Author: Dale Mullin
Celebrations across the nation have been taking place throughout the year as America marks its 250th anniversary of independence. As our forefathers did all those many years ago, brave men and women are still standing up to fight for our freedoms and to ensure our citizens have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Today people voluntarily join the military in order to protect our freedoms. They serve with honor, dignity and courage. Some for a brief period of time, others for decades. When their service time is done, many are forgotten, left to acclimate back into society with little to no assistance after years of a rigid military lifestyle and in many cases seeing the horrors and tragedies that present themselves in war.
For many, life after the military can be too difficult to handle mentally, struggling with the “Invisible Wounds of War,” and they find themselves unable to interact with people, abusing substances, not capable of keeping a job and dealing with more issues that lead them down the road to mental instability and, in many cases, homelessness.
We must not forget these veterans. Although our freedom was won 250 years ago, it is still being fought for by people who must be remembered and supported even when their service time is over. Warrior Homes of Collier was formed to do just that.
Through our programs, we have been able to provide a strong foundation for those who have served, offering support in housing, mental health and education. A strategy based on a continuum of care with long-term measured outcomes is critical to long-term success. We’re more than just a nonprofit – we’re a community that stands by our heroes, ensuring they have the resources, stability and care they deserve as they move from survival to restoration. Through compassion, connection and unwavering support, we help veterans and their families build brighter, more secure futures.
As the nation celebrates this year, we want to make sure the veterans have something to celebrate as well. Veterans come home to community, not government. With the support of Collier County residents and Warrior Homes of Collier, we can bring the veteran homelessness situation to a Functional Zero status in Collier County. Our current effort, the Zulu Project, is earmarked to do just that. With 20 beds in a 10-unit apartment building scheduled to be occupied this fall, this will bring our total capacity to 59 beds. Over the last six years we have housed 158 veterans. Our goal is for Collier County to become one of just 83 communities in the entire country to end veteran homelessness.
This is an accomplishment we don’t take lightly. Veterans have sacrificed much for many, and it is important that we as a community do not forget the sacrifices, they have made to keep our country free.
As America reflects on 250 years of freedom, we are reminded that honoring our veterans requires more than words – it demands action. We look toward our communities to ensure our veterans have stability, dignity and opportunity long after their service ends.
It is with your support that Warrior Homes of Collier and initiatives like the Zulu Project become a reality. By standing together, we can ensure every veteran is remembered, supported and given the chance to thrive.
About the Author
Dale Mullin, a Naples, Florida resident, is the founder and president of Warrior Homes of Collier and a retired Vietnam veteran.
