About Us
Where we began and where we are headed
Rockland Homes for Heroes (RH4H) is a 501c3 charitable organization (EIN# 26-4526324) that develops permanent supportive housing for honorably discharged veterans, both male and female, who are homeless in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley.
Founded in 2009, RH4H is led exclusively by volunteers (most of them veterans) with decades of service to the local community.
The organization is led by a respected Board of Directors and supported by a wide range of charitable Service Partners and Volunteers.
After 10 years of 8 successful apartments for former Homeless veterans on the street tier of Western Highway in the hamlet of Tappan, “Rockland Homes For Heroes”, decided to add 14 more apartment homes on the second tier of the 7+ acres of the former historic WW II Camp Shanks which our Federal Government deeded to us.
It took 4+ years but with our State Government and the incredible generosity of the residents, businesses, and organizations of Rockland County at our side we made our vision come true and we now have 22 beautiful permanent affordable supportive homes in a lovely community that welcomed all.
Board of Directors
John Murphy
John Allen Murphy is one of the Founders of Rockland Homes for Heroes and serves as the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors.
His career included 38 years as an Electronics Engineer in the telecommunication industry and 44 years as a Rockland County Legislator; he is a former Captain in the US Marine Corps.
In addition to his service in the USMC, John has a Community Public Service record which qualifies his role:
- Camp Venture (President & Chairman of the Board) — 44 years as of one of Rockland County’s most respected and long-serving social services agencies serving our intellectually & developmentally disabled
- Joseph’s Home (CoFounder & President) — serving the residential needs of our homeless
- Loeb House (CoFounder & President) — over 30 years serving the residential needs of our mentally ill
- NYS Rockland Psychiatric Center (President of the Board of Visitors)
- Orangetown Narcotic Guidance Council
- Rockland County Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Alcoholism
- Rockland County Legislator for 44 years
Thomas MicelliMember
Retired Director, Environmental Public Health, Rockland Health Dept; 28 years of combined active/reserve duty in the US Army.
Monica ToscanoMember
A long-time community volunteer, she has been an employee of Suez Water for the last 31 years.
Will WarrenMember
Retired Rockland County Family Court Judge
John ManifoldMember
Retired from Suez Water after 42 years. Received Purple Heart 1967 in Vietnam. Residing in Orange County, NY.
Carlos MartinezMember
CEO of BRIDGES, a local nonprofit advocating for an accessible and integrated community for people with disabilities.
Martin WortendykeMember
Retired CEO of Cal Mart Enterprises, which completed public infrastructure projects for the government along with industrial, commercial, and residential projects.
Carl DornbushMember
Carl Dornbush grew up in Pearl River and attended Marietta College in Ohio. Upon returning to Rockland, he enlisted in the New York Army National Guard. Carl also began working at the County Health Department in the environmental health division. He married his wife Mary and together raised 5 children. After 39 years of service in the 101st Signal Battalion, he retired at the rank of Sergeant Major.
Daniel HookerMember
Former Marine Corps Reserve Major. Ground combat veteran of Desert Storm. Former NY State Assemblyman. Presently General Agent for Knights of Columbus Insurance for most of NY State.
Susan BranamMember
Director of the Rockland County Veterans Agency, former Active Duty Army Captain and attack helicopter pilot, and Veteran Service Officer.
Volunteers
Jonathan Barnwell
Coordinator of Judicial & Veterans Affairs at Rockland Community College.
Paul Stolz
Manager of the Homeless Veterans Program in the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System in Montrose.
James Dean
Superintendent of Highways, Town of Orangetown
Margaret Fitzpatrick
Co-Team Leader
Service Partners
Rockland County Veterans Service Agency
The process of finding, applying for, receiving, and maintaining veteran’s benefits can be confusing and frustrating. Rockland County Veterans Service’s goal is to provide outstanding service to the more than 9,000 veterans who reside in Rockland County by maximizing the receipt of veterans’ benefits and eliminating or reducing frustration and confusion. They do so with a highly trained and professional staff who are dedicated to serving veterans and their families.
Loeb House
Managing Agent
Loeb House, Inc. is the largest not-for-profit service provider and operator of community facilities for the mentally ill and others in Rockland County. Loeb House has been an important provider of the Office of Mental Health’s Supportive Housing Services in the County for more than 30 years and is a Community Mental Health contract agency.
VA Hudson Valley Health Care System
RH4H enjoys a positive working relationship with VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, which covers 7 regional Counties. In particular, we have established a close working relationship with the program officer charged with overseeing homeless veterans’ needs in the region.
Rockland Independent Living Center, Inc. dba BRIDGES Veterans Program
The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program is named in honor of Joseph P. Dwyer, a US Army Medic in the Iraq War who, in the earliest days of the invasion in 2003, was pictured cradling a wounded boy while his unit was fighting its way up the Euphrates to Baghdad. PFC Dwyer’s post-war struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulted in his untimely and tragic death in 2008.
Beginning in 2012, the Program now offers peer to peer counseling for Veterans suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and any Veteran looking to reintegrate into civilian society. BRIDGES is proud to provide these services to our veteran community in Rockland County!
Veterans Home at Montrose
Situated in the Crugers neighborhood of Montrose, New York, the Veterans Home is a 252 unit facility for senior citizens. They offer senior care in a clean and caring setting.
