LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Veterans Initiative (U.S.VETS) and The Home Depot® Foundation today announced the 2012 Veteran Housing Rehabilitation project to expand housing for homeless and low-income veterans in the District of Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri. As part of its "Celebration of Service" initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation has awarded U.S.VETS $400,000 to support the launch of its newest site in St. Louis and increase the capacity of its location in the Nation's capital.
Funding from The Home Depot Foundation will enable U.S.VETS to expand its presence and provide programs and services to twice as many veterans in the D.C. area, while also replicating many of its most successful programs for a new population of veterans in St. Louis. These services include residential and reintegration programs for disabled veterans; education, employment and preventative mental health services for recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans; as well as focused and specific services for women veterans.
"A new generation of men and women are coming home from service to fight another battle – the transition back to civilian life," said Stephen Peck, President and CEO of U.S.VETS. "They join thousands of veterans from previous wars in their struggles with homelessness, unemployment, and mental trauma. We are grateful to have the support of The Home Depot Foundation and this opportunity to expand our services and presence in the places where veterans' needs are also growing."
With the assistance of Team Depot, The Home Depot's associate-led volunteer program, U.S.VETS hopes to install new windows and doors, heating/cooling systems, apply new paint, and address any issues needed to maintain both sites in accordance with the Veterans Administration or Country Health and Human Services reviews. The Veteran Housing Rehabilitation project will expand and create approximately 170 beds of transitional and permanent housing for veterans and veteran families in St. Louis and the District of Columbia over the next year.
"The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home, and we are impressed with the quality of work being done by U.S.VETS," said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation. "By funding the construction, repairs and upgrades needed at U.S.VETS' St. Louis and D.C. facilities, we know that more veterans and their families will have a place to be together, to heal and to move forward with their lives."
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About the United States Veterans Initiative
Founded in 1992, U.S.VETS is dedicated to the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development, and comprehensive support. With 11 locations in five states and Washington, D.C., U.S.VETS is the largest veteran-specific nonprofit housing and service provider in the country. Focused on assisting homeless and at-risk veteran and veteran families, U.S. VETS serves over 2,000 veterans each day. In a year, U.S.VETS will help 3,000 veterans find housing and over 1,000 veterans obtain full-time employment. For more information, visit www.usvetsinc.org or follow on Twitter @USVETSINC, and like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usvetsinc.
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 The Home Depot's associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org or follow on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.
For more information, contact:
Chelsea Cody
Communications Coordinator
United States Veterans Initiative
(213)-542-2601
Catherine Woodling
Public Relations and Communications Specialist
Home Depot Foundation
Catherine_Woodling@HomeDepot.com
(770)-384-2304
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