MATERIALS POSTED: Serving Veterans in Rural America Symposium

Presentations | Photos | Agenda | Press Release

Held on May 20, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the US Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC (Room SVC 200-201). This second annual conference will provide information on housing, health, and employment needs and programs for rural veterans. The conference will draw attention to this sometimes forgotten group, and showcase model programs that help. A special focus will be on successful local projects serving veterans. Co-sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation, the conference also featured a presentation on data and demographic information about rural veterans.

Presentations | Photos | Agenda | Press Release

Press Coverage

Despite numbers, rural vets lack attention, resources

Unique Needs of Veterans in Rural Areas Taken Up by HAC

Presentations

Click on the names of the presenters to download their presentations or learn more about them.

8:30 – 8:40 am	*Opening Remarks* — Moises Loza, Housing Assistance Council
8:40 – 9:15 am	*Congressional Perspectives* Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Representative Sam Farr (D-CA)
9:15 – 9:30 am	*Welcome —* Heather Pritchard, The Home Depot Foundation
9:30 -10:15 am	*Counting Rural Veterans: An Update on HAC Research and Data* Eric Oberdorfer, Housing Assistance Council
10:30 – 11:45 am	*Best Practice Models: Multifamily and Transitional Housing* Moderator: Baylee Crone, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Washington, DC Jon Dieter, Longview Housing Authority, Longview, Washington Denis Leary, Veterans, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts
12:15 – 1:45 pm	*Federal Resources for Rural Veterans* Moderator: Hilda Heady, Atlas Research, Washington, DC Anne Dunn, Deputy Director, Homeless Programs, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Karis Gutter, Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, MVAL, U.S. Department of Agriculture Tony Hernandez, Administrator, Rural Housing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Shared Presentation with Karis Gutter) Ann Oliva, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Keith Kelly, Asst. Secretary, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor
1:45 – 3:00 pm	*Best Practice Models: Home Ownership and Repair* Moderator: Marvin Ginn, Native Community Finance, Laguna, NM Craig Nolte, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, California Rozann Downing, Community Action Network, Springville, Tennessee John Gallina, Purple Heart Homes, Statesville, North Carolina