MARINA, Calif. - On Saturday, the Leadership Salinas Valley Program will be holding a fundraiser to help homeless veterans and their families. It comes at a time when the number of homeless veterans in Monterey County is increasing.
The Veteran's Transition Center or VTC in Marina reports there's been a 17 percent increase in the number of homeless veterans and their families from this same time last year.
And that number doesn't look as though it's going to get any better. Executive Director Ronald Holland says, a lot of the veterans are coming from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They're dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and most of them married and had kids young.
The VTC is a nonprofit that currently provides housing to 33 single homeless veterans and seven families on the Central Coast. While they're funded by U.S. Housing and Urban Development or HUD and the Veterans Administration, they say, that funding is not enough.
"On the HUD side of the house, the amount of money is fixed, and it's been that way for six years," says Holland. "And it hasn't increased although the cost of everything around here has increased."
Not only do they provide housing but job skills training and counseling. To take part in the fundraiser, here are the details:
- Takes place on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- Will be held outside at the Veterans Transition Center in Marina
- BBQ of tri-tip, chicken, salad, garlic bread and pie with live music from the David Morwood Jazz Band
- Also, face painting, bubbles, games and other fun activities will be provided for children of all ages
- Hosted by the Leadership Salinas Valley - For tickets: call (831) 883-8387 or (831) 236-7411
