Liberty Landing Dedication Media Advisory
** MEDIA ADVISORY **
Volunteers of America to Open Facility for Homeless Veterans
Dedication Ceremony to celebrate the opening of Liberty Landing
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (December 5, 2011) – Volunteers of America will hold a grand opening ceremony for Liberty Landing, a 49-bed transitional housing facility, serving honorably-discharged homeless veterans from the Fort Wayne and surrounding area. The facility is located at 2833 South Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
When: Thursday, December 8, 2011, Starting at 10:30 am
Where: Liberty Landing, 2833 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Who: The program will include Volunteers of America National President, Mike King; Volunteers of America of Indiana President/CEO, Tim Campbell; honored dignitaries and guests from the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Office of Mayor Thomas R. Henry and other elected officials.
What: Dedication ceremony to celebrate the opening of the facility
In addition to housing, this new transitional living program will provide individualized, strength-based case management services to veterans to assist them to attain their self-sufficiency goals by linking them with community, employment, housing and Veterans Affairs resources. This will be combined with group educational interventions that will help building their vocational, recovery, relationship, financial literacy and overall life skills.
“Statistics tell us there are already so many homeless veterans and it’s a population that continues to grow, so this fills a critical gap,” explains Carol Cartwright, Liberty Landing Program Director. Cartwright estimates that nightly in the Fort Wayne area there are nearly 2,500 homeless individuals, nearly 400 of which are veterans.
Volunteers of America of Indiana’s President/CEO Tim Campbell states, “We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s Veterans. We must make every effort to help them as they struggle to avoid a life on the streets. Thanks to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and the Home Depot Foundation we are able to make this a reality. The Fort Wayne community will be a better place because of it.”
The Dedication Ceremony will begin at 10:30 with refreshments and tours of the facility following. Media availability is before or after the dedication ceremony.
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ABOUT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. Learn more at www.voa.org.
Media Contact
Mary Leffler, Director of Community Engagement
Volunteers of America of Indiana, Inc.
mleffler@voain.org
317-686-9871