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

Veterans' Bond Act of 2008 May Offer Little Hope for Many Homeless Veterans

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- From 10:30am-11:30am, card-carrying veterans visiting St. Anthony Foundation will receive a special gift of chocolate, energy bars, rain ponchos, and tea. While many may be categorically eligible for the VA housing loans which will be made available through Veterans' Bond Act of 2008 (S.B. 1572, which was passed on November's ballot), the reality of the mental health challenges and addictions which afflict many homeless veterans make qualifying for the housing loans difficult. Veterans Day is one of St. Anthony Dining Room's busiest days of the year.

Veterans make up almost a quarter of the homeless population in the United States, with the Veterans Administration (V.A.) estimating there is approximately 2,075 homeless veterans in San Francisco. Many who turn to St. Anthony's Dining Room are veterans who have sacrificed their physical and mental well-being to serve their country. Today, they spend Veterans Day struggling to secure food and housing.

"The best way to honor our veterans on Veterans Day is to help direct them towards the services and programs that can help them, and that they are eligible for." noted St. Anthony Foundation Executive Director Fr. John Hardin.

Bobbie Rosenthal, Regional Manager for homeless programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs will also be on site to discuss the award of 105 housing vouchers as part of the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

Gifts bags for the veterans were made with donations from local Bay Area businesses, including Clif Bar, San Francisco Chocolate Factory, and Numi Tea.

St. Anthony Foundation was established in 1950 to care for San Francisco's poor. St. Anthony's continues to offer a number of programs to improve the lives of poor and homeless San Franciscans, including a Free Medical Clinic and the Employment Program Learning Center. St. Anthony's does not accept any federal, state, or local government money, and is entirely funded by private donations.

                   WHAT: VETERANS DAY AT ST. ANTHONY FOUNDATION

               WHO: HOMELESS VETERANS and DEPT of VETERANS AFFAIRS

                             WHEN: VETERANS DAY
                         TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 2008
                             10:30 am-11:30 am

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

SOURCE St. Anthony Foundation