An audible cheer rang out Tuesday morning when the Wichita Falls City Council approved the sale of a former nursing home to the nonprofit organization Base Camp Lindsey.

“Now the real work begins,” said BCL director Steve Halloway.

The 14,000-square foot building at 1908 Sixth Street became a city-trustee property in 2010 when it was struck off for more than $74,000 for back taxes owed.

While the property is valued at about $70,000, it was sold to the organization for $5,000.

The deal is a win for both the city and the nonprofit, said Property Administrator Pat Hoffman.

The vacant building had attracted vagrants over the years and the city has been called out to re-secure the building dozens of times, she said.

The sale puts the property back on the tax rolls and provides a future facility that will help the city’s homeless veteran population.

Hoffman said the building is structurally sound, but needs repairs such as a new roof, HVAC system and wiring.

The building was sold on an “as is” basis, but Hoffman said city staff has meet with the BCL committee and staff to inform them about what work needs to be completed to meet city codes.

Councilor Michael Smith said he has been aware of this building for years and it has been a problem in this neighborhood in District 1.

Smith said he was “100 percent” in favor of the sale, both as a solution to the problems a vacant building poses and a future home for veterans.

Halloway said this project is a “phase one” approach to solving veteran homelessness in the Wichita Falls area.

Many other organizations provide help such as temporary housing and food for veterans, but BCL is the only one, he said, that is committed to “cradle to grave” care for these vets.

The main goal is to create an avenue for veterans who are unemployed and on the streets to gain independence.

This facility is not a replacement for the longer-term goal of a tiny homes community that will be on the south side of town.

Halloway said many veterans, especially those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, do not do well in a group setting, like the Sixth Street facility will have.

For these individuals, the tiny home concept, that will be available some day at the main BCL community on Old Windthorst Road, is a perfect fit that allows personal space with access to facilities and services.

The director said he is confident the organization can raise the funds needed to complete the renovation once prospective donors see the benefit of a facility in town. He hopes to have the Sixth Street center open this fall, before the weather turns cold again.

While the ideal is to allow formerly homeless veterans to live in tiny houses temporarily before they move on to an independent life, Halloway said there are individuals who will never be able to live on their own.These men and women are welcome to live out their days with BCL, he said.

“They will die with us,” he said, “They will not die on the street.”

Halloway said there are an estimated 60-70 homeless veterans in the Wichita Falls area. It can be difficult to get figures because some homeless individuals are veterans but choose to not identify as such. Other homeless individuals, he said, initially do not want to change their situation.

Halloway said he believes they can reach their goal of ending veteran homelessness in the area by providing great services that lead to financial independence and gaining the trust of the veteran community.

For more information about Base Camp Lindsey or to make a donation to this nonprofit, visit their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/Base-Camp-Lindsey-1011673395624696/.

Claire Kowalick, a senior journalist for the Times Record News, covers local government, military and MSU Texas. If you have a news tip, contact Claire at ckowalick@gannett.com.

Twitter: @KowalickNews