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Operation Homefront Village
Short-term, Transitional Houses Key to Helping Wounded Through Initial Crisis
Wounded warriors are a specific concern for Operation Homefront. According to recent statistics, more than 25,000 service members have been wounded in action. Service members disabled from injuries return home, are discharged from the service and have 30 days to vacate base housing. Then they have to wait, some as long as 18 months, for their VA compensation to begin. It’s no wonder our country is seeing an increase in homeless veterans. One third of the homeless men in America are veterans. While most of these are Vietnam veterans, our young veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk of becoming homeless themselves if programs are not put into place to help these service members transition back into civilian life. That is why Operation Homefront is establishing Operation Homefront Villages across the nation.
Operation Homefront will be acquiring several homes, apartments, townhouses, duplexes and condominiums to offer transitional housing for our young veterans. Some of these homes will be donated and some will be purchased at below-market value.
Priority placement for housing will be defined as followed:
- Wounded service members who will be receiving a medical discharge or retirement within six months and up to two years after military discharge or retirement.
- Veterans who are within six months of discharge and up to two years after discharge and are pursuing higher education and are unable to afford housing on their own.
- Veterans who are within six months of discharge or up to two years after discharge and are unable to afford housing.
Due to the overwhelming number of wounded service members, Operation Homefront anticipates that 80 percent of the housing space will be occupied by wounded service members and their families as they transition. Operation Homefront Village will also have a community center, complete with:
- Computer work stations loaded with specialized software to accommodate disabilities.
- Wounded Warrior Wives support groups.
- Counselors to assist with filing VA claims, state disability claims and social security claims.
- Educational assistance including assistance with college enrollment, scholarship applications, applying for VA educational benefits (Montgomery GI Bill and vocational rehabilitation) and tutoring for college courses.
- Job integration programs to include resume writing assistance and workshops, assistance with interviewing for and finding employment with “veteran-friendly” companies and assistance with applying for federal jobs.
As always, we will collaborate with other charities that provide veterans' services so that vets can receive the best of everything at one location. The goal of this program is to help these service members get their benefits in line, find employment if they are able to do so, find jobs for their spouses if possible, or get them enrolled in an educational program. These families need the proper tools to ensure they can avoid homelessness and poverty.
Operation Homefront anticipates creating OH Village communities in 2008 in the following areas: San Antonio, San Diego, Las Vegas and Washington, DC.
Sponsorship opportunities available are:
- Community centers -- $40,000 per year and will include naming rights for the community center.
- 2-bedroom apartment complex units -- range from $20,000 to $30,000 per unit (prices vary based on market locations).
- 1-bedroom apartment complex units -- range from $15,000 to $25,000 per unit (prices vary based on market locations).
- Homes (sponsorship are per bedroom in the home) -- range from $7,500 to $15,000 per year (prices vary base on market locations).
Sponsors will have naming rights on the individual units or community centers for a one year period at the rates listed above.
Donors may also make contributions of other increments. All donors over $10,000 will have their company or individual names displayed visibly in the community center.
For more information, please contact Amy Palmer at 210-659-7756 or amy@operationhomefront.net .
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