To ensure that the nation’s veterans have comfortable homes, the Home Depot Foundation announced that it's offering $50 million to veterans’ non-profit organizations over the next three years. This is in addition to the $30 million that was pledged in 2011 to veterans’ housing initiatives, a press release states.
Besides, the Foundation’s Celebration of Service campaign is also working at renovating and repairing veterans' homes. Home Depot volunteers are hopeful to finish about 300 projects across the country in the course of two months.
"With more than one million service members transitioning out of the military over the next two years and with almost half of all veterans over the age of 55, we know that many veterans are struggling with housing challenges and that this will continue for the foreseeable future," Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation, said in a statement. "We pledge to recognize and celebrate the service of all veterans by using our financial and volunteer resources to ensure these brave men and women have safe, comfortable homes."
Currently, more than 500 veterans and their families are being served through the Foundation, which has established more than 1,000 nonprofits in the last 18 months.
"Far too many veterans find themselves without a safe place to call home after dedicating years bravely serving our country," Caffarelli said. "During Celebration of Service, our mission is not only to repair and refurbish the homes of veterans and facilities where they live and receive services, but also to show our appreciation to veterans of every generation for their service and sacrifice."
Last year, the Home Depot Foundation funded renovations and repairs to 2,700 units of housing for veterans and their families. During that period, the Foundation also donated $13 million in cash grants to 596 non-profit organisations catering to the housing needs of U.S. military veterans.
Meanwhile, Strafford county commissioners recently announced their plan to build a 26-unit facility to assist homeless veterans from the Seacoast, Fosters.com reported. This project was announced taking into consideration Governor John Lynch's 10-year plan to end homelessness for veterans, the report said.
“The county commissioners are very excited about this project...We think this is going to be a welcome addition to the Seacoast region," commission chairman George Maglaras told Fosters.com.
It is estimated that veterans account to one quarter of the homeless in the U.S., according to statistics provided by the Veterans Community Services, a non-profit organisation that helps the nation’s veterans to adapt successfully into civilian life. The organization said that on any given night, there are more than 100,000 homeless veterans across the nation.
Government measures
The government has also taken various initiatives to end the problem of homelessness. With proper investments in right programs, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs hope to end veteran homelessness by 2015.
“But unless we set ambitious targets for ourselves, we would not be giving this our very best efforts," Secretary of VA, Eric Shinseki said in a statement. No one who has served this Nation as Veterans have should ever be living on the streets."
