Homeless Veterans Turn to St. Anthony's for Help on Veterans Day

VA Institutes 5 Year Plan to End Homelessness, but Homeless Veterans Still In
Need Today

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While some may be attending
parades or taking a day off to honor veterans, many veterans themselves will
be spending Veterans Day struggling to secure food and housing. From 10:30 am
- 12:30 pm, representatives from Swords to Plowshares, the Veterans Health
Administration, and St. Anthony Foundation will be reaching out to homeless
vets who are in need of support and assistance. In addition to information on
programs and services that are available, veterans will also receive rain
ponchos, beanies, Kleen Kanteen bottles, and hygiene kits.

One of every three homeless men in America has served in the armed forces and
every night an estimated 131,000 veterans sleep out on the streets, according
to the Veteran Administration. About 25% of those who turn to St. Anthony's
Dining Room are veterans who rely on free meals to sustain them. Swords to
Plowshares currently serves approximately 1,500 veterans in the Bay Area
regardless of length of service, branch, or military discharge status.

Last week the VA unveiled their 5-year plan for preventing homelessness among
vets. Some of the highlights of the plan include connecting vets to local
service providers, more access to permanent and transitional housing, and
services to address mental health needs. Next year the department plans to
spend $3.2 billion on programs, up from last year's budget of $2.8 billion.
But all three organizations acknowledge that strong partnerships between
government, private, and non-profits will be needed to close the needs gap
that veterans face.

"It is the hope of our three organizations that by working together we can be
of service to the veterans that have sacrificed their physical and mental
well-being to serve their country. We all see every day how great the need
is," noted St. Anthony Foundation Interim Executive Director Linda
Pasquinucci.

The San Francisco VAMC Downtown Clinic is a comprehensive center for homeless
veterans, offering on-site and immediate medical, mental, and social work
assistance. www.sanfrancisco.va.gov

Swords to Plowshares' mission is to heal the wounds, to restore dignity, hope,
and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to reduce homelessness and
poverty among veterans. www.stp-sf.org.

Since 1950 St. Anthony Foundation has addressed root causes of poverty with
compassion. St. Anthony Foundation's programs offer gateways to escaping
poverty by addressing immediate and long term needs. St. Anthony Foundation
does not accept any federal, state, or local government money, and is entirely
funded by private donations. www.stanthonysf.org

WHAT: VETERANS DAY AT ST. ANTHONY FOUNDATION

WHO: HOMELESS VETERANS, SWORDS TO PLOWSHARES and DEPT of VETERANS AFFAIRS

WHEN: VETERANS DAY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 2009
10:30 am - 12:30 pm

WHERE:
ST. ANTHONY'S
119 GOLDEN GATE AVE @ Jones
SF CA 94102

For information contact: Francis Aviani
St. Anthony Foundation
Office 415-592-2736 Mobile 510-301-4634
faviani@stanthonysf.org

SOURCE St. Anthony Foundation

Francis Aviani of the St. Anthony Foundation, +1-415-592-2736, +1-510-301-4634
(cell), faviani@stanthonysf.org