Hope turns into Home Because of You
For many veterans, the greatest battle comes after service—finding and keeping safe, stable housing. Nearly 65% of veterans who turn to HOPE’s Critical Needs Program seek help with housing, making the prevention of veteran homelessness a cornerstone of HOPE’s mission.
Jim’s story shows this impact in action. An Army veteran with two deployments to Iraq, Jim wasn’t connected to VA benefits and had recently survived a suicide attempt. Homeless and living in his truck, he was referred to HOPE. Within 24 hours, a HOPE Regional Social Worker secured emergency housing through a local partner and guided Jim through applications for VA disability benefits and unemployment assistance.
Because of the compassionate gifts you’ve given, Jim received a grant covering his first month’s rent, security deposit, utilities, and household essentials— including a stocked pantry. That immediate aid helped him move into safe, permanent housing near family. HOPE has continued to walk alongside him on his path toward stability and healing.
Housing insecurity can create a cascade of financial pressures—from unpaid bills to car payments that quickly spiral into debt. By meeting urgent needs and supporting the whole person, HOPE provides a safety net that restores both dignity and hope.
Thanks to you, veterans like Jim are not only safe—they’re rebuilding their lives with dignity and purpose. From everyone at HOPE, thank you for making this transformation possible.
HOPE’s Critical Needs Program goes beyond immediate financial assistance to help veterans build long-term stability. Based on a needs assessment, a personalized budget with a HOPE certified financial social worker is created to provide guidance on:
- debt management
- budgeting
- financial and career decision-making
This veteran-focused education empowers families to break cycles of crisis and create sustainable financial habits.
BY THE NUMBERS
250,000+
500
1 IN 3
veterans served by HOPE comes to us facing housing insecurity or financial crisis.
HUNDREDS
of veterans connected with counseling and wellness services to address PTSD, depression, and the invisible wounds of war.
WHEN HOPE HAS YOUR NAME ON IT
Each act of hope is like a letter signed by you – delivered in the form of groceries, a rent check, or reliable transportation to work or medical care. For every veteran or service member in crisis, that hope arrives carrying the message that you really care. Your generosity has made each moment of relief – and every step toward the future – possible.
As part of the Critical Needs Program, HOPE assists military families facing challenges like homelessness, delays in disability claims processing, loss of income, increased physical care needs due to injury, or unexpected expenses.
Because of your HOPE donations, the answer is there when setbacks happen—and it’s more than just a one-time assist.
HOPE addresses urgent needs first: safe housing and food. After that, an array of services and programs build a support network for long-term stability, like mental health counseling, career coaching, and household budgeting.
Thank you for making it possible for warriors and families in crisis to receive these vital supports and begin rebuilding their lives.
We’re grateful to the following partners who have joined with donors like you to sponsor Fueling Families this year: Bear Lakes Country Club, Bloomberg, Champion Foods, Food Lion, Forward, Frito Lay, Gary Sinise Foundation, United Through Reading, and Verisem.
DRIVE-THRU
FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
Fueling Families, powered by HOPE, executes strategic food distributions in areas near military bases around the country. Each bag or box of ready-to-prepare meals is delivered with a smile and information on other HOPE services—all free to military and veteran families because of HOPE volunteers, generous sponsors, and YOU!
He signed his email “receiving Hope”
After giving up completely, this Navy veteran made a comeback
When Navy veteran Charles Theuri hit one of the lowest points in his life—unemployed, without a car, and facing eviction—you were there for him.
Because of your generosity, Charles found HOPE. With emergency financial support, he was able to keep his home and gain precious time to get back on his feet. “They reached out to my landlord and reassured them,” Charles recalls. “They gave me time. They gave me a chance.”
But your impact didn’t stop there. With help from HOPE’s career services—resume coaching, interview preparation, and job search support—Charles landed a position at Amazon and eventually returned to his dream career in aerospace. He is one of more than 500 veterans and military spouses who received HOPE’s career support last year, with over 80% securing stable employment within six months.
Most importantly, your compassion helped Charles begin to heal from years of unaddressed trauma. HOPE connected him with counseling resources and provided the steady encouragement he needed to believe in himself again.
“At some point, I had completely given up,” he reflects. “But then, I started to believe again. I remember reading an email from HOPE that ended with ‘Giving HOPE,’ and I replied with ‘Receiving HOPE.’ That’s how I felt, I was finally receiving hope.”
Today, Charles is thriving—working in a field he loves, emotionally grounded, and passionate about helping others.
Thank you for giving Charles the chance to rebuild his life. Your generosity created this happy ending and new beginning!
Charles offers this encouragement to others:
“We all go through seasons in life. If we trust, believe, and have hope, we can get through anything.”
COMING SOON
This holiday season, watch for the HOPE Gift Guide, featuring meaningful ways to directly support veterans and military families with meals, safe housing, and transportation assistance. It’s a simple way to share hope, comfort, and dignity with those facing urgent needs.
Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating
AGAIN!
For the 14th consecutive year, HOPE was awarded a four-star rating by Charity Navigator for superior overall performance, fiscal responsibility, accountability, leadership, and impact.
91.6%
of every gift you give goes directly to programs and
services for post-9/11 warriors and their families.
