Wayne Vandal remembers the former state police barracks at 262 State Road when it had no heat, drafty windows, and needed a fresh coat of paint. The former retired police officer and Navy veteran was assigned to the barracks five times throughout his career, so he was skeptical when he found out it would become veteran housing.

On October 14, after eight years of work, Dartmouth Housing Authority's Connie Desbiens and the Partners in Housing Board's Michael Gagne welcomed the public to the O'Connor-Sisson House for Veterans during a two-hour open house. Desbiens said the event attracted about 75 visitors.

"I'm excited that it's done. I'm excited that we're providing housing to a genre of people that really need it," said Desbiens.

The nine-unit, $2.6 million project became fully funded in December 2014, although feasibility studies and grant applications started long before that. The ground breaking occurred nearly a year later in September 2015, and construction began the following January.

"It's been a long dream that finally came true," said Maria Connor, representing both the Friends of the Elderly and the Partners in Housing Board. "It serves as a reminder to how much our veterans mean to us, and it will continue to fulfill their needs."

Seven of the rooms have already been filled, with veterans to move in later this month. Each room was fully furnished with $5,000 donations, and includes a bed and handmade quilt (courtesy of the Paskamansett Quilters); microwave and appliances; TV and recliner (courtesy of La-Z-boy Furniture); a lap robe (courtesy of the Council on Aging Needleworkers); and a laundry basket complete with towels, tissues, dish soap, gum, and toothbrush and other toiletries (courtesy of Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros and Veterans Services Officer Roy Oliveira).

A common room with couches, a washer and dryer, parking, and a supportive services offices will also be available to residents.

"The community came together on this project," said Oliveira. "This is the first step [for the veterans] to being contributing members of the community," he said, explaining that the permanent housing opportunity targets homeless veterans.

After residents move in, Oliveira said he will be working with them to connect them to financial assistance, a career center, and other services if necessary.

Tenants range in age from 30- to 80-years-old, said Desbiens, which she hopes will enhance the community atmosphere. She added that the location is a blessing; it's close to a bus stop, grocery store, medical facilities, the university, and the Dartmouth Housing Authority (located at 2 Anderson Way), she said.

"We've planted a seed, and hopefully other communities will take it," Desbiens said, explaining that apart from New Bedford's two veteran housing buildings, there aren't any existing in the nearby area. She hopes the smaller towns will follow suit.

At the event, Vandal — a member of the Dartmouth Lions Club — said that 10-percent of the food bill at Buffalo Wild Wings (186 N. Dartmouth Mall) will go toward the veteran housing until December 25.