Fund Raiser – Help Exodus Homes Serve More Homeless Veterans!

It is well known that many veterans are struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues as a result of the trauma they have experienced serving our country. Many are homeless. Exodus Homes has always served homeless veterans in our faith-based United Way agency that provides supportive housing for homeless people returning to the community from treatment centers and prison. 

 

The magnitude of the problem has brought the Veterans Administration to Exodus Homes to plead for more beds dedicated specifically for homeless veterans. The VA has funds to support these designated beds for homeless veterans, but Exodus Homes needs help to modify several buildings to meet VA standards for funding. We need handicap accessibility in two apartments. We need ceiling fire prevention sprinklers in one house and six apartments. With this in place, we could dedicate five beds for female vets and 16 beds for male vets. With modification of other buildings, we could do even more.    

 

We have struggled to survive the recession because of the extraordinarily high unemployment of our residents in Exodus Homes and funding cuts that caused us to lose half of our operating budget since 2008. Even with the creation of jobs in our own enterprises with Exodus Works, we are still not breaking even. New funding from the VA to serve homeless veterans could help save Exodus Homes for all homeless recovering people, but we have to qualify to get it by modifying these buildings.

 

Veteran Paul Byrd of Tar Heel Wealth Management is coordinating a community fund raiser at Crescent Moon Cafe in downtown Hickory this Thursday July 28, 2011 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. You will hear from veterans who are already being served by Exodus Homes and how you can help serve more. The Crescent Moon Cafe has a wonderful atmosphere and great food. Please stop by and be a part of the next great miracle in Hickory!