Dear Friend of Homes 4 Families,
I hope this letter finds you and your family safe at home and getting through this crisis.
These are desperate times for the veterans we at Homes 4 Families serve. First to lose jobs, at high-risk of homelessness if they have not already moved into a Homes 4 Families home. These veterans are also in critical need of ongoing support to ensure their PTSD, hyper-vigilance and pre-existing depression do not lead to increased rates of suicide due to isolation and loss of hope. We must continue to provide and expand our services, and as a government-designated essential infrastructure, we must continue to build.
I am reaching out to you today because Homes 4 Families continues to support the low and very-low-income Veterans we serve. We will continue to do our part, but will you make your emergency tax-free donation today to help our doors remain open during this critical time?
Impact of This Crisis on Homes 4 Families
First, from a financial standpoint, we have had to cancel all Team Builds, events, and media campaigns, some of our most important ongoing fundraising events. Our conservative estimate is over $1,000,000 in lost revenue between now and the end of the year depending on when we can resume our activities. In addition, this crisis has pushed back the delivery of 56 new homes for veteran families in our Palmdale Veteran Enriched Neighborhood®, placing them at a high risk of homelessness.
Homebuilding has been declared “critical infrastructure.” That means that while our Team Builds have been delayed if we can raise the resources, we would be able to move forward with our Palmdale Neighborhood which uses licensed contractors and subcontractors. Additionally, the veteran services we have developed and continue to provide now must be expanded which will cost us additional resources during this crisis.
What we’ve done so far for our Veterans and what we will be doing going forward
Perhaps more important and immediately, this health crisis has increased the need for our supportive services at all of our Veterans Enriched Communities. We have begun the implementation of a plan to make sure that our veterans have the emotional and financial support they need.
- Because the psychological impact of this crisis on Veterans, especially those with PTSD, is a serious concern, we have instituted a phone/video conference on-line support group. Our inaugural call last week had 12 veteran participants and we will expand to additional veterans this week.
- We are developing ways for our new Palmdale Veteran families to earn their sweat equity on-line and via telephone.
- We are consolidating lists of resources like food banks, educational options for children and medical resources and sharing them with the veterans we serve.
- We are increasing our efforts to raise money for our Veteran Service Fund to assist veterans who lose their jobs. The funds will be used to purchase food, buy daily necessities for the veterans and their families, and assist in making their mortgage payments.
What you can do to help
At this time, our plea is that you support Homes 4 Families’ efforts to provide essential services to our veterans and to build their homes, be it a one-time emergency gift of $25, $50, $100 or $1000 (or as much as you are comfortable giving), or joining our monthly support club, the Hard Hats 4 Heroes Club, and make a monthly contribution of $10, $25, $50, or even $100; either would be truly fantastic and greatly appreciated. Join the Hard Hats 4 Heroes club here.
Please understand that we are a non-profit self-help program. We do not take a Developer’s fee or a Contractor’s fee and we spend 94 cents of every dollar on direct services and construction. As a result, we do not have the funds to support our veterans without your help. We know these are difficult times, but please consider making the most generous gift you can on our donation page or mail to 21031 Ventura Blvd. Suite 610, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.
Thank you in advance for whatever you can do. Together we will get through this crisis and continue to serve the veterans and their families who have given so much to all of us.
Faithfully yours and be well,
Donna Deutchman, CEO
P.S. We need your financial support, but we also need your ideas. If you have other ideas on how we can support our veteran families, please reach out. Thank you again for all your support.