CIRCLE OF FRIENDS FOR AMERICAN VETERANS MISSION STATEMENT

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Introduction

Shaping Public Policy

Many veterans' organizations are effective in their mission of lobbying the Congress for needed Veteran benefits. The Circle of Friends for American Veterans takes a completely different tack by influencing public opinion and thereby affecting public policy in support of Veterans, particularly homeless Veterans. The Circle of Friends for American Veterans has organized and conducted dozens of rallies and media blitzes in major cities for the purpose of creating awareness about the problems and solutions regarding homeless veterans. The tour of rallies, called OPERATION UNITED REVEILLE I, II, III and IV have featured Members of Congress, Honor Guards, and spotlighted local transitional facility for homeless Veterans. Facilities we have worked with report that contributions, referrals, and offers of volunteer help rise significantly after receiving widespread publicity through the media. During OPERATION UNITED REVEILLE IV, the most recent tour of ten cities across the country, The Circle of Friends for American Veterans made tremendous contributions to homeless veterans nationwide. Through the power of the media, 25 million people heard a positive message about American and homeless veterans. Additionally, 15 veterans' programs that are providing assistance to homeless veterans were highlighted, 48 surrogates from 13 Presidential campaigns spoke on their candidate's position on veterans' issues and attracted coverage from numerous television and print media reporters.

150 Forums/Receptions Since 1993

The Circle of Friends for American Veterans brings persuasive pressure on the Congress by sponsoring forums and receptions that allow leaders of America to stand before the public and explain the programs and policies they oversee and answer pertinent questions, often about what they are doing to help homeless Veterans. The highlights of the proceedings are reported to a larger public in a nationwide newsletter, on a well-visited web site, and in a nationwide publication. The headline of a newsletter may declare, "'Homeless Veterans in America is a National Disgrace,'" Says Congressman Simmons." The message delivered to Congressional offices, the White House, policy makers, and pundits around the country is that the plight of homeless Veterans is real and widespread and that people are out there talking and concerned about it and that now is the time to do more about it. Since 1993, the Circle of Friends for American Veterans has hosted such meetings that have featured over 30 Members of Congress and over 30 Presidential appointees from the Department of Defense.

Appropriations from Congress

Circle of Friends for American Veterans volunteers and staff members have conducted dozens of meetings on Capitol Hill with Members of Congress and their staff, successfully seeking appropriations for transitional facilities for homeless Veterans. As a result of such visits, well over $1,000,000 has been appropriated by the U. S. Congress to refurbish the Chesapeake House. This increased funding almost doubles the beds available for homeless Veterans in the Washington, D.C. area. Within the allowable federal guidelines, the Circle of Friends for American Veterans is also supporting legislation for more federal support for the 250 transitional facilities in the United States that provide the vast majority of assistance to homeless Veterans. The Veterans Administration is doing the best it can, but it was never designed to provide much assistance to homeless Veterans. The VA budget earmarks about $18 million dollars for per diem support for transitional facilities (1/l00th of 1% of its budget), which supports approximately 8,000 beds. Knowledgeable sources believe that 300,000 men and women who served in American uniform are on our streets tonight.

The Power of The Media

A separate but adjunct enterprise to the Circle of Friends for American Veterans, is the nationwide publication, The VETERANS' VISION. The mission of the publication is to focus the experience and dedication of Veterans and the leaders of our country on the challenges facing the country. Original articles submitted by over 100 Members of Congress have focused on issues such as national defense, healthcare for Veterans, and the needs of homeless Veterans.

Direct Financial Support

Over the years, the Circle of Friends for American Veterans has written modest checks for over 25 transitional facilities with a disciplined format for otherwise homeless Veterans. Veterans must be drug- and alcohol-free, well groomed, and willing to work. The success rate of such facilities is well over 50%, setting a high standard that gets Veterans back into society where they belong. Marshalling its expertise and creativeness, the Circle of Friends for American Veterans has been able to multiply support for transitional facilities for homeless Veterans. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, almost two million people were forced to evacuate the Gulf Coast. Evacuees were herded into facilities in a wide radius around the areas of devastation, and thousands of Veterans were forced into homelessness and crowded into the hallways of VA facilities, thereby swamping transitional facilities. The Circle of Friends for American Veterans staff surveyed many facilities in the hardest hit areas, with a focus on seeking out those with the greatest need for services, those that were the most organized to accept help, and those with a history of service. The Circle of Friends for American Veterans sent financial assistance, organized food drives, identified additional bed space for homeless Veterans, and identified other military service organizations with available funds and sought their financial help by referring Executive Summaries to each facility. Each Summary contained vital data in a simple format, including the dates that facilities were established, the number of beds, current occupancies, sources of revenue, key leadership individuals at the facilities, current pressing needs and all contact information for forwarding all types of assistance.

Long Term Objective

The long term objective of The Circle of Friends for American Veterans is to lead a national charge to get 50,000 homeless veterans off the streets each year in 2008, 2009 & 2010. This will reduce the number of homeless veterans in America by half and get motivated homeless veterans, willing and able to work, back into society where they belong. To this end, The Circle of Friends for American Veterans will work to:

• Generate support for funding of 25,000 more bed spaces in the 250 non-profit, transitional facilities nationwide.
• Generate support for increasing Veterans' Administration expenditures on homeless veterans' programs tenfold from its current level of 1/10th of 1% of its total budget to a full 1%.
• Offer funding to programs that offer job counseling, job training and placement to homeless veterans that are willing to work and that are substance-free.