$11,000 Grant: Assists 50 homeless veterans and their families with housing and basic needs.

The lack of affordable housing in the Valley has always been a problem. But as a result of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic downturn, this is an even bigger problem for homeless people, especially veterans.  Save the Family wants to change this. The nonprofit offers a variety of programs designed to empower families to conquer homelessness and achieve lifelong independence.

Save the Family recognizes that families need more than safe housing to conquer homelessness. They also need skills and confidence to lead productive, self-sufficient lives. That’s why they provide adults with parenting skills, literacy support and financial education. They also assist youth and children by offering tutoring, after-school classes and many extracurricular activities.

Similar to House of Refuge (another Leisure World Foundation grant recipient), Save the Family has special programs specifically designed to help veterans with housing.

 

Veterans Helping Veterans

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, community-based nonprofit veterans’ groups are the most effective at helping homeless and at‐risk veterans. Programs that work best include housing with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves. Structured, substance-free environments help foster camaraderie and personal growth.

Unfortunately, female veterans — who consist of 17% of the entire veteran population — are four times more likely to become homeless compared to their male counterparts. For those with children and a service‐related disability, the cost of childcare, transportation, food and children’s health care exacerbate their downward spiral into homelessness.

 

Valor on Eighth

A partner of Save the Family, Valor on Eighth is a unique community in the heart of Tempe, Arizona. Since its inception in February 2018, it encourages housing for veterans with a focus on women.  Valor on Eighth is an apartment complex with stunning views of the city, state-of-the-art amenities and room for recreation and building community.  It includes 45 affordable units and five live‐work units.

Residents receive a full range of supportive services, including specialized case management support for veterans, career development, and financial literacy and parenting classes.

The community includes a playground, a teen room, computer lab, several community rooms and meeting spaces, a fitness center, dog run and on‐site bike storage.

“Valor on Eighth is one of the first communities like it in the nation focused on providing affordable housing for military veterans and their children, with a special focus on women veterans,” says Save the Family Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Jamie Podratz.

Families living at Valor on Eighth strive to remain stably housed, increase their income, complete financial education, participate in career development services and access supportive services. Children also receive special support provided by Save the Family’s  Community Youth Advocate.

Ultimately, families at Valor on Eighth aspire to attain homeownership and lifelong stability.

“Valor on Eighth is a unique, bright and welcoming place that embraces veterans who need a family-oriented environment and that contributes to our community’s quality of life,” said Tempe Council member Robin Arredondo-Savage, a U.S. Army veteran, after touring the complex.