Homeward Bound holds forum on veteran homelessness Nov. 12

Local nonprofit Homeward Bound has announced it will hold a community forum addressing epidemic homelessness among veterans in the Asheville area beginning at 5:30 p.m. on November 12, 2015 at Celine & Co in downtown Asheville, according to a press release from the organization.

A survey of sheltered and un-sheltered homeless individuals conducted by Homeward Bound in January of this year found that of the 562 people surveyed, 37 percent were veterans of the U.S. military, says the organization. Homeward Bound attributes this large percentage to a lack of social support for veterans suffering from substance abuse issues and PTSD, compounded by a lack of access to healthcare and the extreme affordable housing shortage in the area.

“No one who has served our country should be left to live in a car, a camp or a shelter,” says Homeward Bound’s Executive Director Brian Alexander. “Our community has the solution to veteran homelessness – permanent housing.”

In an effort to examine some of the causes for veteran homelessness and discuss possible solutions, the organization will host a panel discussion featuring Army veteran Jas Boothe, who served for 15 years and experienced homelessness firsthand, in addition to local experts and others who’ve experienced homelessness or home insecurity.

Prior to the panel discussion, Boothe will deliver a keynote address and speak about her personal experiences and the work of her organization, Final Salute, Inc., which seeks to help other female veterans escape the cycle of homelessness.

Tickets are $25 dollars to attend and include a meal provided by Celine & Co. (vegan options available). Tickets can be purchased at either eventbrite.com or by visiting homewardbound.wnc.org.

“We look forward to examining this problem and how together we can solve it in greater depth with the community,” says Alexander.

For more information on the Forum on Veteran Homelessness and what you can do to assist veterans in need, visit homewardbound.wnc.org or contact Beth Russo at beth@homewardboundwnc.org or at (828) 258-1695, Ext. 111.

Press release:

Homeward Bound hosts Forum on Veteran Homelessness on November 12, 2015
Asheville, NC (September 15, 2015): Homeward Bound of WNC, a nonprofit based in Buncombe and Henderson counties, works with others to end the cycle of homelessness. We will examine the problem of veteran homelessness in our community, at our Forum on Veteran Homelessness.

This year the annual Point in Time count, (a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people on a single night in January across the nation) found that of the 562 people experiencing homelessness in our community, 37% were veterans.

Veterans become homeless due to many factors – from extreme shortage of affordable housing, lack of income, access to healthcare and the lingering effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse. All of these factors are made worse by a lack of social support.

Homeward Bound’s Executive Director, Brian Alexander says, “No one who has served our country should be left to live in a car, a camp or a shelter. Our community has the solution to veteran homelessness – permanent housing. We look forward to examining this problem and how together we can solve it in greater depth with the community.”

Join us on Thursday November 12, 2015 at Celine & Co. at On Broadway from 5:30 – 8 PM, as we explore this social crisis in depth and examine solutions that work. The Forum is presented by AVL Technologies, with support from Chitwood and Fairbairn, PA, Tryon Distributing and the Lenoir-Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies at Asheville.

Jas Boothe, an Army veteran who gave 15 years of service and was herself homeless is giving the keynote speech. She founded Final Salute, Inc. to address female veteran homelessness.

A panel discussion will follow her speech focusing on the local problem and solutions. The panel will include Ms. Boothe, local experts and people who have experienced homelessness.

Tickets are $25 and include a fantastic meal with vegan options, provided by the chefs at Celine & Co. Tickets can be purchased on EventBrite.com (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/forum-on-veteran-homelessness-tickets-18555686558?aff=es2) or through www.homewardbound.wnc.org

For more information, please contact: Beth Russo at beth@homewardboundwnc.org or at 828.258.1695. Ext. 111.