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Crisis/Disaster Relief Strategy

Mission Statement: It is our mission after a disaster is to prevent homelessness. To mitigate and to aid in rebuilding lives of Veterans and their communities, and to connect Veterans to communities and communities to Veterans.

Vision Statements: To collaborate with local, regional and national partners in responding to relief needs of both individuals and churches, businesses, and municipalities. To help all, and along the way ask, "Are you a Veteran."

Responding to a crisis or a disaster is a perfect strategy in the mission of "ending Veteran homelessness." It is estimated as recently as 2021 that nearly 1,400,000 Veterans throughout the United States are at risk of becoming homeless at any given time. The only difference between a homeless Veteran and an at-risk Veteran is that one is still paying on a lease or a mortgage. Veterans who live below the poverty line, who risk unemployment, pay over half of their income on housing, are diagnosed with a mental illness or substance use disorder, or suffer from a disability are at a greater risk of becoming homeless. Over 67% of homeless Veterans served in the military for at least three years and 33% were stationed in a war zone. Many Veterans struggle with issues of post-traumatic stress, with either subtle or dynamic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other Veterans have return home with a greater dependence of drugs or other substances and/or are managing difficult symptoms of a mental illness. Those at risk are just as isolated, alone and guarded in their relationship with others and their community. Many women hide the knowledge of their military service, and suffer in secret.

There is no event or circumstance that will push a Veteran into greater isolation, unemployment and into homelessness more quickly than the destruction of their home from a fire, flood, hurricane or some other natural disaster. It is our turn and our time to make a difference; to extend our arm of service.

In The Journey Home's (TJH) mission to "end Veteran homelessness," our primary objective is to connect Veterans to local, regional, and national communities. The most efficient path in reaching this end is to lift up and support communities in their capacity and ability to connect with and support their Veterans. It is not the government’s, the VA, or organizations like TJH that are the most effective in helping a lost or hurting or broken Veteran rebuild their lives. It is you; their families, their neighbors, the community their live in. Service and Veteran men and women have experienced life-changing events and moments in isolation of their families, neighbors and communities, without words or a sense of connection that allows them to share. As a result, they come home feeling disconnected from those relationships that are most important. Their "love of Country" is rooted in their love for family, neighbors and for their community. They served us. It is time for all of us to serve them. To show them that their service is not been forgotten.

Objectives:

  • Veteran Outreach Team Onsite Deployment
    • Nurture and support established coalitions of disaster relief responders.
    • Identify and connect with local networks and make connections
      • Churches
      • Business
      • Charitable Organizations
      • Municipalities
    • Connect and establish a recovery relationship with Veteran
  • Find Veterans
    • Ask and encourage others to ask, "Are you a Veteran?"
    • Connect Veterans to local, regional and national resources
  • Offer Harm Reduction Case Management
    • Involve case management to reduce harm and safety concerns
    • Link to local, regional and national services

Veteran Disaster Relief Fund

This Give Butter campaign directly impacted the TJH ability to help Veterans rebuild after a disaster. In order to make the greatest impact, TJH had a mission to invest $25,000.00 in equipment and training in 2021. Making this investment gives us the assurance that TJH can and will be there for Veterans, now and in the future. We are asking you to invest your financial re-services to this important mission. Together, we can meet the demands of this investment. Our request is significant in a few ways. Learn more by visiting the Givebutterlogo campaign.

Crisis/Disaster Relief Operating Budget -

  • Site Deployment Fuel/Travel $1.00 Per Mile (e.g. 2,500 round-trip miles = $2,500.00)
  • Yearly Vehicle Maintenance = $3,000.00 (Supports two mobile response vehicles Motor Home and Van)
  • Yearly Response Equipment Maintenance = $2,000.00 (chain saws, generators, clean up tools

Veteran Disaster Relief Fund -

  • Offering $1,000.00 grants to at-risk Veteran in support of rebuilding
  • Qualified Veterans are those that need assistance with
    • Insurance Deductibles
    • Home repairs
    • Automobile Repair
    • Etc.

Operational Model: TJH

  • Goal: To assist in rebuilding communities and to ask victims of disasters, "Are you a Veteran"
  • Objective: Quickly identify local, regional, and their State and national resources that support and assist Veterans in their recovery
  • Plan: A team of Veteran Outreach Volunteers will contact and connect with every found Veteran.
    • Provide recovery resources and links to local, regional, and their State and national services
    • Maintain a personal relationship of support as long as the Veteran needs it
    • Fundraiser, "Veteran Disaster Relief Fund", and offer $1,000.00 recovery grants to Veteran most in need.

Veteran Disaster Relief Fund