Canton Illinois welcomes veterans to our local Job Fair. Wednesday April 4 from 12:30 to 3:30 pm at Wallace Park--250 S. Avenue D, Canton Illinois. Call Patricia Clark at the YWCA Women's and Girls' Employment Center at 309-649-3333 for more information. Patricia is the mother of 2 active duty military sons, one of which is currently serving in the USMC in Afghanistan.

or email Patricia at pclark123108@yahoo.com

Our Mission Statement 04/11/2012
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MISSION STATEMENT

Homes 4 Our Heroes helps veterans who lack the economic resources to access quality, safe housing. We believe that affordable housing and supportive programs improve the economic status and stabilize veterans’ lives.

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First Post! 03/22/2011
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The State of Homeless Veterans

(taken from The National Coalition of Homeless Veterans website)

Who are homeless veterans?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly five percent being female. The majority of them are single; come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About one-third of the adult homeless population are veterans.

America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq(OEF/OIF), and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.

Roughly 56 percent of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 12.8 percent and 15.4 percent of the U.S. population respectively About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.

How many homeless veterans are there?

Although flawless counts are impossible to come by – the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty – VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.

DID YOU KNOW?

85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans

79% reside in central cities

23% of the homeless population are veterans

33% of the male homeless population are veterans

17% served post-Vietnam

47% served Vietnam-era

67% served three or more years

33% were stationed in war zone

15% served pre-Vietnam

89% received an honorable discharge

45% need help finding a job

37% need help finding housing

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