We have been awarded the Seal of Effectivness by GlobalGiving Foundation as a symbol of our commitment to helping Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the
nation’s homeless/disabled veterans are predominantly male, with
roughly 9% being female. The majority are single; live in urban
areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance
abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About 11% of the adult homeless
population are veterans.
Roughly 45% of all homeless veterans are African American or
Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S.
veteran population, respectively.
Homeless/disabled veterans are younger on average than the total
veteran population. Approximately 9% are between the ages of 18
and 30, and 41% are between the ages of 31 and 50. Conversely,
only 5% of all veterans are between the ages of 18 and 30, and
less than 23% are between 31 and 50. These are the men and women
that put their life on hold to protect us. The least we can do is
give a little back to them.
America’s homeless/disabled veterans have served in World War II,
the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon,
Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the
military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly
half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era.
Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and
one-third were stationed in a war zone.
About 1.4 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at
risk of homelessness/disability due to poverty, lack of support
networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or
substandard housing.
In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all
homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable
income and access to health care – a large number of displaced
and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded
by a lack of family and social support networks. Additionally,
military occupations and training are not always transferable to
the civilian workforce, placing some veterans at a disadvantage
when competing for employment.
Veterans Independence Foundation, a non-profit organization
501(c)3. We are a Veterans organization that focuses on short term
barriers to long term health, happiness and success for all
Veterans.
These are the men and women that put their life on hold to protect
us. The least we can do is give a little back to them. They are
each an American hero, and all of them seek to return to a
fulfilling civilian life with the promise of achieving great
things for themselves and their families. These are accomplished
individuals, who have suffered great personal tragedy, but whose
hope for the future is not diminished by their disability. It is
our goal, through active participation in outdoor sports activities
, to help each of them to re-build the self-confidence needed to
face each of life’s challenges.
We solicit your support of these veterans through Veterans
Independence Foundation by contributing as a company or individual,
and pledge that our efforts on behalf of the disabled veteran will
make you proud of your association with us. These men and women
have given their all in defending the American way of life, and to
aid in their physical, mental and cultural
rehabilitation/integration is our only mission.
Veterans Independence Foundation is a small organization of
volunteers which affords us much lower overheads than most
charities, in order to maximize benefits to the veteran. We
intend to remain small sponsoring a limited number of events,
and to spend most of our energies in being certain that each
event is conducted in the best possible manner for the benefit
of the veteran. We appreciate your interest in us, invite you to
stay connected to us through our web site and solicit your
commitments and contributions for disabled veterans through
our Facebook page or our website and we pledge strict adherence
to our mission on behalf of our sponsors, for the sole benefit
of our honored disabled American veterans.
Thank you
Neil Blitstein
Founder
Veterans Independence Foundation
Read our founders story
Here
