HVAF of Indiana, Inc. featured in United Way of Central Indiana simulcast

Ralph and his daughter Lakin with RTV6's camera crew

Ralph, a U.S. Air Force veteran who overcame substance abuse and homelessness and then regained custody of his young daughter, is an HVAF success story that will be featured at 7:30 p.m. on September 4 on RTV6 as part of United Way of Central Indiana's annual simulcast.

Ralph lists at least four United Way agencies that helped him: HVAF of Indiana, Inc. for basic needs, recovery, counseling and support; Goodwill Industries, for job training; Second Helpings, for meals while in recovery; and Child Advocates, for help regaining custody of his daughter. He admits there may be others in the background that he's simply not aware were at bat for him.

Ralph's story drives home the reality that people's troubles are more often complex than they are simple. And that means they can rarely be solved by one agency or one program. It's one of the reasons giving to United Way has such a deep and wide impact.

Of the 400 veterans who have come through HVAF's Residential Employment Substance Abuse Treatment program, 60 percent have either secured permanent housing or a job.

To see Ralph tell his own story, tune in to RTV6 at 7:30 p.m. on September 4. On that day in that half hour, all our local stations will air short stories about how anyone who gives to United Way is helping Ralph and thousands more turn their lives around.

FOX59 Interviews HVAF on Food Drive

On Tuesday FOX59's Ann Keil interviewed HVAF's President & CEO Dr. Charles Haenlein along with two HVAF veterans on the urgent need to re-stock the organization's food pantry. The food pantry is nearly empty, and the need among area veterans has been growing.

"My drinking and losing jobs got to the point where I started losing everything," says Tonny B., a previously homeless veteran who is now using HVAF's programs and services to get back on his feet. Tonny is one of hundreds of veterans who each month rely on HVAF's food pantry.

Watch the story below or read the transcript by clicking on this link to FOX59.com.

Veterans to benefit from HVAF's Freedom Ride

HVAF of Indiana, Inc. supporters, board members, staff and clients attended its 4th Annual Freedom Ride on July 14, 2012. The ride began at the Harley Davidson of Indianapolis and ended at one of HVAF's housing properties, Warman Apartments.

Special thanks to Barto's Catering & Concessions who provided lunch. T-shirts were provided by T&T Promotions.

Freedom Ride event sponsors included United Way of Central Indiana, Rider Insurance, Riley Area Development Corporation, American Legion, Halstead Architects, Harley-Davidson of Indianapolis, The National Bank of Indianapolis, Ritman Professional Liability Insurance, American Legion Riders Post 64, Indiana Rolling Thunder and American Legion Riders Fishers Post 470.

Zach Day hikes Appalachian Trial to benefit homeless veterans

 

Zach Day, 26, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, began an adventure of a lifetime -- and it's all for a good cause. He will spend the next five months hiking 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail on behalf of the Hoosier Veterans Foundation (HVAF).

Starting at Mount Katahdin in Maine, Day will hike through 14 states, ending his journey in October at Springer Mountain in Georgia.

You can track Zach's location through his GPS tracking devise. 

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=AHjt9/37.05777N/81.39937W

Indy Star reporter T.J. Barnes interviewed Zach just before he left. View the June 14, 2012 story at this link below:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20120614/LOCAL1804/206140321/Hiker-will-live-wild-benefit-vets-who-live-street

This photo below was taken late October along the higher elevations of Skyline Drive outside Charlottesville, Virginia.

HVAF interviewed in Indy Star story: Indy homeless count up 34%

HVAF's President and CEO, Dr. Charles Haenlein, was recently interviewed by Indy Star reporter Diana Penner on a new report by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP). The latest CHIP report reveals that the number of people counted as homeless on Jan. 25, when an official count was done in Indianapolis, grew by 5 percent, from 1,567 in 2011 to 1,647 in 2012 with an increase of 34% among veterans. But with the influx of veterans using HVAF services and programs, Dr. Haenlein says many other veterans are out there - on the streets and couch-surfing with friends and family.

Read the full story here:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120613/LOCAL/206130314

Here are some faces of previously homeless veterans in Indiana served by HVAF.