More than 33,000 veterans continue to face homelessness on any given night. And while only 7% of the U.S. population are veterans, veterans make up nearly 13% of the homeless adult population, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Atlanta-based Open Doors utilizes funding provided by organizations such as The Home Depot Foundation to make homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring for members of the greater metropolitan Atlanta community, with a focus on veterans who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

“Homelessness affects many different people, and veterans – especially those with disabilities or who were just making it and then had something happen that tipped the scales – are no exception,” said Open Doors Executive Director Matt Hurd. “The need for affordable, stable and secure housing for those on the brink of homelessness is growing, and we are working to ensure that veterans have permanent and sustainable housing for years to come.”

Since 2013, Open Doors has been making connections to bring people home, placing nearly 11,000 individuals, families and veterans into sustainable housing at more than 640 multifamily apartment communities. Open Doors collaborates with more than 130 nonprofit partners and the commercial real estate community to place people into permanent, safe rental housing.

Open Doors is nearing the end of its Open More Doors campaign, raising $7.28 million to fund a new strategic plan that expands services. The transformative strategic plan enables Open Doors to continue its groundbreaking work with those exiting homelessness as well as to assist individuals, families and veterans who are housing insecure by removing barriers to sustainable housing through the newly launched Housing Supports program.  

“We are grateful to our generous supporters, including The Home Depot Foundation, who provide funding to increase access to housing for veterans,” said Berkadia Managing Director and Open Doors Board Member Russ Hardy, who proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps. “Since inception, Open Doors has placed more than 2,000 veterans in stable, secure housing and our goal is to provide resources so that no one who has served our country faces homelessness or housing insecurity.”

Open Doors was a recipient of a grant from The Home Depot Foundation to support efforts to provide safe, secure and affordable housing solutions to veterans. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $500 million in veteran causes and improved more than 60,000 veteran homes and facilities.

“The Home Depot Foundation focuses on providing affordable and accessible housing solutions for our nation’s heroes by partnering with organizations like Open Doors,” said Erica Headlee, manager of programs and strategic partnerships at The Home Depot Foundation. “The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $500 million in veteran causes and recently increased its financial pledge to $750 million to veteran causes by 2030.”