Disabled Veterans National Foundation Recognizes Importance of Veterans Day, Urges More Focus on Homeless Veterans
Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 05, 2015 -- The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) (http://www.dvnf.org), in advance of Veterans Day on November 11th, is urging greater focus on homeless veterans.
The organization seeks to remind Americans that each night, around 50,000 veterans find themselves without a home. Its hope is to use Veterans Day as a platform to add greater awareness to this vulnerable group of veterans, and to hopefully increase the services available to them.
Even more alarming than the 50,000 homeless veteran statistic is the 1.5 million veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. In addition, nearly half a million (467,877) veterans are severely rent burdened, paying more than 50% of their income for rent. More than half (55%) of veterans with a severe housing cost burden fell below the poverty level and 43% receive food stamps.
“Veterans Day is a time to pay respects to the men and women who have served in our military,” said DVNF CEO, Joseph VanFonda (USMC SgtMaj Ret.). “However, tens of thousands of these former service members will spend Veterans Day without a job and without a home, and we feel that too often goes unnoticed.”
DVNF is urging Americans to take a look at some of the alarming statistics amongst homeless veterans. Through DVNF’s Health & Comfort program in 2015, it has helped over 4,500 homeless and low-income veterans throughout the nation to receive tangible support, such as clothing, blankets, health, and hygiene supplies.
The Department of Veterans Affairs set lofty goals to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. While DVNF recognizes that a benchmark needed to be set in the fight to end this trend, and even though much progress has been made, it will clearly fall short.
Therefore, DVNF is urging that a renewed promise be made to these veterans, with added emphasis on homeless prevention.
The organization is also encouraging individuals to support DVNF’s efforts to reach out to these individuals in need this Veterans Day, by honoring the veteran in their life on the organization’s Honor Wall.
About DVNF:
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to provide critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded—physically or psychologically—after defending our safety and our freedom.
We achieve this mission by:
- Providing an online resource database that allows veterans to navigate the complex process of seeking benefits that they are entitled to as a result of their military service, as well as additional resources they need.
- Offering direct financial support to veteran organizations that address the unique needs of veterans, and whose missions align with that of DVNF.
- Providing supplemental assistance to homeless and low-income veterans through the Health & Comfort program and various empowerment resources.
- Serving as a thought leader on critical policy issues within the veteran community, and educating the public accordingly.
Doug Walker, Disabled Veterans National Foundation, http://www.dvnf.org, +1 202-737-0522, [email protected]
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