WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently honored federal employees from VA, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the General Services Administration (GSA) for their contributions to homeless veterans through Operation New Hope.
“Operation New Hope combines smart business practices with the very best qualities of human nature to improve the lives of homeless veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “Through innovative and cost-effective interagency cooperation, we have been able to bring a measure of comfort to those who need it most.”
Launched in 1993, Operation New Hope provides homeless veterans with excess military clothing such as boots, cold weather clothing, sleeping bags, blankets and other items. Since its inception, the program has distributed more than $125 million worth of clothing and other items to homeless veterans nationwide.
Principi thanked the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for expanding VA’s authority to make surplus DoD clothing available to homeless veterans. He also recognized GSA and DoD humanitarian assistance personnel for their tireless efforts to locate and transfer to VA surplus clothing and personal hygiene items. Principi praised their “willingness to go the extra mile for veterans.”
“Accountants might assign a price of $125 million for the material we have redistributed to men and women for whom these items literally mean the difference between life and death. To those men and women, these goods are priceless,” said Principi.
Many of the warehousing, inventory and distribution functions for the program are performed by veterans participating in VA’s Compensated Work Therapy program, which provides therapeutic work opportunities for veterans with physical disabilities and those recovering from chronic illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders or homelessness.
Principi called Operation New Hope “an example of how federal agencies working together can improve the lives of veterans who need help. Together, there is no problem we cannot solve.”
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