 Who We Are
Due to recent rapid growth in the area of North and Central Florida the VSO, or Veterans Support Organization – North and Central Florida Chapters, would like to take this opportunity to acquaint the public with a brief explanation of who we are, our Mission Statement and future vision of the organization.
The Veterans Support Organization (VSO), founded in 2001, is a 501C3 non-profit charitable organization that helps homeless, needy and disabled veterans in areas surrounding our offices. The VSO currently operates in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. The organization’s fundraising efforts are accomplished with the support from businesses and stores throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. Donations collected are forwarded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services to support various programs offered to veterans such as recreational activities, patient coffee program, patient emergency needs, etc.
A common question our fundraisers are asked while raising money for homeless and disabled veterans is, of course, “Why are they homeless?” In addition to the complex set of factors already affecting all homeless people: extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to affordable healthcare, a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with the lingering affects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse. These factors all become compounded by a lack of family and social support networks for homeless veterans. While most homeless veterans are single unaffiliated men, most housing money in existing federal homelessness programs, in contrast, is devoted to helping homeless families or homeless women with dependent children, as stated in Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, published by Fannie Mae Foundation, 1997.
It is the mission of the VSO to further help and support the homeless, disabled and needy veteran population through various fundraising efforts. The more the organization grows the less of a threat homelessness and lack of resources to treat the needy is to our local veteran population.
The Veterans Support Organization, North and Central Florida Chapters: helping our needy veterans one donation at a time.
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 Future Vision
VSO would like to raise enough funds to start a Safe Center. This center will be a shelter where veterans can bring their families for food, shelter, and support during times of hardship.
The VSO Safe House will offer private rooms, a common area including a kitchen, dinning room, and recreational area for guests. The center will also be a stepping stone for homeless veterans to transition to a better quality of life for themselves and their families. The center will give homeless veterans a chance to leave the homeless life behind.
  
A LITTLE ABOUT THE HOMELESS VETERANS.
Fact
About 1 out of 3 of the adult homeless population has served their country in the Armed Services. On any given day, as many as 200,000 veterans (male and female) are living on the streets or in shelters; and perhaps 400,000 more experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Unfortunately they will spend the night hungry and alone.
Why are veterans homeless?
In addition to the complex set of factors affecting all homelessness - extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care, a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with the lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.
A top priority is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment which is free of drugs and alcohol. While "most homeless people are single, unaffiliated men... most housing money in existing federal homelessness programs, in contrast, is devoted to helping homeless families or homeless women with dependant children," according to " Is Homelessness a Housing problem?" in Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, published by the Fannie Mae Foundation in 1997.
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God our Father,
Help me to remain true to my ideals
during my service to my country.
Help me be what is in America,
the land of the free.
May I realize that I represent
what our country stands for.
My uniform is a symbol of duty and valor
both in peace and in war.
I take up arms to defend what all Americans hold dear:
life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
Grant me the strength to live according to these ideals,
the courage of my convictions,
and the resolve to endure
whatever dangers threaten.
With you at our side I fear no evil
and resist every enemy, secure in the knowledge that you hold me in the palm of your hand.
Amen.
Hearts are heavy now, dear Lord for WAR is looming there. Our prayers are calling out to you, our thoughts too much to bear. Be with our loved ones--THEY NEED YOU.
Guide them, lead them, see them through. Bless our leader, for we know, he asks Your blessings, and needs them so.
Protect the innocent, shield their lives, as bombs and
missiles streak the skies.
Open our hearts and fill us with grace, guard our loved ones in that place. This I say, in earnest prayer, THANK YOU LORD,
I know YOU'RE there.
So brief, but God knows our hearts and feels the pain for all of us. Our military, our president, we who
wait at home and those innocents whose lives are in harms way too.
I can barely watch the news, but am drawn to it all the same. This prayer is on my lips and in my heart, almost every minute.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, and all of your children, wherever they are.
Deuteronomy 15:11
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
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