Montana Veterans Foundation's Mission Statement

To operate programs designed to assist homeless or veterans at risk of becoming homeless or improve their status in society by providing a safe and secure environment through which they can access a wide array of human services.  The focus of these programs is to assist rural homeless veterans with the services that have prevented them from becoming re-established in their communities.

It is the focus of the MVF to:
"Transition homeless veterans (or those veterans at risk of becoming homeless) into society's mainstream.  This will be done by assisting them to obtain meaningful employment and subsequently - safe, decent, and sanitary housing."  Under these guidelines of the Montana Veterans Program, the Center is not an emergency shelter.

Program Goals -"We are Veterans Helping Veterans"

The MVF offers veterans a clean, safe, and healthy environment from which they will be able to access educational and vocational opportunities and training through portions of our program.  They will also receive counseling and case management of their other life problems.

Definitions:
Homeless Veterans include persons who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.  It also includes veterans whose primary nighttime residence is either a supervised public or private shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or a private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

Financial Management
All financial management will be the responsibility of the organization officers.   The President/CEO, Vice President, Secretary and Finance Officer, will handle all transactions.  The Finance Officer will be authorized to open a bank account.   All checks will be signed by two of the four officers listed above.  No other board members will be authorized to sign checks.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any veteran  who has served in the U.S. Military at anytime.  Service dates will be confirmed.

• Staff, will assess the Veteran, over a 7-day period, for admissions or appropriate referral.

• The Veteran is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless at time of application.

• The Veteran must be motivated and able to work and/or enroll in an education-training program.

• The Veteran's medical and mental condition must be stable.

• The Veteran must comply with program policy and procedures.

• The Veteran must be willing to work with a case manager and establish an individual case plan.

• The Veteran must manage his/her own medication.

• The Veteran must commit to alcohol and drug free living.


Willis Cruse was a homeless veteran who wanted to make a difference but died before he could.