Heroes Hand Up seeks to help those who should never be forgotten
The increasing veteran homeless population is a serious problem that is currently plaguing America. According to the 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, there are on average 39,471 veterans living on the streets of America every night.
There are organizations and coalitions across the United States that all operate in hopes to do their local part to make a nationwide difference, and provide for the homeless veterans and their families that struggle with them.
Heroes Hand Up is a local organization that was initiated by veterans, with a mission to combat the growing epidemic of homelessness among American veterans in Chattanooga. They are devoted to bringing quality of life to the forgotten heroes, and promoting purpose driven lives, while increasing the awareness and involvement of the community. They want to give the homeless veterans a hand up, instead of a hand out.
American soldiers leave their friends and family for an extended period to honorably serve our country, and fight to keep our freedom intact. Often, they get deployed to war or conflict zones and do not ever come back home, or they come back home having seen all the horrors of war, something those of us who haven’t experienced can’t possibly imagine. Sometimes they come back maimed physically, emotionally, or both.
Hollywood has done a great job of venerating war in general; and while it may be honorable, it is far from glorified. Try to imagine operating properly while dealing with killing people, watching close friends get slain, dodging explosions and bullets, PTSD, loss of bodily functions or limbs; these are the harsh realities some former many veterans face daily, and for some it is just too much to deal with.
People can develop long lasting psychological damage from war. They can turn to drugs and alcohol to try to forget about it; and wind up hitting rock bottom and living on the streets.
Heroes Hand Up’s forefront is providing a weekly service to the local homeless veterans and their families, but they typically assist the local homeless population in general. The non-profit group rotates through the spread out homeless communities to provide resources such as food, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and blankets.
They also bring with them the ability to transport, and process people into rehabilitation and medical facilities immediately, as well as helping the veterans find viable employment, and psychological help.
In addition to their weekly services, currently, Heroes Hand Up is working with Signal Voice and Data to implement a telephone communication system with different options for veterans, homeless families with children, and homeless individuals. The system would allow people to reach out to them for additional or specific needs.
With a little awareness, love, and caring from the community, together we can join forces to help this wonderful organization put an end to veterans living on the streets. Heroes Hand Up hosts fund-raising, and donation-gathering events and are always looking for volunteers.
Email info@heroeshandup.org for more information. To donate please visit heroeshandup.org and click the donate button at the bottom of the screen. All donations are strictly used to assist needy Veterans and their families.