Saturday, November 11 is Veterans Day. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, it was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all who have served in all conflicts. It is a day to celebrate and honor America's veterans for their unwavering readiness to serve for the greater good of the nation.
On this day, we honor those in the Health Care for the Homeless community who have served in the armed forces. This includes many staff members who have chosen to continue acting in service through your work to end homelessness, including…
La Keesha Arrington-Vega
Rosita Harris
Cheryl Hunter
Pat Scott
Ryan Burrows
David Ramsey
Please let REI Program Manager Adedoyin Eisape know if you have served to be added to this list.
We also honor countless clients who should never have had to live without a home in the country they served.
Key Facts related to disparities among veterans :
Since 2010, following a noted shift to “housing-first” policies, we’ve seen nationally a 55% decline in veteran homelessness. The 33,000 veterans who continue to experience homelessness on any given night are proof that there’s still much work yet ahead.
Veterans of color have the highest likelihood of homelessness.
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Veterans are most at risk with 106 out of every 10,000 experiencing homelessness
Among Native Americans, 88 out of every 10,000 lack a home
Among Black/African American Veterans, 56 out of every 10,000 experience homelessness
Veterans who experienced homelessness after military service were younger, enlisted with lower pay grades, and were more likely to be diagnosed with mental disorders and/or traumatic brain injury at the time of separation from active duty than their housed counterparts.
Rates of homelessness among transgender Veterans is triple that of non-transgender Veterans.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), established by the United Nations in 1992 and observed annually on December 3rd, aims to raise awareness and mobilize support for the inclusion, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.
As 2023 winds down and we enter the holiday season, Health Care for the Homeless is facing financial challenges. I’d like to share those challenges with you, as well as the steps we’re taking to make sure we’re here long-term for clients, staff and community.
The first Saturday in November was sunny and cool – a perfect day for 300+ runners, walkers, friends and volunteers to gather at Patterson Park for the 10th annual Rock Your Socks 5K! We danced, cheered and enjoyed a festive race village complete with coffee, donuts, tie-dye, a bounce house and easy ways to engage with community partners.