287

The number of women Veterans and children we have supported since 2011, by either providing transitional housing,  preventing homelessness through emergency financial assistance and our Stand-Up events.

The mission of Final Salute Inc. is to provide homeless women Veterans with safe and suitable housing.

 

It is estimated that there are currently 55,000 homeless women Veterans in the United States on any given day. For the sacrifices they and their families have made, this is an unacceptable state for any of them to be in. Final Salute Inc. believes in paying women Veterans with the proper respects due to them for the service they have provided to our country. Final Salute also works with the Veteran in establishing her plan towards independence.

 

We were established to identify and meet the unique needs of homeless women Veterans.

 

 

"A recent report from the VA inspector general examining veteran housing that receive VA grants found bedrooms and bathrooms without locks, poorly lit hallways and women housed in facilities approved for men only. Nearly a third of the 26 facilities reviewed didn't have adequate safety precautions. One woman veteran and her 18-month-old son were placed in the same facility as a male veteran who was a registered sex offender." - AP

The needs of homeless female Veterans are immediate.  They need your support today!

 

 

 

Factors contributing to homelessness:

• Unemployment
• Ineligibility for or lack of Veteran’s benefits
• Legal trouble
• Military Sexual Trauma
• Post Traumatic Stess Disorder
• Disabilities
• Divorce/Separation
• Domestic violence
• Lack of family or social support network
• Substance abuse

 

According to a report released in 2011 on Homeless Women Veterans by the GAO:

 

HUD collects data on homeless women and on homeless veterans, but does not collect detailed information on homeless women veterans. Neither VA nor HUD collect data on the total number of homeless women veterans in the general population. Further, they lack data on the characteristics and needs of these women on a national, state, and local level. Absent more complete data, VA does not have the information needed to plan services effectively, allocate grants to providers, and track progress toward its overall goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015.

 

Homeless women veterans they talked to cited safety concerns about GPD housing, and 9 of the 142 GPD programs they surveyed indicated that there had been reported incidents of sexual harassment or assault on women residents in the past 5 years.

 

While VA is taking steps—such as launching an outreach campaign—to end homelessness among all veterans, it does not have sufficient data about the population and needs of women veterans to plan effectively for increases in their numbers as servicemembers return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Further, without improved services, women—including those with children and those who have experienced military sexual trauma—remain at risk of homelessness and experiencing further abuse.

 

According to a study conducted in 2009 on Veteran Homelessness by HUD and the VA:

According to the Department of Labor, Women's Bureau:

 

A common theme in listening sessions was the perception that existing programs/services for veterans favor men. Participants believed that many seemingly gender-neutral programs failed to ensure equality in the level and types of assistance provided to both men and women. The top priorities of the women veterans were achieving independence, finding permanent housing, obtaining education/training and employment, meeting their financial obligations, as well as fulfilling their parental responsibilities. They sought resources and programs to facilitate achieving these goals.

 

The women Veterans expressed a desire for sex-segregated residential centers staffed by qualified individuals who are sensitive to the female veteran culture. Women, especially those with a history of MST and domestic violence, report feeling more secure and comfortable in a female-only environment. Single-sex housing and treatment arrangements may facilitate recovery for women. Locating centers in safer residential areas, away from drug dealers and violence, is also important.

 

The listening session participants emphasized the need for programs targeting homeless women veterans “that are more proactive than reactive.” Preventing homelessness, such as by providing rent assistance and other supports, is easier than dealing with the problem later.                                                                                                                                         

 

 

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