq between 2004 and 2007.

Three tours eventually took a toll on his mental state. Doctors diagnosed Brendan with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He died 15 months ago of a related overdose.

He was 24 years old.

Father Bruce Fyfe described it as an especially bitter loss because he and his wife have dedicated a large part of their lives to helping the area’s homeless, many of whom are military veterans with similar anxiety disorders.

Fyfe has chaired Homeless Emergency Project (HEP), a non-profit holistic homeless outreach organization in Clearwater, since 1991. HEP has been around since Wanda’s sister, HEP president Barbara Green and husband, the late Rev. Otis Green, established it in 1986.

And Tuesday, HEP breaks ground on a $3.5 million complex dedicated solely to the aid and rehabilitation of military veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

When they began plans to expand the shelter 15 or so months ago, Fyfe said, “We looked at each other,” and knew. “[We had] to try to do something about this.

The ceremony marks the launch of the first phase of the project, a 32-unit complex including a 25,000-square-foot club with computer access. Each unit will be equipped with single beds and a mini-kitchen (no stoves).

Veterans, especially the young “kids” coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, have “unique needs,” Bruce Fyfe explained. 

“These kids need a safe, drug-free environment,” he said. “[They need] individual rooms … and a place to congregate.”

HEP is one of the largest providers for support and housing in Pinellas County. It has a four-out-of-five-person success rate, Fyfe said.

HEP serves an average of 340 people a day. It offers emergency, overnight, transitional and permanent housing, and support services aimed at rehabilitating individuals, such as case management, dental and medical help, food and nutritional classes and education and vocational assistance.

HEP started with two full time employees and a $100,000 annual budget. Now, it is an organization with 46 full time employees and a $3.7 million annual budget. 

“I think we’d all like to be out of the homeless business,” Fyfe said.

IF YOU GO:

When: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (April 5)

Where: Homeless Emergency Project campus, 1120 N Betty Lane

In case of rain: Ceremony location will move to Everybody’s Tabernacle at 1120 N Betty Lane.

Editor's Note:  This article was updated Tuesday (April 6) at 2:09 p.m.