Housing Veterans Reduces Their Risk of Suicide

Veterans Matter is proud to share that so far this year, you have helped us house over 1,500 Veterans and their families move from homelessness to permanent housing across the United States. Yet, did you know that helping us house our nation’s Heroes also reduces their risk of suicide?

Suicide is complex; there is no single cause. There are a number of factors, related to physical and mental health, that increase or decrease the risk for suicide. Some of these factors include:

Environmental factors

• relationship problems
• homelessness
• financial issues
• work stressors
• major life changes (like transitioning to civilian life)

Losses

• loss of a job
• loss of a loved one
• loss of independence,

The factors above can often be drivers for suicide. Our Heroes are trained to endure challenging situations, but stigma can make it difficult to reach out for help.

If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who might need someone to talk to, please consider using the resources below:

Veterans Crisis Line

Available 24/7/365

• Dial 988 then Press 1

• Chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat

• Text 838255

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Available 24/7/365

• Call 988

• Chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat

Please click here for additional suicide prevention resources

Resources

Please click here for additional suicide prevention resources

Click here to view the VA’s Annual Report on Veteran Suicide Prevention.

General Information

Christian’s Corner Foundation Run for Life event is created in memory of SP. Christian Jones, Scouts 3rd BN, 509th Infantry Airborne, to raise awareness regarding behavioral health issues and suicidal thoughts among our active military and veterans and raise money in support of preventative programs for those who serve, or who have served, giving their all for us.

The event will be hosted at Dana World Headquarters in Maumee. It is a 5K chip-timed race, but walkers are welcome. We will also host a 1-mile Kids Fun Run. Awards will be given for overall winners and 1st place in each age group participating in the 5K race. Refreshments and snacks will be available on site. Other fun activities will be offered, such as a silent auction and a pet adoption corner.

Click here to register for the event

Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Time: Registration opens 7 AM; Ceremonies 8:30 AM; 5K Run/Walk 9 AM
Location: Dana World Headquarters, 3939 Technology Drive, Maumee, OH 43537

Click here to view the promotional flier. 

Sign-Up & Support Opportunities

Click here to download the sponsorship form

Gold Sponsor – $600
Special recognition signage at the event as primary sponsor
Larger company logo promoting primary sponsorship on event t-shirts (*distributed to race registrants)
All race related promotional material to incorporate primary sponsor logo
6’ exhibit table for display at event
Company material incorporated in registration package
Social media promotion through Facebook, race registration site, and other social media sites

Silver Sponsor – $300
Special recognition signage at the event
Company logo promoting sponsorship on event t-shirts (*distributed to race registrants)
6’ exhibit table for display at event

Bronze Sponsors – $150
6’ exhibit table for display at event

The Federal Government & Homelessness Among Veterans – Do they have a plan?

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness works to guide governments; federal, state, county, cities and communities toward ending homelessness for every citizen across the United States. This includes our unhoused Veterans.

Homeless Veterans are a tragic reality in society today. When soldiers return from battle, they are often faced with the difficulties of assimilating back into civilian life. Many veterans face a variety of physical and mental health challenges that can leave them without stable housing. In fact, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, on any given night in the United States, there are approximately 50,000 homeless veterans. This number is unacceptable and shows the need for a comprehensive plan to support these veterans.

The “All-In-Plan” – The Federal Government & Homelessness Among Veterans

In response, The All-In Plan is a proposed solution to help end Veteran homelessness. The plan is an initiative that involves a multi-agency effort to provide housing, healthcare, and education to homeless veterans. The plan is unique in that it incorporates all levels of government, private companies, and non-profit organizations to achieve the goal.

The All-In-Plan is designed to provide Veterans with access to safe, stable housing. This vital first step ensures that homeless veterans can regain a sense of stability and security. Once veterans have housing, they can focus on their mental and physical health. The All-In Plan provides access to healthcare by partnering with hospitals and medical facilities to provide care to veterans. Additionally, the plan provides education and job training opportunities to help veterans gain skills that will help them obtain employment.

The Key to the “All-In-Plan” is Collaboration

The collaboration and coordination inherent in the All-In Plan will allow for the development of comprehensive solutions to veteran homelessness. The plan brings together experts from various areas including healthcare, housing, and job training to ensure veterans receive the essential support they need. This approach recognizes that veteran homelessness is a complex issue and requires a multifaceted solution.

The solution needed to support our homeless Veterans is the All-In-Plan. America needs to care for those who fought for their country, and the All-In Plan provides a starting point. Addressing the issue of veteran homelessness is the ethical and moral responsibility of all citizens. By working together, we can provide our veterans with hope and dignity, and ultimately end Veteran homelessness.

How does Veterans Matter help Homeless Veterans?

Veterans Matter helps Homeless Veterans. We are a national non-profit organization that provides housing assistance to homeless Veteran families across the United States. Since 2012, we have housed over 7,400 homeless Veterans and over 3,000 children. In 2023 alone, your support allowed us to house 1,057 homeless Veterans. Additonally, Veterans Matter offers emergency financial assistance, referral & information, and advocacy.

Veterans Matters partners with social services, the Veteran family, and landlords to secure safe and affordable housing for homeless Veterans. With your support, we pay the security deposit and first month’s rent. This allows the Veteran Family to quickly move out of shelter and into permanent housing. Veterans Matter helps Homeless Veterans and their families.

Furthermore, we refer homeless Veteran families to resources. This provides warm handoffs that lead to solving and resolving their homelessness. Your love for our Heroes enables us to advocate for homeless Veterans on local, state and national levels. We raise awareness of the challenges faced by homeless Veterans and advocating for policies that support Veterans’ access to safe and affordable housing. Consequently, we are making an impact that will last for generations.

Veterans Matter partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to ensure that Veterans receive the services they deserve to achieve stability. Ultimately, it’s your compassion which allows enables Veterans Matter’s to ensure that all Veterans have access to the resources they need to thrive after their service to our country.

Interested in learning more?

Would you like to learn more about Veterans Matter, read stories from Heroes that you’ve helped house, or learn about other ways your can assist our Veterans and their families? Please click here to learn more today and help a Veteran and their family who desperatly need our help. Our Heroes fought for us and we will never stop fighting for them.

Are combat Veterans more likely to experience homelessness?

Have you ever wondered about homeless Veterans and if their service in combat contributes to homelessness at higher rates than their non-combat/peacetime service Veteran counterpoints?

Over the last 12 years, Veterans Matter has housed over 7400 homeless Veterans. When we look at our data, we see that 19% of our Veterans served during the Vietnam War, 18% served in Desert Storm, 16% served in OEF/OIF & OND and 47% served during Peacetime. In reviewing the data, we see that 47% of our Veterans served during peacetime and 53% of our Veterans served during a time of war.

Why are combat Veterans more likely to experience homelessness?

Our Veterans who have served in combat, experienced traumatic events during their service, including combat and exposure to improvised explosive devices. Additionally, many veterans returning home struggle with adjustment to civilian life and may struggle to find employment or housing.

The transition from military to civilian life can be difficult for many veterans. The sense of mission and camaraderie is often difficult to replace in the civilian world. Combine this with physical and mental trauma, and it can be challenging for veterans to adapt to a new normal. Many veterans also face challenges with family and social support systems, financial stability, and navigating the bureaucracy of accessing benefits and services.

Who is helping? How can I help? 

Fortunately, there are organizations that are dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness among Veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of resources to support homeless veterans, including housing assistance, job training, and case management services. Private and public organizations like Helmets to Hardhats, the Gary Sinise Foundation, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, Veterans Matter, Home Depot and Homes for Our Troops also offer support to veterans, including permanent supportive housing, employment, financial assistance and home ownership and accessibility modifications.

The most successful programs develop partnerships that bring a wholistic approach, providing wraparound services that address the physical and mental health needs of veterans, as well as other barriers to stability, such as legal issues or lack of job skills.

Homelessness among veterans is a tragic, but preventable reality. With continued attention and resources dedicated to this issue, we can improve the lives of those who have served our country and ensure that every veteran has access to a safe and secure place to call home.

Additional resources:

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL34024

https://nchv.org/veteran-homelessness/

Housing our Homeless Veterans: How?

At Veterans Matter, we have a mantra we follow housing our homeless Veterans: How do we house our Homeless Heroes?  One Veteran at a time!  We keep the process simple so that we can house as many homeless Veterans as quickly as possible.

Donating to Veterans Matter makes a difference in a homeless Veteran’s life. When I speak with homeless Veterans and those Veterans whom we have recently housed I am often asked, “Why do you care?” or “That’s a lot of money, why me?”

These conversations are always humbling and require great courage on the part of the Veteran.

In the last 94 days, with your care and courage, we have housed over 450 Veterans!  That’s right! 450 Veteran Families have walked across the threshold of their own home.

Why do we care about our homeless Heroes?

There are a lot of reasons why we donate our hard-earned cash to support Veterans Matter! Many will share that giving a donation and helping others is a personal belief or altruism.

Most people donate their money to Veterans Matter to help others. Helping others makes us feel satisfied and content with our lives. The act of donating can give us a sense of accomplishment, knowing that we have contributed to the betterment of others by moving a homeless Veteran Family from their Family Shelter to their own home.

We donate to Veterans Matter to give back to our community. Many of us have a strong belief that we have a moral obligation to help those in need, particularly if we have been fortunate enough to have achieved success in our lives.

We help to house our Homeless Veterans because we care!

You and I donate to charities because we are motivated by empathy and compassion. We recognize the struggles and hardships faced by homeless Veterans and wish to provide them with aid and support. Maybe you were homeless years ago and you remember what it was like to be alone, misunderstood, and judged. Many of us have experienced homelessness or experienced a similar situation in our lives, or we may have witnessed it firsthand in our communities, which has motivated us to take action and help our Veterans.

I am pretty sure that we are all here because it aligns with our personal beliefs and values. We feel strongly about homelessness, Veterans with no access to healthcare, and mental healthcare. Homeless Veteran Families living in poverty due to untreated disabilities and applications with the VBA that take months or years.

You have a significant role in improving the lives of homeless Veterans and their families.  Every time you make a donation to Veterans Matter, it allows you to make a significant contribution to a cause that we all believe in-Housing Homeless Veterans.

Hope Helps Our Veterans Overcome Adversity

There is hope for our Veterans. Hope is a feeling that is quintessential to human existence. It keeps our Veterans going through the toughest of times and helps them overcome even the most formidable challenges. One such challenge that can weigh down heavily on Veterans is homelessness. Homelessness is a problem that plagues many Veterans all over the world. It is a complex issue that arises from several factors such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, and social exclusion. Yet, amidst all the adversities, hope can be found, and it can be transformative.

Hope is a Therapeutic Tool for our Veterans

Homelessness can be a deeply traumatic experience for Veterans. It comes with a range of psychological and physical woes such as depression, anxiety, and exposure to harsh living conditions. However, hope can serve as a therapeutic tool that can ease the burden of such experiences. For instance, hope can bolster the resilience of those Veterans experiencing homelessness. Hope allows them to envision a better future for themselves, despite their current living conditions. Through this, Veterans can draw strength from their aspirations and focus on rebuilding their lives.

Hope Can Help Prevent Homelessness

Hope also plays a central role in the prevention of Veteran homelessness. Homelessness often arises when people face a sudden crisis or due to several socio-economic factors. In such cases, hope can come in the form of early interventions that can prevent homelessness before it becomes a larger problem. Resources such as financial assistance, employment opportunities, and mental health support can help to build resilience and prevent a slide into homelessness.

Hope Can Help Break the Cycle of Poverty

Additionally, hope can allow Veterans experiencing homelessness to break the cycle of poverty that keeps them in a state of housing insecurity. When you donate to Veterans Matter, you set the foundation for enduring hope that can help pull unhoused Veterans from the traumatic cycle of homelessness.

The challenges that come with Veterans’ homelessness can be daunting, but hope can serve as a beacon that can guide individuals toward brighter days.

Join us in cultivating a culture of hope that invests in resilience, prevention, and support! Stand with our homeless Veterans during this transformative time and Hold Them In Hope, as they rebuild their lives.