Rally for homeless vets, Fuller’s ouster planned for Home of the Brave

A group is planning a rally at Home of the Brave in Milford Saturday, Feb. 10, to support homeless veterans and demand the resignation of Greg Fuller, the current board chair and recent interim executive director.

Former board members and others with knowledge of the organization’s operations claim Fuller is making the shelter an unwelcoming place for the homeless vets who live there. 

On Friday, Feb. 9 Fuller confirmed that Barry Hamp has been hired as the new Executive Director at Home of the Brave. Hamp served as Executive Director of Oncology Services at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center from 2017-2020.

Multiple calls were made to Home of the Brave’s office in Milford asking to speak with Hamp. The person who answered the phone took the requests, but the calls were not returned.

Former board members say Fuller has imposed a gag order, prohibiting residents and employees from talking to the news media about what is going on inside the nonprofit.

Fuller also serves as the elected Sussex County register of wills. Messages were left with his office in Georgetown, but he did not respond.

The Feb. 10 rally is being organized by Eric Bodenweiser, who runs the Shepherd’s Office shelter in Georgetown, along with Jim Martin.

“We want Fuller’s resignation, dissolve the board and reconstitute the board – an entire reset,” Bodenweiser said. He said their position has not changed with the hiring of a new executive director.

Bodenweiser is offering to find and pay for housing for any veterans who want to leave Home of the Brave. 

Fuller had employees hang Bodenweiser’s picture around the Home of the Brave campus, and told residents and staff to call 911 if he comes on the property. 

“It will take a lot more to scare me away,” Bodenweiser said.

There is now a no trespassing sign at the entrance to the property.

Bodenweiser ran for state Senate in the 19th District in 2012. He was forced to end his campaign after he was charged with sexually abusing a young boy in the 1980s. Bodenweiser pleaded no contest to two lesser charges in 2015 and served one year of supervised probation. He is now a registered Tier 1 sex offender.

The Home of the Brave executive director position had been vacant since Heather Travitz resigned Dec. 18. She cited Fuller creating a hostile work environment as the reason for her departure.  

She claims Fuller would not let her fill open staff positions, which impacted services for the homeless veterans at the shelter. 

Travitz has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and is awaiting a hearing.

Travitz sent the following statement to the Cape Gazette on Feb. 8, “Under direct advise of my legal counsel, with regard to pending litigation, I cannot make comment on my time at The Home of the Brave Foundation. I continue to be concerned about the welfare of staff and veterans working and residing at The Home of the Brave Foundation. My hope is a resolution can be found that benefits the veterans and honors the long-standing mission of the organization.”

The internal turmoil has also taken its toll on the Home of the Brave Board of Directors. Five board members either resigned or were removed late last year.

Board Chair Tina Washington was removed in December. Carl Phelps was removed after a confrontation with Fuller at a meeting. Janet Sansone and Rene Flores quit in October. Washington said another board member, Tim Lewis, resigned shortly after he was voted onto the board, claiming he was too busy.

Home of the Brave relies on donations to help pay for housing for up to 20 homeless men and women veterans.

The nonprofit also has a grant per diem contract with the Veterans Administration. The organization gets paid for each veteran who is living at the shelter.

Sansone said as of Dec. 20, staffing was 20% below what it should be. She said that number puts it out of compliance with the VA contract, so the VA can cease funding at any time.

A VA spokesperson sent a statement on Feb. 2, “The Wilmington VA Medical Center continues regular, quarterly meetings with Home of the Brave to review the grant program. However, we cannot comment on the positions within outside agencies and must refer you back to Home of the Brave.”

In December, Fuller told the Cape Gazette that he was trying to fill five open staff positions.

The VA knew of the chaotic situation at Home of the Brave as far back as last July. In an email obtained by the Cape Gazette dated July 6, 2023, VA Grant and Per Diem Liaison Danny Rose requested a meeting with the board to address “recurring concerns and allegations.” The details of those concerns are not known.

That meeting was held at the VA clinic in Georgetown, after which Fuller launched an independent investigation. Fuller has not made the findings public.