As veterans of War on Terror begin entering homeless programs,
legislation and corporate initiatives planned to help veterans
transition back into civilian life
WASHINGTON, May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When combat duty ends, there
is no "home sweet home" for some veterans from the War on Terror and other
military operations.
Instead, yesterday's heroes are living in the squalor of America's
streets.
Combat veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and
the Global War on Terror who need help with mental health issues and housing,
employment training and job placement assistance are starting to need help
from the nation's community-based homeless veterans service providers, said
Linda Boone, executive director of the National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans (NCHV), which is having its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.,
May 31 to June 3.
"These homeless service providers already are strained by an increasing
need for assistance by post-Vietnam era veterans," Boone said. "The providers
are deeply concerned about the rising tide of combat veterans who will soon be
requesting their support."
NCHV is the resource and technical assistance center for a national
network of approximately 250 community-based service agencies that provide
emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and
placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for more than
150,000 homeless veterans each year.
Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that about
250,000 veterans are homeless on a given night, and more than 500,000
experience homelessness over the course of a year. Many of these veterans
fought in the Vietnam era, although America's homeless veterans have served in
every war since World War II, including the current conflicts.
NCHV conducted a recent survey to determine if veterans from Iraq and
Afghanistan are, indeed, beginning to request help from homeless veteran
service providers. The 19 community-based organizations that responded
reported they had served 67 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004.
However, Boone stressed, studies also show most combat veterans do not seek
help for mental and emotional problems for several years after their
homecoming -- the average was 12 years for Vietnam era veterans.
But, for the coalition, the goal is helping all homeless veterans
regardless of when they enter the system or the circumstances. "We don't
leave our veterans behind on the battlefield. We shouldn't do it at home
either. To forget those to whom we owe so much is our nation's greatest
tragedy," said Charles Haenlein, president of NCHV's board of directors, who
operates the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation.
NCHV will discuss a variety of initiatives to help in the fight against
homelessness among our veterans at the annual meeting. Many of these involve
government and corporate partners. "Working together, the government, the
business community, not-for-profit organizations and individuals can make real
progress in the war on homelessness," Boone said. "It will take all of us
working together."
Legislative effort may help veterans in transition
NCHV is encouraging public policy that helps homeless veterans transition
from the military to civilian life. "Individuals leaving the military are at
high risk of homelessness due to a lack of job skills that are transferable to
the civilian sector, disrupted or dissolved family and social service networks
and risk factors that preceded their military service," Boone said. "You see
all those yellow ribbons saying 'Support Our Troops.' What most people do not
understand is that often, the biggest challenges will come after the uniform
is removed and the service member transitions to civilian life. It is
absolutely crucial that we support our veterans who live with the impact of
their military service for the rest of their lives."
NCHV will announce its support of the Service Members' Enhanced Transition
Services Act of 2005 (H.R. 2074), which would strengthen current law and
establish new authorities pertaining to separating service members within the
U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill
outlines recommendations designed to create a seamless transition from
military service to veteran status.
Corporate initiatives build bridges for veteran reintegration
NCHV seeks supporters from the corporate sector in its efforts to help
homeless veterans. A key corporate partner is Eli Lilly and Company, an
Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company.
Lilly's latest support came via a $120,000 grant of NCHV's Job Assistance
for Veterans' Advancement (JAVA) project, which provides seed money to
community-based organizations to put veterans in transition into jobs.
Community-based organizations that serve homeless veterans may apply to the
NCHV for up to $30,000 to start a vendor business in coffee carts or silk
screening.
Plans for the first coffee cart will be announced at the annual meeting,
and representatives from community-based organizations attending the meeting
will have an opportunity to learn more about taking advantage of this program
in their home cities, Haenlein said.
Additionally, NCHV will announce recipients for two more grants at the
annual meeting.
Lilly's other initiatives include providing personal care kits, containing
personal hygiene items, to Stand Downs, which are community-based outreach and
assistance programs that take supportive services to homeless veterans where
they live -- on the streets. The kits are often the first kindness many
homeless veterans receive as they begin their quest to reclaim control of
their lives, according to NCHV. More than 60,000 veterans have benefited from
the program during its first three years.
"It is tragic that on any given night, there are 250,000 homeless veterans
on the streets. As a company, Lilly is dedicated to providing answers that
matter to its customers and the communities we serve," said Joseph B. Kelley,
vice president, State/Federal Government Affairs, Lilly.
Lilly hopes that other corporations will join its efforts to support
initiatives that help homeless veterans. "Corporate America has a
responsibility to the community as a whole and to those who have given so much
for our country," Kelley said. "These individuals deserve to be treated with
dignity and grace. Lilly encourages other corporations to become involved in
the issue."
The support of homeless veterans programs by Lilly serves as a national
model of what can be achieved when corporate America joins forces with
community-based service providers, Boone said.
To get involved in supporting homeless veteran programs, people may
contact the coalition at (800) VET-HELP.
About The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans was founded in 1990 by a
group of veteran service providers in response to the growing number of
homeless veterans who were coming into their facilities and the lack of
resources to adequately provide services for them. NCHV's mission is to end
homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration
and building the capacity of service providers. Through its advocacy and
leadership, NCHV has become recognized as the nation's leading authority on
homeless veterans' issues by several departments of the U.S. government,
including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development,
Labor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by
applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from
collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in
Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and
information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional
information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com. O-LLY
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company; National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans
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Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Linda Boone of National Coalition for
Homeless Veterans, +1-202-491-6901; Janice Chavers of Eli Lilly
and Company, +1-317-651-6253, +1-317-525-0369 (cell); Katherine
Coble of Borshoff Johnson Matthews, +1-317-631-6400,
+1-317-701-5338 (cell)
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