MISSION UNITED COVID-19 RECOVERY FUND 

The hands of an elderly Veteran holding an American Flag

The March 15th deadline for Veterans to receive help through HFUW’s Mission United COVID-19 Recovery Fund is quickly approaching. 

DID YOU KNOW Florida is home to one of the largest Veteran populations in the United States?   

Many of these service members live right here in Central Florida. Unfortunately, circumstances sometimes derail a Veteran’s ability to thrive in our community.  Thankfully, there are dedicated organizations and individuals who are working with MISSION UNITED to make sure local Veterans aren’t left behind. 

MISSION UNITED COVID-19 RECOVERY FUND 

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) Salute to Service partnership grant designated funds to help Veterans in Central Florida through the Mission United COVID-19 Recovery Fund. This fund provides emergency financial assistance to military Veterans who’ve lost income due to COVID-19.  It also helps them sustain housing through the crisis and while funding is available. 

Criteria to be considered to receive this one-time assistance includes being a military Veteran who experienced job loss as a result of COVID-19.  

The Veteran (and family) must also live within the City of Orlando or Orange, Osceola, or Seminole counties.  

ARE YOU A VETERAN WHO NEEDS HELP? 

Veterans can apply here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HFUWvet. 

Veterans must provide: 

  • A DD214 (proof of military). 
  • A letter from an employer about employment status. 
  • A photo ID. 
  • A lease/rental agreement  

All applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis as limited funds are available. Eligible applicants could qualify for up to $2,500.  

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2022.  

Visit www.hfuw.org to learn more about the work of Heart of Florida United Way. Dial 211 to be pre-qualified to receive support through the Mission United program. 

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED 

“We are appreciative of the Bob Woodruff Foundation for their continued partnership with our Mission United program,” said Jeff Hayward, president/CEO of HFUW. “This is one of several programs through Heart of Florida United Way that supports Florida residents who have fallen on hard times. Since the beginning of the pandemic, requests for assistance have quadrupled. This assistance will ensure military Veterans will remain stably housed throughout the crisis without adding debt from housing and utility payments. These individuals served our country and fought for our freedom. It’s the least we can do as a country – and community – to support our Veterans.” 

MISSION UNITED & THE BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION 

A local BWF partner, Mission United is a collective-impact initiative that provides case management and direct assistance in housing and employment to ensure that Veterans and their families maintain stability while seeking additional services.  

Florida has one of the highest Veteran populations in the United States, with more than 100,000 in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. With 281,941 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector alone, the Orlando Metropolitan area is also one of 15 communities cited in the BWF research paper, “Veterans and COVID-19: Projecting the Economic, Social, and Mental Health Needs of American’s Veterans,” as facing significant economic impact due to the pandemic.  

“We recognized early on that our veterans and their families were going to be facing a slew of urgent and long-term challenges due to COVID-19. Our original research paper helped us quickly pivot and push support where it is needed most,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, Chief Executive Officer of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “Now more than ever, we need to step up for those who have selflessly served. We’re so proud to work with organizations across the country who are changing lives with this funding.” 

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