Institute for Community Living’s, Inc. (ICL) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, LaGuardia Community College, and Incarcerated Veterans Consortium hosted its 1st Annual Veterans Resource and Homelessness Prevention Fair on Wednesday, April 3rd at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building.
The fair was designed to provide vital assistance to homeless, and at risk Veterans and their families. Attracting more than 20 vendors representing local colleges, community health facilities, the VA and more, Commissioner Terrance Holliday from the Mayor’s Office of Veteran’s Affairs describes the event as “really neat, remembering, it’s not one organization or agency that is going to help veterans but it’s going to be a collective effort, to help everybody coming back home”.
Veterans and their welfare is a top priority at ICL, which is well positioned to offer a variety of services addressing the needs of homeless and at-risk veteran families. In addition to 27 years of experience gained from working with homeless individuals, for over five years, the nonprofit organization has operated the ICL Borden Avenue Veterans’ Residence, a 243 homeless transitional residence for male and female veterans. Adjacent to this transitional residential program is the ICL-founded HealthCare Choices clinic, which opened in February to offer integrated care for homeless veterans, their families and other specialty populations.
According to Constance Y. Brown, MPA, Vice President for Community and Government Relations at the Institute for Community Living, “Our first Annual Veterans Resource and Homeless Prevention Fair was a huge success. We look forward to continued partnerships with vendors as we offer our services and tackle the homeless situation among our veterans”.
