AMVETS Service Foundation helps sponsor St. Leo Campus for Veterans         

[March 28, 2007]  At a recent meeting of the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation of the AMVETS Department of Illinois at their state headquarters, a check for $200,000 was presented to Father Michael Boland, Catholic Charities administrator, president and chief executive officer, to help support the St. Leo Campus for Veterans -- a place to hope, a place to live a place to heal, a place to learn.

The St. Leo residence will house 141 veterans who were once homeless. This residence will be a safe place to live both independently and affordably.

The St. Leo Campus for Veterans will include 141 studio apartments with a kitchen and full bathroom, 14 apartments for disabled veterans, a medical clinic with drug and alcohol abuse counseling, a career center including a computer lab to build valuable work skills and look for jobs, a memorial garden to honor all veterans, a food pantry, and an AMVETS service officer to assist with service-related claims.

About one-third of the adults who are homeless have served our nation in the armed services, according to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. There are 200,000 homeless veterans on the street every day. In Chicago alone, where St. Leo Campus is being constructed, there are an estimated 18,000 homeless veterans in the six-county metropolitan area, with 23 percent of the homeless population being veterans.

• 67 percent bravely served their country for three or more years.

• 89 percent of those who served received an honorable discharge.

• 46 percent are age 45 or older, compared with 20 percent of non-veterans.

• 70 percent suffer from alcohol or other drug abuse problems.

• 47 percent of the homeless veterans are from the Vietnam era.

• 79 percent reside in central cities.

• 56 percent of African-American or Hispanic.

• 45 percent need help finding a job.

A little bit of history on the St. Leo Campus for Veterans: This is a pilot project between the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Charities. When the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation heard about this transitional housing program for homeless veterans, they were quick to offer assistance.

Over several months, the Illinois AMVETS came up with many ideas to increase the usefulness of St. Leo Campus. One of the most important additions, they felt, was to have a career center, a computer lab, an office for the Department of Labor and an AMVETS service officer. After representatives from Catholic Charities attended an AMVETS Service Foundation meeting, construction began. The foundation pledged $2.5 million to the St. Leo Campus.

The Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation -- of which Arnold Haak of Lincoln AMVETS Post 71 is a member by virtue of having served as the 1964-65 Illinois AMVETS department commander -- is dedicated to helping fellow veterans and active-duty military personnel. As a veterans organization, AMVETS takes pride in helping veterans who cannot help themselves.

In fiscal 2005-2006, the Illinois AMVETS helped thousands of veterans' households by securing around $23 million in VA benefits. Over 51,000 volunteer hours were reported, amounting to over $3 million in programs assisting veterans and their communities. In addition, the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation has provided over $2 million in grants to service veterans. The AMVETS organization is one that is "veterans serving veterans."

Locally, Post 71 is still selling imprinted granite bricks for the Veterans Honor Roll in All Veterans Park. The bricks are $35 each. Order forms are available from the container at the park or by calling 217-732-8829. The organization hopes to lay more bricks before Memorial Day. Have yours included by sending in your completed form and check today. This is a wonderful way to honor your veterans. The bricks make great birthday, anniversary or other gifts. Let's see all our veterans honored. These bricks are a lasting memorial.

[Text from AMVETS Post 71 news release received from Arnold Haak, commander]