National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Uniting Government and Public and Private Efforts to End Homelessness Among Veterans As veterans of War on Terror begin entering homeless programs, legislation and corporate initiatives planned to help veterans transition back into civilian life WASHINGTON, May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When combat duty ends, there is no "home sweet home" for some veterans from the War on Terror and other military operations. Instead, yesterday's heroes are living in the squalor of America's streets. Combat veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terror who need help with mental health issues and housing, employment training and job placement assistance are starting to need help from the nation's community-based homeless veterans service providers, said Linda Boone, executive director of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), which is having its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., May 31 to June 3. "These homeless service providers already are strained by an increasing need for assistance by post-Vietnam era veterans," Boone said. "The providers are deeply concerned about the rising tide of combat veterans who will soon be requesting their support." NCHV is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of approximately 250 community-based service agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for more than 150,000 homeless veterans each year. Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that about 250,000 veterans are homeless on a given night, and more than 500,000 experience homelessness over the course of a year. Many of these veterans fought in the Vietnam era, although America's homeless veterans have served in every war since World War II, including the current conflicts. NCHV conducted a recent survey to determine if veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are, indeed, beginning to request help from homeless veteran service providers. The 19 community-based organizations that responded reported they had served 67 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004. However, Boone stressed, studies also show most combat veterans do not seek help for mental and emotional problems for several years after their homecoming -- the average was 12 years for Vietnam era veterans. But, for the coalition, the goal is helping all homeless veterans regardless of when they enter the system or the circumstances. "We don't leave our veterans behind on the battlefield. We shouldn't do it at home either. To forget those to whom we owe so much is our nation's greatest tragedy," said Charles Haenlein, president of NCHV's board of directors, who operates the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation. NCHV will discuss a variety of initiatives to help in the fight against homelessness among our veterans at the annual meeting. Many of these involve government and corporate partners. "Working together, the government, the business community, not-for-profit organizations and individuals can make real progress in the war on homelessness," Boone said. "It will take all of us working together." Legislative effort may help veterans in transition NCHV is encouraging public policy that helps homeless veterans transition from the military to civilian life. "Individuals leaving the military are at high risk of homelessness due to a lack of job skills that are transferable to the civilian sector, disrupted or dissolved family and social service networks and risk factors that preceded their military service," Boone said. "You see all those yellow ribbons saying 'Support Our Troops.' What most people do not understand is that often, the biggest challenges will come after the uniform is removed and the service member transitions to civilian life. It is absolutely crucial that we support our veterans who live with the impact of their military service for the rest of their lives." NCHV will announce its support of the Service Members' Enhanced Transition Services Act of 2005 (H.R. 2074), which would strengthen current law and establish new authorities pertaining to separating service members within the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill outlines recommendations designed to create a seamless transition from military service to veteran status. Corporate initiatives build bridges for veteran reintegration NCHV seeks supporters from the corporate sector in its efforts to help homeless veterans. A key corporate partner is Eli Lilly and Company, an Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company. Lilly's latest support came via a $120,000 grant of NCHV's Job Assistance for Veterans' Advancement (JAVA) project, which provides seed money to community-based organizations to put veterans in transition into jobs. Community-based organizations that serve homeless veterans may apply to the NCHV for up to $30,000 to start a vendor business in coffee carts or silk screening. Plans for the first coffee cart will be announced at the annual meeting, and representatives from community-based organizations attending the meeting will have an opportunity to learn more about taking advantage of this program in their home cities, Haenlein said. Additionally, NCHV will announce recipients for two more grants at the annual meeting. Lilly's other initiatives include providing personal care kits, containing personal hygiene items, to Stand Downs, which are community-based outreach and assistance programs that take supportive services to homeless veterans where they live -- on the streets. The kits are often the first kindness many homeless veterans receive as they begin their quest to reclaim control of their lives, according to NCHV. More than 60,000 veterans have benefited from the program during its first three years. "It is tragic that on any given night, there are 250,000 homeless veterans on the streets. As a company, Lilly is dedicated to providing answers that matter to its customers and the communities we serve," said Joseph B. Kelley, vice president, State/Federal Government Affairs, Lilly. Lilly hopes that other corporations will join its efforts to support initiatives that help homeless veterans. "Corporate America has a responsibility to the community as a whole and to those who have given so much for our country," Kelley said. "These individuals deserve to be treated with dignity and grace. Lilly encourages other corporations to become involved in the issue." The support of homeless veterans programs by Lilly serves as a national model of what can be achieved when corporate America joins forces with community-based service providers, Boone said. To get involved in supporting homeless veteran programs, people may contact the coalition at (800) VET-HELP. About The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans was founded in 1990 by a group of veteran service providers in response to the growing number of homeless veterans who were coming into their facilities and the lack of resources to adequately provide services for them. NCHV's mission is to end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration and building the capacity of service providers. Through its advocacy and leadership, NCHV has become recognized as the nation's leading authority on homeless veterans' issues by several departments of the U.S. government, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Labor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/. O-LLY (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO ) http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company; National Coalition for Homeless Veterans CONTACT: Linda Boone of National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, +1-202-491-6901; Janice Chavers of Eli Lilly and Company, +1-317-651-6253, +1-317-525-0369 (cell); Katherine Coble of Borshoff Johnson Matthews, +1-317-631-6400, +1-317-701-5338 (cell)

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