NLC & The Home Depot Foundation Launch Project to Support Veteran Housing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National League of Cities (NLC) and The Home Depot Foundation will launch a new effort to provide local officials with resources to assist in rehabilitating neighborhood-based housing for special needs populations, with a special emphasis on returning military veterans and those veterans with disabilities. 

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As part of its work, NLC will create toolkits, compile best practices, and provide local officials with learning opportunities such as education programs at NLC's national conferences, in partnership with a network of state leagues of cities and through a member-based group of city officials representing military communities.

It is expected that cities will address the housing needs of veterans while also providing innovations and efficiencies such as improving facilities for veteran housing.  The partnership will leverage The Home Depot Foundation's work in a number of cities to support nonprofit partners by funding housing repair and renovation. 

"We thank The Home Depot Foundation for supporting NLC and the efforts of cities to assist returning veterans," said NLC President, Ted Ellis, mayor of Bluffton, Indiana.  "The Home Depot Foundation has been a leader in assisting veterans and we are pleased to be working with them.  This project should help cities gain a better understanding of how they can help our returning veterans get the support they need."

In 2011, The Home Depot Foundation focused its attention on a variety of issues affecting veterans.  It has implemented over 300 projects and commits $30 million over 3 years for home renovation and repairs in support of U.S. military veterans. The foundation will support NLC's efforts with a $250,000 grant for 2012.

"We are committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home," said Kelly Caffarelli, President, The Home Depot Foundation.  "The National League of Cities is one of the key organizations working with cities to address the needs of veterans and their families, and we are honored to help them increase their ability to serve those who have served us all."

About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every U.S. military veteran has a safe place to call home.  In April 2011, the Foundation pledged a three-year, $30 million initiative to address veterans' critical housing needs. Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities.

About the National League of Cities
National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. 

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SOURCE National League of Cities