OUR STORY
We are empowering homeless veterans.
We’re on a mission to solve the homeless veteran crisis. We’re succeeding but we need your help.
Helping Veterans and Families
Helping Veterans And Families (HVAF) helps homeless veterans return to self-sufficiency and engages at-risk veterans and their families to prevent them from becoming homeless by providing supportive housing, case management, employment support, therapy, and basic needs including food, hygiene and clothing. In 2023, HVAF served 1,349 veterans and provided over 37,000 life-changing services. HVAF is the largest non-profit provider of comprehensive services for veterans facing homelessness in Indiana.
HVAF OVER THE YEARS:
1993: HVAF was first incorporated as a Far From Home Chapter
Far From Home President Stephen Peck (far left), Linda Boone, (center), and Louise Loyd (far right)
Twenty five years ago, then 68-year-old Louise Loyd was retiring as President of the Indiana American Legion Auxiliary. She received a call from the Auxiliary National President, Linda Boone, about wanting to start a chapter of the Far From Home Foundation - an organization that helped homeless veterans - in Indiana.
"Linda said, 'there are so many homeless veterans in Indianapolis - will you help me?'" Louise said. "I said I'll help if I can... and it just went from there."
The name would later change to Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation in 1997.
1995: HVAF opens its first home and serves its first veteran
For the next two years, Louise and others worked to find a home to open for veterans. She said it was difficult because many neighborhood associations were not open to the idea of housing homeless veterans.
Finally, in 1995, they opened the Arlington house, which would later be changed to Lyter.
"We bought our first house in the City of Indianapolis for $1! And look what we have now, it's amazing," Louise said. "We moved five men into (Lyter) ... it gives me goosebumps. It was a wonderful day."
This also marked the first time they were able to serve Indianapolis' veterans.
1997: Don Moreau, Sr. is hired as HVAF's first CEO
As a three-time war veteran, with 28 years in the service and the title of full Colonel, the late Don Moreau, Sr. was the perfect choice for HVAF's first CEO. He ran the organization with his wife, Linda, by his side. One of his biggest initiatives included opening Carson Apartments.
2000: HVAF developed its Veteran Services Center, and opens Carson Apartments
The Veterans Services Center extends supportive services to homeless veterans and their families. The center provides food, clothing, furniture, household items and personal hygiene supplies.
According to Rick Schwartz, board member and one of HVAF's founders, no one wanted homeless veterans living in their "backyard." But the late Julia Carson did just that.
In 1999, HVAF received the grant to open apartments the congresswoman owned, right behind her home. The apartments officially opened the following year.
And the following year, retired Command Sergeant Major, Dr. Charles (Chuck) Haenlein was hired as the second CEO for HVAF. He would go on to lead the organization for 14 years.
2002: The project to open Warman Houses begins
The process for opening up the Warman Houses was very significant as it was the largest property of houses for HVAF at the time, with 45 units.
Warman was leased from the city of Indianapolis for $1 per year, and former Mayor Greg Ballard signed a quitclaim deed and gave HVAF the properties.
"We got about five houses outside the wire at the former Central State Hospital. We refurbished all of those houses," HVAF founding member and board member emeritus Rick Schwartz said. "The governor came and handed us a key and dedicated the houses to us. That was really out biggest project to date."
2007: HVAF Headquarters move to 10th Street
2008: Don Moreau, Sr. Apartments opens for veterans
The process for opening up the Warman Houses was very significant as it was the largest property of houses for HVAF at the time, with 45 units.
Warman was leased from the city of Indianapolis for $1 per year, and former Mayor Greg Ballard signed a quitclaim deed and gave HVAF the properties.
"We got about five houses outside the wire at the former Central State Hospital. We refurbished all of those houses," HVAF founding member and board member emeritus Rick Schwartz said. "The governor came and handed us a key and dedicated the houses to us. That was really out biggest project to date."
2011: Manchester Apartments opens for homeless veterans
After many zoning meetings and lots of planning, the Manchester Apartments opened in 2011, thanks to the support of the St. Joseph Neighborhood Association. This property, connected to the HVAF Headquarters, has 51 units for male and female veterans to live in.
2011: SSVF added to veteran services
SSVF stands for Supportive Services for Veteran Families. This program ensures we can prevent veterans and their families from becoming homeless through rent & utility assistance and more.
2013: HVAF hires its first Employment Specialist
HVAF's Veteran Workforce Development Program offers various opportunities for veterans who are seeking assistance with career training and placement. A dedicated team of Employment Specialists assist veterans with learning how to overcome obstacles that impede them from becoming self-sufficient and obtaining permanent employment.
2017: Food, clothing, and hygiene pantry is transformed
In 2017, HVAF’s food, clothing, and hygiene pantry turned into an in-person shopping experience for veterans. Our pantry is open for food, clothing, and hygiene shopping every Tuesday and Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. After our veterans come and check in, our volunteers help them gather the items they need.
2018: New housing programs become available
New housing programs - including Transition in Place (TIP) & Emergency Service Grant (ESG) - became available for near homeless veterans and their families. With the TIP program, veterans move into their own apartment and HVAF holds the lease. The veterans assumes the lease after our case managers help them reach self-sufficiency. ESG provides funding for essential services, operations, and homeless prevention activities to emergency homeless shelters, transitional housing for the homeless, and day/night homeless shelters
2019: HVAF provides Permanent Supportive Housing in addition to Transitional Housing
After repurposing eight of HVAF’s housing properties, The Indianapolis Housing Agency awarded the organization with vouchers in order to make the properties permanent homes for veterans and their families. We are proud to offer affordable permanent supportive housing with case management for 62 units at 6 properties. Pictured is the first family to move into one of HVAF’s PSH units: Air Force veteran Valerie and her daughter and grandchildren.
2020: COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020 - but HVAF pushed through and never closed its doors for veterans in need. At the end of 2020, HVAF provided 33,000+ services to 1,400+ veterans.
2021: VetWorks provides more career training and opportunities for veterans
VetWorks - Veterans Workforce Renewing Knowledge and Skills - is an intensive 3 phase work, learn and earn program designed to skill up our veterans to achieve their earning potential. Veterans complete on-the-job training, have access to education/certifications and receive assistance with obtaining a good and promising job. Throughout this process they also have opportunities to receive incentives (stipends) to assist them along the way.
2022: Proctor Place opens as new PSH unit for veterans
HVAF partnered with Woda Cooper Companies to open Proctor Place, providing 15 permanent housing units. Proctor Place is named in honor of Sergeant Joseph Eugene (Joey) Proctor, a member of the Indiana Army National Guard killed in action during combat operations in Iraq on May 3, 2006.
2023: HVAF Community Center renamed in first CEO’s honor
HVAF’s veterans community center – our central hub for all veterans seeking assistance – is officially renamed the Colonel Donald W. Moreau, Sr. Veterans Community Center. The Veterans Community Center offers homeless and near-homeless veterans in Central Indiana access to a robust food, clothing, and hygiene pantry, computer lab, meeting space, and library containing Col. Moreau’s book collection. In the lobby, you will find his uniform, eight Sagamore of the Wabash awards, and additional memorabilia from his extensive military and civic service careers.
2024: HVAF expands services into Terre Haute
As part of its strategic plan, HVAF committed to targeted expansion into new key areas in the state. One of the identified areas is Terre Haute, given the reportedly high number of unemployed and underemployed veterans in the area.
HVAF has launched a two-year pilot program with partners Intecare, an organization that provides housing services, and Reach Services, a Terre Haute-based nonprofit that serves low-income individuals and families, by embedding a full-time employment specialist with their housing team.
