A Shelter in the Storm
Homeless and displaced veterans and their children now have a place to call home, thanks to the work of several Masons from Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
United Veterans Billeting of Fayette County (U.V.B.O.F.C.) was formed in 2016 by Ron Metros and took over an abandoned house in Uniontown to provide short-term housing for homeless male veterans to help them re-enter society. In 2024, United Veterans built a second sister home for homeless female veterans in Uniontown, called The Rendu House. The Rendu House is named after Rosalie Rendu, a French Catholic member of the Daughters of Charity, who organized care for the poor in Paris slums during the Industrial Revolution.
Since 2016, United Veterans has helped over 40 homeless veterans get back on their feet. Founding U.V.B.O.F.C. member Brother Fred M. Junko, Jr., P.M., Washington Lodge No. 164, is the non-profit’s treasurer. He oversaw the construction and helped secure funding.
Brother Herb Miller, P.M., Laurel Lodge No. 651, Uniontown, who at 95 years old is a retired electrician, donated his time and materials doing electrical work for the two homes, Ron said.
FS Construction donated materials and many hours of labor to the projects. All the money was raised by spaghetti dinners, individual donations or other events on behalf of the organization. In addition, local businesses and residents provided items such as bedding, food, toys, clothes and other items for the shelter.
“In Freemasonry, you’re taught certain lessons, and charity has been one of the ones I’ve taken [away],” Herb said. “Life has been good to my wife and three kids. A little extra money … instead of a fancy vacation, I use it to help other people in society. Giving back to the community and being part of the community is important.”
Fayette County, with a population of about 120,000, is one of the poorest counties in Pennsylvania, Ron said. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of female veterans who experienced homelessness increased by over 24% from 2020 to 2023, he said, making the need for a female shelter even more urgent.
Ron became passionate about helping veterans after taking care of his uncle when he returned from the Korean War. His uncle suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and bounced around to different places, many of them not providing any support.
Ron said he “missed Vietnam” by three months, but also had friends who went there with the Armed Forces. Most of them came back and were “not the same,” he said. He felt the best way to work with veterans struggling with mental health issues was to put them in a safe and secure home setting.
When the director of development for the town of Uniontown contacted Ron and offered him the first [men’s] house, Ron was thrilled. “I was involved with construction for 40 years and knew a lot of people,” he said. “The whole thing came together through friends.”
In order to qualify for housing, individuals need to be homeless, a veteran and looking for a job. In turn, they get a place to live and assistance with food and clothing. Ron interviews each person, does a background check and – if they are struggling with addiction – directs them to a veteran’s hospital for treatment.
“There are many [homeless veterans] who turn their lives around,” he said. “Some guys know they can’t qualify for a job because of physical disabilities, so we help set them up in apartments somewhere else. When someone thanks you for saving their life, it’s very fulfilling.”
The issue of homelessness does not discriminate, Ron said.
“There is no age restriction for these people,” he said. “I’ve had them come as young as their late 20s to up to their 80s.”
The men’s shelter has about seven men currently living there. The Rendu House [for women] was donated by the Federal Credit Union in 2018. The house can accommodate nine veterans and their children at one time. It also has a full kitchen, playroom for children, dining room, living room and laundry facilities.
Veterans who would like more information on programs offered by United Veterans Billeting of Fayette County may call 724-322-6570.

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Brothers Herb Miller, P.M., and Fred M. Junko, Jr., P.M.

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