NEW YORK, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jericho Project will celebrate its national leadership in forging permanent solutions to homelessness with a special focus on its new Veterans Initiative tonight at its 25th Anniversary Gala Where Hope Finds a Home. Senator Bob Dole, a decorated World War II veteran, will be honored for his distinguished work on behalf of veterans, as will decorated Vietnam combat veteran Paul Critchlow, vice chairman, public markets, Merrill Lynch & Co., and individuals and organizations that are addressing the root causes of homelessness.
Some 400 leaders from business, government, military, and non-profit organizations will gather at Capitale on the Bowery to raise funds for Jericho and its special 25th Anniversary Veterans Fund. This fund will support Jericho's Veterans Initiative providing some 130 homeless and low-income veterans with Jericho's successful model of permanent supportive housing and comprehensive counseling services that emphasize recovery, employment, and graduation to independent living.
"Many veterans become homeless due to trauma, substance abuse, and lack of resources," said Jericho Executive Director Tori Lyon. "This program will enable them to rebuild their lives by providing supportive housing within an atmosphere of healing and dignity."
"Jericho Project established a creative and important model for housing our at-risk veterans that is attracting a lot of attention in Washington," commented Senator Charles Schumer who will speak to the audience as part of a commemorative video. "Our vets heeded our nation's call and the least we can do as a nation is ensure they have a roof over their heads in the nation they fought to protect."
Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services of New York City Robert Hess, added, "With partners like the Jericho Project, we continue to help people move from despair to hope every day and provide the kinds of support that they need to reach the full measure of their life and to really be valuable members of society."
Senator Bob Dole will be honored as Jericho's Ambassador of Hope. Paul Critchlow will receive the Corporate Champion of Hope award, and Dean Curnutt will receive the Individual Champion of Hope. Other Honorees are Angels of Hope who are leading the fight against the root causes of homelessness among veterans:
- Dr. Roscoe Brown, Jr., Director of the Center for Urban Education Policy
and University Professor at the Graduate School and University Center of
The City University of New York, a decorated veteran, and an icon of
civic leadership in New York and nationally.
- The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, created to raise awareness of
"signature injuries" of war - traumatic brain injury and combat stress -
and assist the injured as they navigate their road to recovery.
- Give US Your Poor, based at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy
Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and working to effect
change at the public and policy levels and to engage volunteerism
through media and public education.
- The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), the only national
nonprofit organization specifically focused on improving the
opportunities for homeless veterans to regain control of their lives and
return to society as productive, self-sufficient citizens.
- Dr. Charles Figley, Professor at Florida State University, founder of
the Green Cross, one of the nation's foremost experts on trauma and its
ensuing psychological stress on families, veterans of war and terrorism.
The Jericho Veterans Residences include its first location at 355 East 194th Street in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx, and its newly announced second location at Kingsbridge Terrace in the Bronx. At both residences, 60% of potential residents will be referred from the New York City homeless shelter system and 40% will be low-income veterans from the community.
Jericho expects to begin construction in 2008 and open the doors of the new Veterans Residence in early 2010.
For more information please visit http://www.jerichoproject.org/
Jericho Project
