It's a fortuitous coincidence that Veteran's Day takes
place during National Homeless Awareness Month. According to the National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans, veterans are twice as likely as other
Americans to become chronically homeless. In 2014, that meant that
between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans were homeless. Many factors contribute to
this reality, such as lack of income, combat-related health issues and
disabilities, and lack of services.
There are a large number of organizations dedicated to
serving veterans in various capacities. To determine whether or not a charity
is specifically working to alleviate veteran homelessness, be sure to review
their programs. Homes
for Our Troops builds accessible homes for severely injured
veterans, allowing them to focus on their recovery. The New
England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV) houses approximately 350
veterans and offers an array services to help them successfully reintegrate
into independent living.
Some veterans organizations help alleviate homelessness by
preventing its occurrence. The Semper
Fi Fund (SFF) provides financial assistance to veterans who have
fallen behind on their housing payments to keep them out of homelessness. The USO
Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore provides emergency housing to
military service members for up to 60 days at no cost to the beneficiary,
providing military families with the opportunity to regroup and transition back
into independent living.
All of the above organizations are serving homeless veterans
in exemplary ways. When deciding to give to this cause, or others, be sure to
look at the programs and services that a charity provides!
Interested in volunteering with these organizations?
Check out our Guide
to Volunteering.
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