Why do we do this?

Why Aura Home Women Vets services are needed:

 From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the deserts of Kuwait, women have been serving in the military in one form or another for more than 200 years.  Since the Revolutionary War, more than 3 million women have served, even before the military fully recognized their service. They have had to overcome decades of obstacles to get to where they are today: serving in greater numbers, in combat roles and in leadership positions all around the world[1].

In 1971, women made up just 1% of the military services. As of Nov. 2023, women made up around 18% of the active duty force and all jobs have opened to them in recent years.  [3]

The VA states that 8-9% of women Veterans are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The North Carolina woman Veteran population is over 85 thousand[2]; in the 9 counties that we serve, there approximately four thousand nine hundred women Veterans; those at risk of, or are experiencing homelessness, would be between 390 and 450.

Factors that contribute to homelessness among Veterans  [4]

Reducing and preventing homelessness among women Veterans starts by recognizing some of the contributing factors unique to them:

• Trauma. There’s evidence of a connection between women Veteran homelessness and trauma. Women Veterans who were homeless have told VA researchers that the experience of trauma before, during and after military service contributed to their housing instability.

• Military sexual assault. We also find that one in three women say “yes” when screened by VA health care for military sexual assault (MST), which is sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment during a person’s military service.  

• Intimate partner violence. Many women Veterans who are homeless also report having a history of intimate partner violence.

• Poverty. Housing is a large expense for anyone, but studies show that women are more likely than men to be at risk of poverty.

• Single parenthood. Women also shoulder more of the costs of child-rearing, particularly as single parents.  

Historically, the services for women have lagged woefully behind that of the men.  

While the Veterans Administration is still trying to catch up, our founder, Alyce Knaflich, knows firsthand the experiences shared by women Veterans leaving the services with minimal counseling and support. Surviving Military Sexual Trauma and homelessness, she channeled these experiences into a drive to help other women veterans navigate the maze preventing them from receiving full benefits due to them.

Aura Home Women Vets is a growing non-profit, helping woman Veterans from all branches of services with housing and counseling. Since our incorporation as a non-profit in 2014 to date 2024, Aura Home has helped 387 women veterans, an average of 38 per year; when you include their children and partners Aura has assisted a total of 641 individuals. 

 Our approach is designed to ensure that our women Veterans can find the resources they need to regain or maintain their independence. 

Your donations  help us to continue  -- and to expand -- these services, which include:

• Veteran Service Officer Activities – getting benefits due, for example, VA disability, health care access;
• Financial Counseling/temporary expense support: gas, groceries, rent, utilities, home repairs, etc.;
• Collaboration with organizations for social services, housing support;
• Personal case management and mentorship.