PROGRAMS: GRANTS: Significant Projects: St. Leo Campus for Veterans

There are 200,000 homeless veterans on the street everyday in the United States. In the Chicago-area alone, there is an estimated 18,000. With 23% of the homeless population being veterans, the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation felt helping these individuals was a top priority.

The Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation is proud to have significantly sponsored the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Chicago's St. Leo Campus for Veterans. In 2006, the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation pledged $2.5 million to the creation and aid of this worthy project.

"There is nothing more important to the AMVETS than helping our nation's veterans," states AMVETS Department of Illinois Past Commander Michael Dawson.

The St. Leo Campus will house 141 veterans who were once homeless. This residence will be a safe place to live both independently and affordably. In addition, the campus will provide a support system to help those veterans get back on their feet. In addition to housing, there will also be a medical clinic available, including drug and alcohol counseling, a food pantry, and a memorial garden to honor all veterans. The Illinois AMVETS is particularly excited about the career center, with will include a computer lab to build valuable work skills and help veterans look for jobs. In addition, the campus will also house an Illinois AMVETS Service Officers to assist the veterans with service-related claims.

"We're thrilled to be a part of such a large undertaking with Catholic Charities," said Past Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation President Bill Quick. "We feel this is a big step forward for veterans and their families."

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