WIN/Vet Program Legislator of the Year Awards

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EVENT 8/11/2008

What: WIN/Vet Program; Legislator of the Year Awards
When: Tuesday Aug. 12, 2008
Where: Victory Village and the WIN/Vet Program

1728 Hero Lane
Titusville, FL

Contact: Ginger Ferguson, Executive Director
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless of Brevard County, Inc.
321-639-0166

Background Detail:

BREVARD — On Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Representatives of the Brevard County based WIN/Vet program will honor lawmakers who have a record of supporting legislation that benefits disabled veterans throughout Florida.

With as many as 195,827 homeless veterans nationwide—more than 18,000 in Florida alone, the WIN/Vet program was founded to assist some of America’s most distressed American heroes.
WIN/Vet is a non-profit 501(c3) organization that provides housing to disabled veterans and support services to help them become independent again and complete their journey home. The WIN/Vet Program is grounded in the belief that no veteran should go without a safe, decent, affordable place to live and the support needed to achieve their potential.

Since it’s creation, the WIN/Vet Program has provided on-site housing, outreach, intake and health and welfare assessment for veterans in need, comprehensive case management, affordable housing assistance, access to a network of social service agencies, transition and follow-up for veterans returning to more independent lives and advocacy as veterans navigate the bureaucracy of government support agencies like the VA. WIN/Vet has been recognized nationally for its efforts as a finalist for a 2007 Maxwell Award of Excellence, and has been hailed by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist as a model veteran’s service program.

During the 2008 legislative session, lawmakers passed two proposals, HB 687- Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises and HB 861- Direct-Support Organizations, “Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith Memorial Act,” which directly benefit WIN/Vet clients and other disabled veterans.

Based on their support of these issues, and their continuing support of veterans’ issues, state Sen. Bill Posey and state Rep. Thad Altman will receive the WIN/Vet “Legislator of the Year Award.”
The awards will be presented at 1:00 p.m. at:

Victory Village
1728 Hero Lane
Titusville, FL
(Rock Pit Road between South St. and Tropic St.)

In addition to the two Brevard Lawmakers that are receiving “Legislator of the Year” awards, members of the Florida Legislature who voted unanimously for HB 687 and HB 861 have been selected to receive the WIN/Vet “Freedom Fighters Disabled American Veterans Award.”

To find out more about WIN/Vet or Victory Village, find more on the web at: http://www.winhousing.org