Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Seite 126

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aised in Oakland by a family entrenched in AN OBVIOUS NEED
drugs, alcohol and a notorious biker gang, Mi- The Mather Veterans Village is a unique effort in Northern
chael Vercelli says he’s been an alcoholic since California to provide permanent housing and on-site sup-
age 12. He didn’t attend school until the fourth portive services for veterans located on the former Mather
grade. At age 18, Vercelli says he made the best decision of Air Force Base in Rancho Cordova. It’s the result – ten years
his life by joining the U.S. Navy.
in the making – of a collaboration between the City of Ran-
“I did really well in the Navy,” the 57-year-old veteran cho Cordova, Mercy Housing, Veterans Resource Center of
reflects, “until they let me off the boat.”
America, and the County of Sacramento.
After his discharge in 1981, he spent years working as
The first of three phases was completed in summer 2016,
a carpenter and journeyman, but every decision he made and as the only development of its kind in the Sacramento
was clouded by his addictive behavior and