About Veteran's Support Organization

Founded in 2001, VSO is a 501C3 non-profit charitable organization that helps homeless, needy and disabled veterans in areas surrounding our offices. The VSO currently operates in Rhode Island, Texas, Tennessee, New York, Georgia, and Florida. The organization’s fundraising efforts are accomplished with the support from businesses and stores throughout Rhode Island, Texas, Tennessee, New York, Georgia, and Florida. Donations collected are forwarded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services to support various programs offered to veterans such as recreational activities, patient coffee program, patient emergency needs, etc.

A common question our fundraisers are asked while raising money for homeless and disabled veterans is, of course, “Why are they homeless?” In addition to the complex set of factors already affecting all homeless people: extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to affordable healthcare, a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with the lingering affects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse. These factors all become compounded by a lack of family and social support networks for homeless veterans. While most homeless veterans are single unaffiliated men, most housing money in existing federal homelessness programs, in contrast, is devoted to helping homeless families or homeless women with dependent children, as stated in Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, published by Fannie Mae Foundation, 1997.

It is the mission of the VSO to further help and support the homeless, disabled and needy veteran population through various fundraising efforts. The more the organization grows the less of a threat homelessness and lack of resources to treat the needy is to our local veteran population.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Facts about Homeless Veterans

Fact
About 1 out of 3 of the adult homeless population has served their country in the Armed Services. On any given day, as many as 200,000 veterans (male and female) are living on the streets or in shelters; and perhaps 400,000 more experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Unfortunately they will spend the night hungry and alone.

Why are veterans homeless?
In addition to the complex set of factors affecting 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 the lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.
A top priority is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment which is free of drugs and alcohol. While "most homeless people are single, unaffiliated men... most housing money in existing federal homelessness programs, in contrast, is devoted to helping homeless families or homeless women with dependant children," according to " Is Homelessness a Housing problem?" in Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, published by the Fannie Mae Foundation in 1997.

Click Here to check out a transitional housing program for homeless veterans
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