More than 130 years ago, Building 402, one of the finest buildings constructed at the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, provided housing, medical treatment and other services for hundreds of disabled Civil War veterans. Now it is a safe haven for homeless female veterans.

According to officials at Scioto County Veterans Service Office, The Home for Female Veterans was unveiled on Sept. 3, and the apartment-style housing, which features 27 units, is being touted as the nation's first supportive housing initiative open to homeless female veterans. The program will give participants access to medical services, day care, job training and chemical dependency counseling.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 194,000 homeless veterans on any given night nationwide; about 6,000 of them are women. Many suffer from chemical dependency and mental illness.

Since the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reports show there has been an increased need for veteran services for women.

Peter Dougherty, the department's director of homeless veterans programs, said traditionally, veterans programs have catered to men. As more women enlisted in the military, coed treatment facilities opened. It's only been in the past six to seven years programs began looking at women separately.

Additionally, it recently was announced Chillicothe VA is focusing on women's healthcare needs and will be doing so specifically for the next five years.

Bonnie Owen, manager of the Women Veterans Program at Chillicothe VA, said it will provide a full range of medical and mental care services for female veterans including primary care and women's specific healthcare needs.

Women who believe they are eligible for care should call (800) 358-8262.

Anyone needing more information about the Dayton facility, should contact Scioto County Veterans Service Office, 612 Sixth St., Portsmouth, or call (740) 353-1477.

DEBORAH DANIELS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 234.