GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Operation Lifeline will commemorate the opening of the first permanent supportive housing residence for veterans on Thursday, May 8, at 2 p.m. at 606 Spring St.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be a significant milestone for the region’s housing and veteran support networks, marking the first of its kind in Clay County. Held on May 8 — Victory in Europe (V-E) Day — the event coincides with a day that historically symbolizes peace and transition. The residence carries forward that legacy in a modern context, offering dignity and stability to veterans in need of long-term support.

The Spring Street residence provides five veterans with long-term, private bedrooms, shared living spaces and access to coordinated support services.

Those services will be delivered through federal programs, including the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program and HUD-VASH. The latter is a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs that combines housing assistance with wraparound case management. 

Originally built before 1892 and relocated in 1950, the home was owned by the Fitzsimmons family for more than five decades. It once housed Navy personnel returning from service at the nearby Green Cove Springs Naval Air Station. Now fully restored and repurposed by Operation Lifeline Inc., the home’s new mission reflects the same values of service, transition and community.