Grants will fund the construction of more than
300 new units of housing
ATLANTA, June 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot Foundation is
investing $9 million to provide
housing solutions for over 3,400 veterans battling homelessness.
This funding will support the construction of more than 300 new
housing units and the repair of nearly 200 additional units,
bringing much-needed stability and comfort to veterans across the
nation.
Over the past decade, the number of homeless veterans has
decreased by 55%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development. However, last year, that number began to rise
again, with an average of 35,000 veterans experiencing homelessness
on any given night. The Home Depot Foundation's grants will play a
pivotal role in countering this challenge by creating new housing
units through collaborations with national nonprofit partners
including Volunteers of America, Housing Assistance Council and
Tunnel to Towers, as well as local nonprofits in Georgia, Ohio
and Massachusetts.
"We are deeply committed to ensuring that our nation's heroes
have a safe and comfortable place to call home," said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot
Foundation. "Our investment is not just about building structures;
it's about building hope and providing the security that every
veteran deserves."
In partnership with other nonprofits like Community Solutions,
these grants will also facilitate the process of finding and
securing existing housing for an additional 3,000 homeless
veterans. An integral part of this initiative includes funding for
landlord incentive programs, which are crucial in overcoming the
barriers faced by at-risk and homeless veterans in finding
sustainable housing. Over the past year, the Foundation's pilot
landlord incentive programs with U.S. VETS and Volunteers of
America have seen promising success in Los Angeles, Honolulu and Chicago. In April, the Foundation launched the
LOVE (Landlord, Organizations, and Veterans Engagement) Fund in
Atlanta, a dedicated resource
aimed at assisting veterans who are housing insecure or
transitioning from homelessness. Under the direction of the
National Coalition of Homeless Veterans and Open Doors Atlanta,
this fund empowers local nonprofits to work directly with
landlords, addressing challenges such as poor credit history or
past evictions that often prevent veterans from obtaining
housing.
"We are honored to partner with The Home Depot Foundation in
this transformative endeavor," said Matt
Hurd, executive director of Open Doors Atlanta. "Their
unwavering support and generous funding are instrumental in our
mission to ensure every veteran and individual in the city of
Atlanta has a place to call
home."
Beyond immediate housing solutions, the Foundation's funding
will also support essential research, studies and training on
aging, rural, low-income and disabled veterans, as well as housing
trends and specific housing needs through the Housing Assistance
Council.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation, the nonprofit arm of The Home
Depot (NYSE: HD), works to improve the homes and lives of U.S.
veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters and
train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the
Foundation has invested more than $500
million in veteran causes and improved more than 60,000
veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest
$750 million in veteran causes by
2030 and $50 million in training the
next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro
program by 2028. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation
visit HomeDepotFoundation.org and follow us
on X @HomeDepotFound and
on Facebook and Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.
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SOURCE The Home Depot Foundation