Opulent Philanthropy Inc., Tax ID 45-3088713 International 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit- Homelessness

Providing Thanksgiving dinner to people less fortunate than others. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many of us are pleasantly reminded of the things we feel grateful and fortunate to have in our lives. Many people are homeless and we want to bring the same holiday spirit to families and individuals during the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday Season. It is hard for the homeless to enjoy the holiday spirt hungry, tired, depressed, and have nowhere to live.  

For many, the end of the year is a call for celebration because this year has been filled with mayhem: COVID, wildfires, hurricanes, political unrest and too much more. While people are ready to celebrate the new year on January 1, sharing a thanksgiving meal with others is a great way to start out before 2022.

The start of each year is a time to reflect on the year just past, and make plans for the future. It holds a special magic, with a promise of new opportunities and the possibility to change our lives and others for the better. So welcome in the new year with a fresh start, renewed energy, and confidence, 2022.  

 The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the results of the 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, the annual effort to estimate the number of Americans, including Veterans, without permanent housing.

 The data showed that on a single night in January 2023, there were 35,574 Veterans who experienced homelessness in the U.S. This reflects a 7.4% increase in the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness from 2022.

 Despite these increases, there is still an overall downward trend in Veteran homelessness. The estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has declined by 52.0% since 2010. Within the last three years alone, there has been approximately a 4% overall reduction in Veteran homelessness.

 Looking deeper at the data, we see that of the Veterans counted:

• 20,067 experienced sheltered homelessness—an increase of 502 Veterans, or 2.6% from 2022.
• 15,507 experienced unsheltered homelessness—an increase of 1,943 Veterans, or 14.3% from 2022.

 Unsheltered Veterans represented nearly 80% of the overall increase.

Veterans who experience sheltered homelessness often live in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or other supportive settings. In contrast, Veterans who experience unsheltered homelessness live in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings and literally on the street. 

  The experience of homelessness alone is already harmful to Veterans’ whole health—mind, body and soul. However, unsheltered homelessness among Veterans is even worse, with research demonstrating that unsheltered individuals often report more significant negative health conditions than those who are sheltered. 

Our Work 

 One Veteran experiencing homelessness is one too many, let alone 35,574.

We are at a pivotal moment in the national housing and homelessness crises. And the solutions are clear:

• Double down on our work to prevent Veterans from becoming homeless in the first place, by helping them find jobs.
• Provide them shelter food and water to get them off the streets. 
• We will connect homeless Veterans to permanent housing with supportive services.
• Establish an effective shelter system to support Veterans and their families.

• We provide immediate assistance and long support during natural disasters when people are forced to evacuate and/or their homes are destroyed leaving them in need of shelter, food, or water. 
• We support cancer patients who are unable to pay for medical treatments, copayments, or after care assistance that may not be covered by their insurance. 
• We support impoverished students who qualify for a higher education but cannot afford to pay tuition through grants and scholarships.  
• We support the homeless by providing shelter, food, and water, as more people than ever are living on the streets without the basic necessities to survive. 
• Our staff, volunteers, and those we serve work together to provide assistance to those in need due to circumstances beyond their control to empower the most vulnerable among us and improve their quality of life.