Helping Heroes Inc

HELPING HEROES PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO HOMELESS AND NEAR HOMELESS VETERANS, IN ORDER TO TRANSITION THEM TO, OR MAINTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE GOAL IS REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY AS MEN AND WOMEN WHO CURRENTLY FEEL EXCLUDED FROM THE BENEFITS OF PRODUCTIVITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS A RESULT OF THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WOUNDS THEY CARRY. ADDITIONALLY, HELPING HEROES WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE FOR VETERAN BENEFITS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE LOCAL AND VA REFERRALS NECESSARY TO ASSIST ALL VETERANS AND THEIR NEEDS.

HELPING HEROES ADMINISTERS A HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS IN A FIVE-COUNTY CATCHMENT AREA. THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PRIMARILY PROVIDED THROUGH A VA- SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS FAMILY (SSVF) GRANT AND PROVIDES RENT AND/OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE (AMONG OTHER SERVICES) TO PREVENT, OR END HOMELESSNESS FOR VETERAN FAMILIES. EACH HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES ONGOING IN-HOME CASE MANAGEMENT, FOCUSING ON ENSURING LONG-TERM HOUSING STABILITY. WE ARE CURRENTLY SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING OUR FOURTH YEAR OF A FEDERAL VA-SSFV GRANT PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

OUR VETERAN'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A YEAR AND HAS PROVIDED HOUSING AND IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 6 HOMELESS. SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE IN-HOME CASE MANAGEMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON BUILDING THE VETERAN'S SKILLS, RESOURCES, AND INCOME. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED BUDGETING/FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE, HOUSING STABILITY PLANS, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYABILITY READINESS TRAINING, AND HOUSING SEARCH AND PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR EXITING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE ASSUMPTION BEHIND VETERAN'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS IS THAT IF HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE LONG-TERM, INTENSIVE ASSISTANCE WITH RESOLVING ISSUES THAT LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS BEFORE ENTERING PERMANENT HOUSING, THEY ARE BETTER ENABLED TO HAVE IMPROVED LONG-TERM HOUSING OUTCOMES.

WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO VETERANS FROM THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE STILL PROVIDE A CENTER THAT WILL HELP ALL VETERANS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME LEVEL OR HOUSING STABILITY. WITH TWO VETERANS ON STAFF, WE CAN HELP VETERAN FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE VA SYSTEM AND GET THEM HELP WITH DISABILITY CLAIMS AND HEALTHCARE ENROLLMENT. WE HAVE ALSO ASSISTED WITH LINKAGE TO RESOURCES FOR VETERAN BURIALS AND LEGAL NEEDS.

HELPING HEROES OPENED AN EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER TO HOUSE THE LITERALLY HOMELESS DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. THE FUNDING FOR THIS CAME FROM THE ESG-CV GRANT THROUGH WV.