Page 14 - 2019-2020 HVAF Annual Report

COVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020 will go down as one of the TOUGHEST YEARS
in our lifetime due to the 14 | HVAF 2020 was one of the the toughest years in in our lifetime due to to the the COVID-19 pandemic So many experienced job loss food insecurity homelessness sickness and and mental health challenges For Central Indiana homeless homeless and and and and near-homeless veterans HVAF was was there As an an an an an an an an an an an essential human service agency during a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a world-wide pandemic our our mission was was more important than ever! Our dedicated case managers and and and and and and and outreach staff met the the the the call to to action and and and and and and and worked tirelessly to to meet the the the increased demand for for emergency housing and and and and and and basic needs for for veterans and and and and and and their families in in in our our community With so so much uncertainty in in in in in in fin in in the the the the world we we THANK YOU for for stepping up up up and and choosing to support support Hoosier Heroes in in in in in in fin in in need need Because of of supporters like you many veterans who found themselves in in in in in in fin in in need need of of food shelter and and assistance finding a a a a a a a a a a job (some for for for the the the the first time in in in in in in fin in in their lives!) were able to to turn to to HVAF for help Just last year we we served 1 1 1 453 453 veterans veterans – that’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a unique number and and NOT duplicated Those 1 1 1 453 453 veterans veterans and and their families received at at at least one one of of of the the 33 621 services provided in in in in in in 2020 The food food pantry quickly changed from shopping
once a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a month to to picking up up weekly pre-packaged bags of of food food and and hygiene Moving into one of of our 166 units happened in in in in in in record time and and emergency hotel stays became a a a a a a a a a a a norm “Our front-line case managers have served our homeless and and and and and at-risk veterans with distinction throughout the the the pandemic and and and and and demonstrated tenacity grit and and and and and and and extraordinary resiliency and and and and and and and adaptability in in in in in accommodating the the the the many changes forced on on on on on them by COVID-19 ” ” said HVAF President and and and CEO Brian Copes “I am so grateful for for their professionalism and and and courage ”