Ahead of Veterans Day, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $30 million in new grants to help thousands of veterans secure and maintain safe, accessible housing through critical home repairs, smart home modifications and programs for those exiting homelessness. With these 44 grants to veteran service organizations, the Foundation marches closer toward its pledge to invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030.
While the country has made significant progress toward ensuring our nation’s heroes have access to housing – reducing the number of veterans experiencing homelessness by more than 55 percent since 2010 – there’s still work to do. On any given night, nearly 33,000 veterans don’t have a safe place to sleep or call home. Of those who do, more than 2.75 million live in inadequate housing. At a time when home inventory continues to lag behind demand and the cost of rent climbs, it takes innovative solutions and partnerships to ensure our nation’s veterans have housing that fits their needs.
“Veterans are some of the last people to ask for help, and often the first to lend a hand to others in need. That’s why it’s so unfortunate that many continue to experience homelessness or live in homes in need of critical repairs,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “Veteran housing has been a key priority for the Foundation since 2011, and this newest investment of $30 million shows our continued priority to ensure veterans can access the housing they need to thrive.”
- 20+ new and renovated smart homes
- More than 1,500 critical home repairs
- Access to transitional or affordable housing for nearly 5,000 veterans
The new grants will support the Foundation’s nationwide network of nonprofit partners in their efforts to address both immediate veteran housing needs and more complex, long-term solutions, including:
New smart homes for catastrophically wounded veterans
After 10 years of partnership, The Home Depot Foundation and Gary Sinise Foundation are dedicating a home to Army veteran Joe Bowser, marking their 100th smart home together. Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, worked on beautifying the property and added the finishing touches to the home in mid-October.
The Foundation works with several nonprofit partners to build specially adapted, mortgage-free smart homes for veterans who have been catastrophically wounded in combat. These houses are custom-built to meet their individual needs, whether they have experienced a traumatic brain injury or one or multiple amputations.
Today’s funding announcement includes grants to Gary Sinise Foundation, Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors to support the construction of new accessible, personalized homes. The grants also will help provide full-home ADA-compliant modifications for veterans who have experienced combat-related injuries.
Critical home repairs for more than 1,000 senior, disabled and low-income veterans
This September, The Home Depot Foundation completed their 1,000th critical home repair project with Purple Heart Homes in Georgia, making improvements to a 200-year-old home and property for Mr. Hill, a Vietnam War veteran, and his family. Because the home’s hallways and doorways weren’t wide enough to fit his wheelchair, Mr. Hill had been confined to his bedroom for more than a year. Through funding from The Home Depot Foundation, Purple Heart Homes was able to widen the doorways, install important safety features around the front porch and refresh the property’s landscaping. Now, Mr. Hill can move about freely in his wheelchair and enjoy the comforts of his home, inside and out.
Approximately half of all veterans are 65 and older, with many experiencing disabilities or living on a fixed income. Nonprofit partners like Meals on Wheels America, Habitat for Humanity International, Purple Heart Homes and more provide critical home repairs for senior, disabled and low-income veterans, ensuring their homes are comfortable and accessible for years to come.
“We’re so grateful for The Home Depot Foundation’s support and the impact we’ve made together over the past 10 years – helping 4,000 aging veterans live more safely in their homes through our Helping Homebound Heroes program,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “What may seem like small modifications – installing grab bars, fixing wobbly railings or damaged doors – can make an enormous difference for a homebound senior veteran. We’re proud to continue honoring these heroes by helping them age with comfort, safety, and dignity in their own homes.”
Helping nearly 5,000 veterans from Hawaii to D.C. access housing
Through this master lease program, Yolanda, a National Guard Army veteran, found a “safe, stable home” for herself and her two sons in Long Beach. Yolanda now has affordable veteran housing where her adult son, who has special needs, can also stay, which is often a restriction with shelters. Instead of having to live apart, they now have a place where her sons can celebrate birthdays, start school, and feel comfortable and secure together.
The Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to provide housing solutions for veterans who are unhoused or at risk of homelessness. Combined with access to essential wraparound services – such as counseling, job training, financial literacy programs and healthcare – these programs help address both immediate and long-term needs for veterans seeking shelter.
An example of this is a “master lease” pilot program, launched by the Foundation’s partner U.S.VETS two years ago in Los Angeles and Hawaii, with the aim of expanding housing opportunities for at-risk and formerly homeless veterans. This program enables U.S.VETS to lease rental units and take on any perceived risks associated with renting directly to veterans who otherwise may have had challenges being approved due to rental or credit history. With this year’s funding, the program is expanding to Washington, D.C., and Prescott, Arizona.
Grants announced today include funding for Volunteers of America to construct or rehabilitate housing units as well as support for Operation Homefront’s transitional housing villages, permanent supportive housing and critical home repairs, directly impacting hundreds of veterans and their families.
“At Operation Homefront, our mission is to ensure military families are strong, stable, and secure. Our Transitional Housing (Villages) program provides critical support during a particularly vulnerable and stressful time, as veterans and their families navigate medical care, separation from military service, and the transition to civilian life,” said Regan Huneycutt, Operation Homefront Chief Revenue Officer. “Thanks to the generous support of partners like The Home Depot Foundation, we’re able to offer these life-changing programs at no cost to the families who have given so much to our nation and now need a helping hand in return.”
Honor in Action: Celebrating veterans with community projects nationwide
This year, The Home Depot Foundation celebrated:
- 10 years and 4,000 critical home repairs with Meals on Wheels America’s Helping Homebound Heroes program
- 1,000 critical home repairs with Purple Heart Homes
- 10 years and 100 smart homes with the Gary Sinise Foundation
This landmark investment comes during The Home Depot Foundation’s annual Celebration of Service campaign, which honors veterans with hundreds of service projects nationwide. From Patriot Day to Veterans Day, Team Depot will be in communities around the country to renovate, repair and refresh veteran homes and facilities. To date, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $600 million in veteran causes and improved more than 65,000 veteran homes and facilities. For more information about The Home Depot Foundation visit: https://corporate.homedepot.com/page/home-depot-foundation.
As tens of thousands of Home Depot associates are veterans, military spouses or active-duty service members, giving back to veterans is deeply personal to and a key component of The Home Depot’s culture. Learn more about The Home Depot’s investments in military families at www.homedepot.com/military.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation, a nonprofit supported by The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $600 million in veteran causes and improved more than 65,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program by 2028. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @HomeDepotFound and on Facebook and Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.
