Funding will benefit 12 programs that serve hundreds of homeless vets nationwide. 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 9, 2014) – Building upon a partnership that has helped thousands of U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation has pledged $1.795 million in new grants to Volunteers of America affiliates to address the critical housing needs of former service members.

The grants include funds totaling approximately $1.166 million for 10 Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs in eight states. These grants will be used to help refurbish or build 416 units of housing for male and female veterans. Additionally, The Home Depot Foundation will provide $100,000 for the maintenance and operation of a Mobile Housing Repair Unit used by Volunteers of America Florida to repair the homes of veterans, and $250,000 in matching grant funds for veterans housing programs offered in Los Angeles. The remaining $234,000 will be provided to Volunteers of America’s national office.

As part of its mission to help ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home, The Home Depot Foundation has pledged approximately $7.6 million to Volunteers of America to benefit homeless veterans since initiating the partnership in April 2011. Volunteers of America is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations addressing veterans’ needs. Nationally, it serves more than 10,000 homeless veterans each year in 46 cities.

Affiliates and housing programs receiving new grants from The Home Depot Foundation include:

• Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles (“Wall Street Veterans Transitional/Permanent Housing”): Permanent supportive and transitional housing for 185 male veterans in Los Angeles.
• Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles (“Southeast Los Angles Veterans Housing”): Transitional housing for 147 male and female veterans and their families at four sites in Bellflower, Whittier and Downey, Calif.
• Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans (“Canal Street SRO”): Permanent supportive housing for seven male and female veterans in New Orleans.
• Volunteers of America Greater Ohio (“Powell Avenue Veterans Permanent Housing”): Permanent supportive housing for 12 male and female veterans and their families in Columbus, Ohio.
• Volunteers of America Indiana (“Senator Richard Lugar Safe Haven for Veterans”): Transitional housing for 25 male and female veterans in Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Volunteers of America Kentucky (“Louisville Family Housing Program”): Transitional housing for 4 male and female veterans and their families in Louisville, Ky.
• Volunteers of America Michigan (“Veterans Village of Hope”): Transitional housing for 16 male veterans in Southfield, Mich.
• Volunteers of America Northern California & Northern Nevada (“Bell Street Veteran Housing”): Permanent supportive housing for 12 male and female veterans and their families in Sacramento, Calif.
• Volunteers of America Southeast (“Overlook Family Veterans Housing”): Newly-constructive permanent supportive housing for four male and female veterans and their families in Mobile, Ala.
• Volunteers of America Upstate New York (“Chenango Street Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans”): Transitional Housing for four male veterans in Binghamton, N.Y.

In addition to the grants, Volunteers of America affiliates are supported by Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force. Team Depot volunteers have already made a difference at Volunteers of America homeless veteran housing sites across the country.

About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps almost 2.5 million people in over 400 communities. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.

About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to improving the homes of U.S. military veterans through financial and volunteer resources to help nonprofit organizations. The Foundation has pledged $80 million to these efforts over five years, and since 2011 has invested more than $65 million to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home.

Through Team Depot, the company’s associate-led volunteer program, thousands of Home Depot associates volunteer their time and talents to positively transform neighborhoods and perform basic repairs and modifications to homes and facilities serving veterans with critical housing needs.

Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $380 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.

Contacts:
David Burch, Director, Communications
Volunteers of America
703-341-5054 (o)
dburch@voa.org

Lisa Walsh, Senior Manager, Communications
The Home Depot Foundation
770-384-4281 (o)
Lisa_Walsh@HomeDepot.com