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National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Uniting Government and
Public and Private Efforts to End Homelessness Among Veterans
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
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DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company; National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
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)