The Home Depot Foundation Announces $175,000 Grant to Volunteers of America-Greater New York to Help Homeless Veterans in New York City

Local funds part of almost $1.4 million in grants announced for Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs nationwide
  

New York, NY (June 22, 2012) – The Home Depot® Foundation today announced a $175,000 grant to Volunteers of America –Greater New York to address the critical housing needs of U.S. military veterans. This grant is part of $1.37 million in grants announced for 16 Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs in 15 cities. These grants will be used to refurbish or build housing for up to 540 homeless veterans, as well as many of their family members. 
 

 

In the past four years, Volunteers of America-Greater New York has more than quadrupled its housing services for homeless veterans. Volunteers of America-Greater New York serves veterans across a broad spectrum of needs, from short-term emergency shelter to transitional and permanent supportive housing in
Manhattan and the Bronx. A safe haven program in the Bronx encourages chronically homeless male
veterans to come off the street and, once underlying issues have been addressed, helps them move into apartments of their own.     

Patriot House, opened in May 2011, is a 40-bed emergency housing alternative to discharging veterans into the general population NYC shelter system. It provides a safe dwelling for homeless veterans with special needs and serves both male and female veterans. 

The East 119th Street Veterans Residence offers permanent, supportive housing, including a full range of supportive services for up to 174 vets. The Home Depot grant will be used to repair or replace kitchens and lounges that are broken or missing, and a security and fire command station will be constructed. In addition, the 3.5 acre site on which the building sits, including a courtyard and an adjoining basketball court, will be renovated to allow for safe, easy access and a welcoming environment in which the community of veterans will have recreational space to spend time, work out, care for a garden and socialize.  

“We are committed to providing comprehensive services to the men and women who have served our country and now need our support,” said Richard Motta, President & CEO, Volunteers of America-Greater New York. “Their issues are complex. Unfortunately, the  need for services such as ours will rise significantly, as more servicemen and women return home, some with difficulty adjusting, and experiencing mental illness and homelesssness,” 
 
Nationally, Volunteers of America serves more than 7,700 homeless veterans each year through 35 programs in 15 states.
 
“Volunteers of America-Greater New York is making a measurable impact every day to help homeless and at-risk veterans,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation.  “They share our commitment to ensure that every veteran has a safe place to call home, and we are proud that our funding and volunteer assistance will allow them to assist even more veterans and their families.”  

In addition to receiving funding, Volunteers of America affiliates will potentially be supported by Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force.
 
About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Learn more at www.voa.org.

About The Home Depot Foundation
 The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every U.S. military veteran has a safe place to call home.  In April 2011, the Foundation pledged a three-year, $30 million initiative to address veterans’ critical housing needs. Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visitwww.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.
 
Media Contacts
Rachel Weinstein
VP/Chief Development Officer
Volunteers of America – Greater New York
Rweinstein@voa-gny.org
(212) 496-4305
 
Catherine Woodling
The Home Depot Foundation
Catherine_Woodling@HomeDepot.com
(770) 384-2304