On any given night there are approximately 500,000 veterans living on the streets or in shelters in our country.

Veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless.

We design our programs to address the causes of homeless among our veterans which are:

1. Lack of income due to limited education and lack of transferable skills from military to civilian life (especially true of younger veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan)

2. Combat-related physical health issues and disabilities

3. Combat-related mental health issues and disabilities

4. Substance abuse problems that interfere with job retention

5. Weak social networks due to problems adjusting to civilian life

6. Lack of services

VEV's program has three phases:

• Phase One -The Empowerment Center
• Phase Two - Transitional Housing
• Phase Three - Permanent Supportive Homes

The Empowerment Center - This is the heartbeat of the operation. VEV assists veterans in several areas including case management, resume' writing, as well as classes in time management and financial management. VEV assists veterans in finding apartments, provide furniture when needed, as well as helping with a portion of the security and utility deposits (when funds are available). The food pantry is where we give out food to last up to two weeks to our veterans and veteran families.  

Assist to provide clothing for men, women, and children as well. Transportation is available to get veterans to appointments at the VA and help them obtain needed documents like ID cards, birth certificates, and DD-214's. VEV also provides employment training, job assistance, and in collaboration with other agencies, has secured jobs for more than 200 of our clients.

VEV provides counseling assistance in drug and alcohol abuse. All of the assistance provided is taken from a holistic approach. We believe in offering a hand-up and not a hand-out. "Give a man a fish today and he eats for one day; give a man a fishing pole and teach him how to fish and he can eat for a lifetime."

Our slogan, "Are You Your Brother's Keeper?" ads the word of God to enhance mind, body, and spirit.

Transitional Housing - Our goal is by 2022 to start Phase Two, to secure land and start building transitional housing for homeless veterans who have no place to live. Here they will be able to work on the grounds, become involved in horticulture, gardening, and maintenance. The transitional housing will provide up to 24 months of housing while continuing to provide the veterans with all the services of the Empowerment Center. 

The idea is to promote self-sufficiency and independence where the veterans will one day be able to live on their own. Those veterans helped by our agency are then expected to mentor or "give back" to another up-and-coming homeless veteran.

Permanent Supportive Homes - By 2024, our goal is to build permanent supportive housing - this will provide safe, secure housing for up to 100 formerly homeless veterans. On-site counseling will be provided, as well as academic and vocational instruction.