HVAF bouncing back after devastating fire INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The veterans impacted by the Manchester Apartments fire in October have left temporary housing as Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana Inc. bounces back. HVAF, Indiana’s largest nonprofit serving homeless veterans and their families, says it did not expect so much progress less than 90 days after being brought to its knees by the devastating Oct. 26 fire at 964 N Pennsylvania St. in downtown Indianapolis. CEO Emmy Hildebrand said, “The night of the fire, I was standing out on Pennsylvania Street with firefighters, and one of them remarked to me that he wouldn’t be surprised if we burned the whole thing down tonight.” Sounds of construction could be heard this week at the shelter. HVAF avoided the worst of the worst in the fire ruled accidental, but it’s been a roller coaster during the 83 days since their main shelter for homeless veterans burned down. The nonprofit had still been housing veterans in hotels until this week when HVAF started leasing 28 units on the near-west side. Dark times came in the early stages of recovering from the fire. “The bright spot has been the outpouring of support from the community,” Hildebrand said. Some of that support came in the form of donated items. It also came in the form of money. Insurance will be covering the cost of returning the apartments to what they were, but the donations could help make it more than it was. “We’re working with an architect and we’ve challenged them to figure out how to add more units to the buildings, so we can house more veterans. We’ve also asked to try to incorporate a bigger pantry space.” The least damaged of the two HVAF shelters will reopen in the summer, returning its capacity to 48 beds. It’ll take two years for their main shelter to reopen. When it does HVAF’s capacity could be more than it’s ever been. Previous coverage Veterans displaced in HVAF fire find Indiana allows landlords to refuse subsidies HVAF fire renews lawmaker’s call for housing legislation Displaced Indy Marine looks for permanent home after fire