The Home Depot Foundation Pledges More Than $1.75 Million to Volunteers of America to Provide Homes and Services to Veterans

Building upon a partnership that has helped thousands of U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation has pledged more than $1.75 million in new Veteran Housing Grants to Volunteers of America to address the critical housing needs of former service members. Since beginning its partnership with Volunteers of America in 2011, the foundation has given nearly $11.3 million to improve housing for homeless veterans and their families.

The 2016 grants will support nine Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs in seven states. This funding will help improve or build 226 units of housing for veterans, including up to 64 earmarked specifically for women veterans, and is part of a larger Volunteers of America initiative which will impact 883 units of housing. Volunteers of America is one of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of vulnerable veterans. Nationally, it serves approximately 40,000 veterans each year who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

Affiliates and housing programs receiving new grants in 2016 from The Home Depot Foundation include:

To date, The Home Depot Foundation has funded more than 80 Volunteers of America veterans' housing projects, providing over 3,000 units for veterans, including almost 500 units specifically for women veterans and their families, in Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington. In addition to the grants, Team Depot, The Home Depot's associate-led volunteer force, has completed countless projects to improve Volunteers of America's veteran housing facilities.

The partnership is part of The Home Depot's nationwide commitment to improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families. In the last five years, Team Depot, the company's associate-led volunteer force, has transformed more than 25,000 homes for veterans and their families with the support of more than $138 million in donations from The Home Depot Foundation. Learn more about the partnership with Volunteers of America.

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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 veterans, 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 almost 2 million people in over 400 communities. 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.


About Giving Back at The Home Depot
Since the first The Home Depot store opened in 1979, giving back has been a core value for the Company and a passion for its associates. Today, The Home Depot, in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, focuses its philanthropic efforts on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families and aiding communities affected by natural disasters. Through Team Depot, the Company's associate-led volunteer force, thousands of associates dedicate their time and talents to these efforts in the communities where they live and work.

Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $138 million in veteran-related causes, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has transformed more than 25,000 homes for veterans. Learn more and see Team Depot in action.


Contacts:
David Burch, Senior Director, Communications
Volunteers of America
703-341-5054 (o)
dburch@voa.org


Erin Cannaday, Team Depot Communications
The Home Depot Foundation
770-433-8211, ext. 81918 (o)
erin_cannaday@homedepot.com