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WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 23, 2008) - Wounded veterans have a new
source to turn to when looking for housing to meet their individual
challenges after the expansion of a successful pilot program in
Texas.
"Helping a Hero" has been working for the past year to provide
adaptive homes to wounded veterans of the war on terrorism, said
Meredith Iler, chairman of the organization's Wounded Hero Home
Program.
"Our principal activity is to provide specially adapted homes
for qualifying servicemembers as well as engaging the community to
provide services and resources for our wounded heroes and their
families," she said. "We have awarded 13 homes and have plans to
award another 100 homes in the next 12 months."
All the houses the group provides are part of planned
communities, she said. The developers donate a lot, and one of the
builders in the community matches the amount of the donated land in
construction costs.
The homes range from $200,000 to $300,000 in value, with an
average of $250,000. Recipients of the homes are required to sign a
contract prohibiting them from borrowing against the equity in the
house for 10 years, however. That policy is non-negotiable; even if
the loan were for a worthy cause like starting a business, it's too
risky, Iler explained. If the business were to fail, the veteran
and his or her family could lose the home.
"We're trying to establish stability in their lives," Iler
said.
To that end, Helping a Hero doesn't just get veterans into homes
and wish them well. The group also offers ongoing workshops to help
them reintegrate into the community and works to connect them with
community service organizations such as the Rotary Club.
These connections not only provide support and a sense of
community, but also could lead to employment, Iler said.
Helping a Hero is a new supporter of America Supports You, a
Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with
servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad. The
group's hope is that this affiliation will help spread the word to
qualified veterans, Iler said.
"Our goal is to provide a home to every single severely wounded
hero in the next 10 years," she added.
Full details on how to apply for an adaptive home through
Helping a Hero are available on the organization's Web site.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
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