POST FALLS - The need for a local veterans home came across loud and clear Tuesday night.

About 200 people packed into American Legion Post 143 for a meeting conducted by the Idaho Division of Veterans Service and a planning team which is developing a feasibility report for veterans care facilities in the state.

"It's very apparent that we have support," Dana Kauffman of Insight Architects told the crowd of veterans, family members and elected officials.

Facility proponents, led by former Post Falls Mayor and veteran Clay Larkin, are hoping that an 88-bed home will be constructed in three to five years.

The feasibility report is expected to be submitted to the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C., by April.

"Patience will be a virtue," Larkin said.

The closest Idaho vet home is in Lewiston. Others are in Boise and Pocatello.

Dee Sasse, the Post Falls Legion's first vice commander, told Kauffman and his planning team that even though the home is envisioned to be located in Post Falls or somewhere in Kootenai County, it would serve veterans and their families in all of the Panhandle.

"There is such a need for this from the Canadian border down," Sasse said.

No site for a possible local facility has been proposed, but the west side of Highway 41 has been bantered. Land needs to be secured before money will be awarded toward a facility. Federal funds will pay for 65 percent of the facility, while the state contributes 35 percent.

The total cost for similar facilities, including the building and land, have been about $20 million.

Local veterans have been working on the vet home proposal for more than two years. The Legislature earlier allocated $250,000 toward the feasibility study.

Steve Hanson, Post Falls Legion commander, said he knows of families who have loved ones at the home in Lewiston but can't make it down there as often as they would like due to cost and logistical hurdles.

"For the vets in these homes, morale is built on family members coming to see them," Hanson said.

Frank Henderson, a veteran who lobbied for the feasibility study funds at the Legislature, called the turnout at the meeting an "expression of support." He said securing a land donation "will be one of the easiest assignments I can imagine."

Patty Rodriguez, director of nursing for the veterans home in Spokane, said that home is at capacity and Idaho veterans generally aren't admitted there due to insurance hurdles.

"We do need a home here (in North Idaho)," said Rodriguez, a Kootenai County resident. "We get referrals from Idaho and it breaks my heart because we can't take them because we are a Washington state veterans home."

Vet home planning team members said they've heard a lot of comments that, if a home is constructed, it should be able to take care of a variety of needs and can adapt as demands change.

There are an estimated 18,000 veterans in Kootenai County alone.