John F. Downing is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the United
Veterans of America, Inc. Since joining the organization in 2001, he has
restored and expanded the important UVA partnerships with the Department
of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
Massachusetts Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Labor
on behalf of formerly homeless veterans. Mr. Downing has developed innovative
programs in housing and clinical services for veterans including a transitional
living facility with studio apartments in Pittsfield, Ma, called the Berkshire
Veterans Residence, opened in the fall of 2004.
John F. Downing has over thirty-five years of service to the community of the addicted, incarcerated, mentally ill, and homeless individuals in our society. Mr. Downing’s reputation for community action is known in New England and other parts of the United States because of his tireless work and results oriented approach for those who are labeled powerless and hopeless members of our society.
John F. Downing was the Director of Aftercare/Reintegration for the Berkshire County Office of the Sheriff, Founder of the Offender’s Advocacy Project, Director of the Experimental Project in Counseling, Director of Social Services for the Action for Opportunity Program, and an instructor in the Criminal justice Program at Berkshire Community College.
He has written and spoken throughout the region on matters pertaining to his constituency and recently presented before the Congress on behalf of funding for homeless veterans transitional housing and employment programs.
Mr. Downing attended Merrimack College, Cranwell Prepartory School and
holds licenses in social work and batterer’s abuse counseling. He
has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Berkshire
County, the Berkshire County Neighborhood Youth Corp, the Berkshire Athenaeum,
the Eastern Regional Advisory Board of the US Catholic Charismatic Renewal,
and is a Deputy Sheriff for Berkshire County.
