The care and support we provide to veterans should reflect the care they have provided to our country.
When U.S. veterans return from military service, they often face barriers to secure employment, stable housing, and access to high quality health care. As they transition home to serve and lead families, communities, and businesses, many veterans seek a bridge from their military careers into fulfilling civilian life. Comprehensive support can play a vital role in overcoming barriers during reintegration and beyond.
Areas of focus include:
Housing Stability
Veterans of all ages are disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity, which comes in the form of homelessness, a lack of affordable senior living options, or access to funds for vital home repairs. The RLD Foundation is investing in organizations and initiatives that address the forms of housing instability that disproportionately impact veterans: homelessness, home procurement, home repair, housing retention and financial literacy create a bedrock of physical, financial and mental stability for veterans and their families.
Access to Benefits
Veterans and their families are forced to navigate complex and often disconnect systems in order to access the benefits and health care afforded to them for their service. The RLD Foundation supports organizations working to eliminate barriers to vital resources and benefits for military connected individuals, strengthening the base of support for veterans and their families. These benefits are often the catalyst for long-term economic stability for veterans and their families.
Employment and Skills
Studies show there remains a high amount of underemployment among the veteran population – meaning a significant number of veterans do not have enough paid work or are not doing work that makes full use of their skills. Underemployment inhibits upward economic mobility and puts veterans at risk for ongoing financial hardship. Veterans also face challenges translating military skills to civilian jobs, adjusting to civilian workplaces, and navigating potential mental health issues and disabilities that can impact their ability to find and maintain employment. The RLD Foundation invests in organizations and programs that support career and technical education for skilled trades; the pursuit of two and four-year degrees; as well as veteran entrepreneurship for small businesses to high-growth businesses by providing access to the technical, relational and financial capital they need to succeed.
“We fought our hardest because we were fighting for a cause.”
Richard L. Duchossois
