ABRI Announces Major Expansion
ABRI/Homes for the Brave has provided housing for over 550 homeless male Veterans for seven years. Based on these
successes and the current needs of homeless Veterans, ABRI has decided to expand its services. Currently, ABRI is looking for property
for "Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes (FS:FH)" which will open a new transitional supportive housing program for
homeless female Veterans.
FS:FH will provide 15 beds for deserving female Veterans. The services will mirror those that are available for the men at Homes for the
Brave. In addition, the program will provide additional specialized services for women. ABRI plans to open FS:FH in 2011. This program will
be the first transitional housing for female Veterans in the State of Connecticut.
For FS:FH, ABRI is partnering with the Kick for Nick Foundation. In honor of Pfc. Nick Madaras, Kick for Nick collects soccer balls for the
children of Iraq and Afghanistan. The national foundation has adopted FS:FH and will participate in every stage of development.
Click here to read the full press release about plans for
this project.
For more information on this project and our partnership with Kick for Nick, please see http://www.kickfornick.org/FemaleSoldiersForgottenHeroes.
To donate to the Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes program click the "Donate Now" to the right, or
send a check made out to Homes for the Brave (please write FS:FH on the memo line) and mail to: 655 Park Avenue, Bridgeport,
CT 06604
- "A Magic Evening at the Carnival"
On May 1, 2010, the second gala to support FS:FH will take place. To participate with planning or attend the event, please contact
Shalini Madaras by email or phone (203) 451-6622. Download a flier for the gala here.
On May 2, 2009, the Kick for Nick Foundation hosted "A Magical Evening at the Carnival." As the first official fundraiser for FS:FH,
ABRI/Homes for the Brave could not be more grateful for the tremendous community support. We thank Kick for Nick and all of
the wonderful sponsors, guests, performers, and volunteers, and especially Shalini Madaras and her tremendous committee. Please visit http://www.kickfornick.org/FSFH-Gala-Sponsors to see all of the
generous sponsors to the evening.
- "Bikers for the Brave"
The first ever "Bikers for the Brave" event took place on Sunday,
May 31, 2009. More than 150 bikes showed up on a gorgeous spring day to raise funds for FS:FH. Homes for the Brave especially thanks the Home
Builders Association of New Haven County for their tremendous efforts in helping to coordinate the 1st Annual HBA of New Haven County Motorcycle
Run to Benefit Homes for the Brave and HBA Charitable Projects. For a complete list of sponsors, click here.
- May 22, 2010, West Shore Middle School
students hold a dinner and raffle to benefit Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes, by Chris Rhatigan, New Haven Register.
- May 4, 2010, Cathryn Prince of The Wilton Patch reports on "A Magic Evening at the Carnival" and on progress toward FS:FH's goals in "Opening the Door."
- March 6, 2010, Keila Torres of The Connecticut Post, "Sanctuary planned for homeless women veterans." Ms. Torres writes about ABRI's and Kick for Nick's partnership, the challanges that
female veterans face, and FS:FH.
- March 1, 2010, Keila Torres of The Connecticut Post, "Forgotten heroes, women veterans
struggle to gain recognition, support." Ms. Torres writes about women's lives after deployment and about Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes.
- January 14, 2010, "Danbury High seniors
reach out to help female veterans," The Connecticut Post.
- November 11, 2009, The Wilton Patch, "Women
Warriers". Cathryn J. Prince writes about female soldiers returning from Iraq and Afganistan and about Female Soldiers: Forgotten
Heroes.
- October 1, 2009, Wilton Villager, "The private war female
soldiers face," by Kara O'Conner
- April 17, 2009, Marc and Nancy Halpert discuss Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes on their blog, "SmarterPayments"
- April 2, 2009: "Kick for Nick to help build housing for female vets", A.J. O'Connell, Wilton Villager - O'Connell writes about the need for housing for homeless female
veterans and about upcoming fund-raisers for Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes.
- March 5, 2009: "Nick's Legacy Will Aid Female
Soldiers", Gerri Lewis, Arts and Leisure - Lewis writes about Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes, Kick for Nick, and "A Magical Evening at the Carnival"
- January 25, 2009: Female Veterans Among the Homeless," by Bob Tedeschi of The New York Times - coverage of the problem of fighting
homelessness among female veterans, including a discussion of Female Soldiers: Forgotton Heroes.