TAMPA, FL—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that a federal jury today found James Robertson (32) guilty of two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. Robertson faces a mandatory penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Robertson was indicted on May 22, 2008.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Robertson was a member of “Tampa Blood and Honour,” a hate group whose members espoused the belief that white persons of Aryan descent were the superior race. Tampa Blood and Honour members considered the homeless to be an inferior class, regardless of race. “Bum rolling” was a term used by Tampa Blood and Honour members to describe the activity of targeting and committing acts of violence against homeless persons.

Specifically, in the early morning hours of September 13, 1998, Robertson and three other members of Tampa Blood and Honour, Kenneth Hoover, Charles Marovskis, and Cory Hulse, murdered two homeless men, Alfred Williams and Richard Arseneau. Mr. Williams was murdered in downtown Tampa, under the Crosstown Expressway, in the vicinity of Meridian Street. Robertson and the other Tampa Blood and Honour members severely beat Mr. Williams with, among other things, a tire-iron. According to the medical examiner, the cause of Mr. Williams’ death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Mr. Arseneau was murdered in Tampa near the intersection of Interstate 275 and Fletcher Avenue. The murder occurred in a wooded lot located east of 320 East Fletcher Avenue. Robertson, along with the same three other Tampa Blood and Honour members who participated in the murder of Mr. Williams, also beat Mr. Arseneau to death. As a result of the beating, Mr. Arseneau sustained massive head injuries, at least some of which were caused by a hatchet. According to the medical examiner, the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Co-defendants, Hoover, Marovskis, and Hulse previously pleaded guilty to both counts of murder in aid of racketeering and are awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with the assistance of the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Moore Lee and First Assistant United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III.

Skinhead Convicted of Murder of Two Homeless Men in Tampa | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Originally reported by WISH-TV News. Read the original article here.

Man finds diamond, returns to woman | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Ex Food Network chef Juan-Carlos Cruz pleaded no contest on charges he tried to hire two homeless men to murder his wife, Jennifer Campbell, PEOPLE reports.

The 48-year-old Cruz now faces up to nine years in prison.

The former ‘Calorie Commando’ and ‘Weighing In’ host was arrested this past May in Santa Monica, California, after being accused of soliciting homeless people kill Campbell.

TMZ reported that Cruz planned to pay the men with $1,000 in torn-up $100 bills — half before the murder, half after.

“Have already been burned with whole bills then no show thats why do it this way,” reads a text message TMZ contends was sent from Cruz to a phone provided for the homeless men. Cruz also texted that he had a second party ready for the job if his selected hit-men weren’t up to the task.

The chef Cruz had been under investigation by police in early May, and was finally taken into custody after an undercover operation in which the homeless men he attempted to hire recorded a conversation implicated him.

Originally reported by PopEater.com. Read the original article here.

Former Food Network Chef Pleads No Contest to Soliciting Murder | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Driven by mission and economic realities, and supported by a planning grant by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust, these agencies formed a dynamic collaborative called the West Side Collaborative.

The West Side Collaborative (WSC) is a strategic partnership between nonprofit social service providers. WSC was established to promote the holistic health and well-being of vulnerable populations in Chicago’s at risk West Side communities.

The five founding WSC agencies are Deborah’s Place, Facing Forward to End Homelessness, Cathedral Shelter of Chicago, Primo Center for Women and Children and Marillac Social Center.

This week, WSC hired Ms. Fran Copeland as Project Director, a position funded by the United Way. As Project Director, Ms. Copeland will implement a “medical home” across all of the WSC agencies, and will be responsible for the coordination of: prevention and health education; centralized on-site services; referral and follow-up; systems advocacy; and health service integration.

Ms. Copeland has over 25 years of key leadership experience in the health care field and brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge, and resources to the collaborative.  Her most recent position was as Director of Business Development, where she developed a community network to expand health care services.

Under Ms. Copeland’s leadership, WSC will reach its goal to improve healthcare for 500 women, men, and children who live on the West Side.  Innovative in its approach, this collaboration will impact the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare service delivery and will be a role model for Chicago’s nonprofit community.

The West Side Collaborative deeply appreciates the support of the United Way, whose generous funding made possible the hiring of this dynamic professional.

Information on the West Side Collaborative is available by contacting Audrey Thomas, Executive Director of Deborah’s Place, at (773) 638-6535 or athomas@deborahsplace.org.

Ms. Copeland and representatives of the collaborative are available for interviews. Editor, reporter and photographer inquiries are welcomed. See the contact information above.

Collaborative begins work to serve vulnerable populations in West Side communities | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

AURORA, Ohio, June 13 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — It is all about Dad when Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom celebrates Father’s Day on Sunday, June 20 at the Aurora, Ohio, outdoor waterpark.  During Dad’s day, there will be dancers, cheerleaders, a crazy cat and a challenging hole-in-one contest worth mega bucks and power tools.  There will also be plenty of quality time with the “Big Guy.”

For starters, the Goddesses, the official dance team for the Cleveland Gladiators arena football team, the Gladiators’ cheerleaders, aka, the Kickoff Crew, and their mascot, Rudi, Cleveland’s craziest cat, will all perform at Wildwater Kingdom from 1-3 p.m.  The dancers, cheerleaders and gymnasts will make appearances on the Wave Deck and at various locations around the park.  

Other special guests on Father’s Day will include the Burning River Roller girls, members of Cleveland’s first all-female flat-track roller derby team.  The female roller-derby players will give a demonstration of the rules and techniques of a roller derby bout at 2 p.m. on the Wave Deck.

Guests will also be able to compete in the Home Depot Hole-In-One Contest, where they can win a $1000 Home Depot Gift card.  The hole will be 85 yards over Geauga Lake.  All players will automatically be entered into a drawing to win other prizes including Wildwater Kingdom merchandise, an Ohio State grill cover, a Ryobi 12 Auto Hammer and a Rigid 18 V lithium-ion compact drill/driver.  Golf balls will be $5 each.  A portion of the proceeds will go to ACCESS, Inc., a shelter for homeless women and children in Akron.

The park will also offer the Dine with Dad Meal Deal, an admission ticket/meal combo, valid only on June 20.  With the Dine with Dad Meal Deal, guests will receive admission to the park along with a meal consisting of regular-sized soft drink, french fries and choice of a cheeseburger, jumbo dog or slice of pizza.  Tickets can be purchased online at wildwaterfun.com.

Fathers aren’t the only ones who will enjoy their day at the park.  Thrill-seekers can challenge water slides and the Tidal Wave Bay wave pool, while children can play in the new Beach Family Fun Area.  

For more information about Father’s Day at Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom, please visit wildwaterfun.com or call 330.562.8303.

SOURCE Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom

http://www.wildwaterfun.com

Family Time and Fun Highlight Father’s Day at Wildwater Kingdom | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, IL (CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — Pam lived a “normal” life, with a job, a husband, and a home until she fell ill. Pam lost her house and her job, and was forced to live on the streets.

She was homeless for years, until she was referred to Deborah’s Place. At Deborah’s Place she moved into an apartment and began to recover – both from her illness and from the trauma of homelessness.

Today, she has a job and has reconnected with her family. With the permanent housing and support services that Deborah’s Place provides, Pam will never be homeless again.

To celebrate 25 years of breaking the cycle of homelessness for women like Pam and hundreds of other women in Chicago, and to raise funds for future programs and services, Deborah’s Place will host its 25th Anniversary Dinner from 6 to 10pm on Thursday, June 17. “This event is about celebrating our achievements and renewing our passion and commitment to ending homelessness for women in Chicago” says Audrey Thomas, Executive Director of Deborah’s Place.

Twenty-five years ago a group of compassionate and committed women were compelled to act on behalf of women who were homeless and sleeping on the streets. Within a month, the Deborah’s Place founding mothers opened a shelter in the gymnasium of Immaculate Conception Church on Chicago’s north side.  This shelter was Chicago’s first year-round overnight emergency shelter exclusively for women who were homeless.

Today, Deborah’s Place is the largest provider of supportive housing and services for women who are homeless in Chicago.

Since our inception, Deborah’s Place has operated under the philosophy that safe, affordable housing is a basic human right – and a prerequisite for recovery from the trauma of homelessness. Our continuum of programs and services are a lifeline for women who are homeless, ranging from meeting basic needs to supplying permanent supportive housing.

The 25th anniversary celebration will be at the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory and will feature a champagne reception, musical entertainment from jazz guitarist Kyle Asche, an exciting live auction and raffle, dinner, and awards. Deborah’s Place is grateful to welcome ABC 7 News Anchor, Kathy Brock as the evening’s emcee.

One of the evening’s exciting live auction prizes is a “Chef for a Day” experience with Chef and TV host Homaro Cantu of Chicago’s famed Moto restaurant.  Other fantastic auction and raffle prizes include a private behind-the-scenes tour of the ABC 7 News station from Anchor Kathy Brock, and a “VIP Treatment” package that includes a custom tour and dinner at Tru Restaurant, two tickets to a performance at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a stay at the Park Hyatt hotel, and breakfast at Nomi Restaurant.

The Garfield Park Conservatory is located at 300 N. Central Park Avenue, and is a Chicago historical landmark and cultural gem with acres of indoor greenhouses teeming with tropical plants.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.deborahsplace.org or by calling 773-638-6539.  All proceeds of the event benefit the programs and services of Deborah’s Place.

Deborah’s Place can be found online at www.deborahsplace.org.  More details about the 25th Anniversary Celebration as well as ticket purchase information can be found on the news & events page at www.deborahsplace.org/news.

Deborah’s Place tenant Pam and nine other residents will be present at the event and available for interviews.  Editor, reporter and photographer inquiries are welcomed. See the contact information above.

Local Chicago Celebrities to Participate in Deborah’s Place 25th Anniversary Celebration and Help “Open Doors for Women in Chicago” | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

NEW YORK – Betty White demonstrated how it’s done as host of this week’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Drawing on her six decades in comedy, she was the consummate pro at 88 years old — sweet, sassy, salty, charming and clearly game for anything.

“I’m not new to live TV,” she reminded the audience at the top of the show, and recalled that she had starred in a sitcom that aired live back in 1952.

“Of course, back then, we didn’t WANT to do it live. We just didn’t know how to tape things.” A perfectly timed beat. “I don’t know what THIS show’s excuse is.”

Billed by NBC as a special Mother’s Day edition, the show had a definitely feminine tone and was a reunion of sorts for “SNL” alumnae, bringing back former regulars including Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon. (Jay-Z was musical guest.)

But White was the queen bee, appearing in nearly every bit throughout the 90-minute span — and never failing to punch it up.

As a dotty resident being surveyed by census-taker Fey, White listed other residents in her apartment as Fluffy, Princess, Tigger and Socks.

“These are people we’re talking about and not cats, right?” asked the wary Fey.

“There’s really no way of knowing,” came the reply. “Sometimes when I see their big eyes looking up from my lap, I think that’s definitely a homeless guy in a fur coat.”

White played the star of a new “CSI” spinoff set in a Florida retirement community, “CSI: Sarasota.”

As an investigator (identified as David Caruso’s great-aunt), she wasn’t buying the story that the victim had died of natural causes.

“Oh, really,” she scoffed. “Since when does a 103-year-old man simply drop dead?”

She appeared in three “MacGruber” sketches as the grandmother of the bumbling special-op agent played by Will Forte, each time nagging and berating him as he tried (unsuccessfully, of course) to defuse the ticking bomb.

She played the guest of Gasteyer and Shannon, co-hosts of a public-radio cooking show, in a sketch slyly built around an alternate meaning for “muffin.”

“A lot of people like my pumpkin pie, and of course my carrot cake is legendary,” White’s bakery chef began proudly, “but if there’s one thing I’m known for, it’s my muffin.” She didn’t stop there.

And in a filmed short that should find a robust afterlife online, “SNL” cast members paid tribute to White by singing “Thank You for Being A Friend,” the theme of her classic sitcom, “The Golden Girls.”

“Oh, that was just lovely,” said White when they were finished. “But I think I prefer my version,” whereupon she pulled a black ski mask over her face and led a growling, rip-roaring death-metal rendition that left everyone reeling.

White, whose “SNL” gig resulted from a half-a-million-strong groundswell on Facebook after her hilarious Snickers commercial on the Super Bowl, took pains to thank Facebook during her opening monologue.

Her way.

“When I first heard about the campaign to get me to host ‘Saturday Night Live,’ I didn’t know what Facebook was,” White confessed. Then she exhibited her warm smile and a perfectly timed beat before marveling impishly, “Now that I DO know what it is, I have to say: It seems like a huge waste of time.”

___

NBC is owned by the General Electric Co.

___

On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com

Betty White: golden hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ (AP) | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Bond was set at $50,000 for 42-year-old Theodore J. Miller. He must post $5,000 to be freed.

About 6 p.m., Woodstock police responded to the parking lot of the Walgreen’s at 305 S. Eastwood Drive for a report of an attempted child abduction.

Officers met with a woman who said her 10-year-old daughter had been walking into the store from the parking lot when she was approached by a white male who made repeated attempts to verbally lure the girl into his car.

The mother, who was in her car in the parking lot, saw the interaction and called her daughter back to the safety of their car.

Miller then fled, police said, as the woman called 911.

The offender was described as a white male, about 6-feet tall, weighing between 175 and 200 pounds with long brown hair and facial hair. His vehicle was described as a gold or tan 1996 Toyota Corolla with a broken driver’s side tail light.

Miller was in custody by 9:30 p.m., said Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen.

Court records show that Miller was convicted of burglary in 2006 and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Lowen said he did not know whether the attempted abduction was related to recent attempted abductions in Crystal Lake, but that the Crystal Lake Police Department had been notified of the arrest.

In the first Crystal Lake incident near West Elementary School last week, the suspect was described as a man between 30 and 40 years old, clean-shaven, with tan skin and dark brown or black hair.

The 9-year-old female victim picked out a Volkswagen Passat when shown different pictures of cars, but said the car was gold colored and had four doors.

On Tuesday, a student near Coventry Elementary School was approached by two unidentified men during the afternoon.

The vehicle involved in this incident was described as a black, two-door, older model with a “boxy rear” and partial license plate of “646.”

Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.

Man arrested in Woodstock for attempted child abduction | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Jonathan A. Pease, 28, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and criminal damage to property today. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped an additional count of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault.

The agreement did not affect the sentencing range Pease faces. He could be sentenced to probation or to between two and five years in prison.

His attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jason Majer, said Pease will undergo an evaluation considering whether he would be a good candidate for intensive probation.

Pease went into the Starbucks in downtown Crystal Lake about 7 a.m. Nov. 14 and intimidated an employee who gave him a cup of coffee, police said.

He remained agitated and tossed the cup of coffee in the face of a second employee who approached him to try to calm him, police said. She suffered second-degree burns, according to court records.

In the ruckus, Pease also damaged a plastic supply holder on the counter, according to court records.

Two off-duty police officers, who were in the coffee shop by coincidence, subdued him and detained him until Crystal Lake police arrived.

By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI

jduchnowski@nwherald.com

Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.

Coffee assault could net five years in prison for Crystal Lake homeless man | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Jennifer Hall says that while she and her fiance were leaving the Jewel store at 1224 S. Wabash Ave. on Aug. 25, 2008, her 36th birthday, she was approached by Derrick King and Joyce Burgess.

The two requested a cigarette and when Hall denied them, she was physically attacked — losing most of her teeth and ending up with 85 staples in her head.

The complaint states that “homeless persons and others were known to loiter outside the [store], commonly congregating on the wall along the sidewalk.”

The complaint further states that Jewel was negligent when it, among other things, “improperly permitted homeless persons and others to loiter on said premises when they knew or should have known that such persons had a violent propensity,” and “that such persons posed a risk to persons lawfully on said premises.”

Read more and look at the lawsuit at  Chicago Bar-Tender.

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Woman sues store after being attacked by homeless pair | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Vincent Hampton, 52, who may be homeless, was found at 400 block of East 87th Street in Chicago and pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. this morning., according to the spokesman.

Linda Deleon, of the 7100 block of Krause Avenue of Streamwood, was found in the Poplar Creek Forest Preserve on Thursday and pronounced dead at 7:35 p.m., said the spokesman.

Preliminarily it appeared that the two had died from cold exposure but a final cause of death is pending an autopsy scheduled for Saturday, the spokesman said.

– Staff report

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Man and woman may have died from cold exposure | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

It’s common knowledge that you lose as much as 80 percent of your body heat through your head.

As temperatures plummet outside, wearing a hat can be one of the best ways to keep warm.

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford proper headwear to protect their head and ears during the long winter months.

In an effort to help disadvantage people keep warm, The Headwear Association will donate thousands of hats to homeless shelters and nonprofit organizations nationwide on Thursday, December 10.

“Many of us read or hear about those less fortunate than ourselves and wish there was something we could do to help,” said David Goldman, president of The Headwear Association.

“We decided that our organization could do our part by providing wool, felt, knit and fleece beanies and caps to underprivileged men, women and children to help keep them warm during the brutal winter months.”

For anyone who spends time outside this winter, wearing a hat is a smart preventive measure to help avoid getting sick.

If your body doesn’t have to work so hard keeping warm it will have more resources to keep you healthy during the cold and flu season.

The participants of this year’s Headwear for the Homeless campaign include:

• Bollman Hats to Opportunity House and Mary’s Shelter in Reading, PA; Robinhood Foundation, NY and St. Vincent de Paul Center, Chicago
• Dorfman-Pacific, Stockton, CA to Women’s Center of San Joaquin County, Stockton Homeless Shelter and Haven of Peace Inc.
• Grace Hats to Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, NYC
• Hat Attack to MGR Foundation in Chicago
• NES Enterprises, Jay Gerish Co. and Kathy Jeanne Inc. to Eva’s Village in Paterson, NJ
• Outdoor Cap, Bentonville, AR to Benton County Women’s Shelter-Domestic Violence Shelter, Genesis House-Daytime Shelter, Havenwood-Transitional housing for single parents, NWA Children’s Shelter-Children’s Shelter, Peace At Home Family Shelter-Domestic Violence Shelter, Salvation Army-Homeless Shelter, Youth Bridge-Troubled Teens
• Outback Trading to Ridge Ave. Shelter in Philadelphia, PA
• Philadelphia Rapid Transit to The Haddonfield Friends School “Mitten Tree”
• San Diego Hat, Carlsbad, CA to Bread of Life Rescue Mission

For more information about The Headwear Association, please visit theheadwearassociation.org or contact Susan Weiss, SWPR, 312-222-1337, susan@swpr.biz

Headwear Association Gives Away Thousands of Warm Hats to Shelters and Non-Profit Organizations Nationwide | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“The National Runaway Switchboard is a valuable resource for runaway and homeless youth and their families,” said Mike Lufrano, Cubs senior vice president, community affairs.

“The Cubs are proud to support National Runaway Switchboard and the work they do in our community. This is our fourth consecutive Thanksgiving together and we have seen first hand the impact it can make.”

National Runaway Switchboard’s mission is to keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.

The organization operates a national communication system for runaway and homeless youth through its 1-800-RUNAWAY crisis hotline and 1800RUNAWAY.org Web site.

Youth and family members call the hotline to work through problems and to find local agencies and organizations to help.

“November is National Runaway Prevention Month and this dinner provides National Runaway Switchboard the opportunity to educate area runaway and homeless youth about the help they can receive by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY,” said Maureen Blaha, National Runaway Switchboard executive director.

“And thanks to the Cubs, we’re able to let these youth know they’re not alone and help is available.”

The youth come to the dinner from local organizations including: The Night Ministry Open Door Shelter Lake View, The Night Ministry Open Door Shelter West Town, Center on Halsted, Teen Living Program/Belfort House, Heartland Alliance/Neon Street Program, Alternatives Inc., La Casa Norte, and Boys and Girls Town Shelter.

Several members of the Chicago Cubs front office staff and WGN’s Cubs television producer Bob Vorwald will volunteer at the event.

For more information on the event, contact the Cubs Community Affairs office at 773-404-CUBS or Joel Kessel of the National Runway Switchboard at 773-209-6125.

National Runaway Switchboard Statistics

National Runaway Switchboard is the national communication system for homeless and runaway youth. Through its 1-800-RUNAWAY national crisis hotline, the organization handled 114,097 calls in 2008.

Out of all crisis calls National Runaway Switchboard handled throughout the country with youth in 2008, more than 50 percent were already on the street as a runaway, throwaway, or homeless youth.

And it is estimated that between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year in the United States. The top reasons youth call are family dynamics (divorce, remarriage, problems with siblings) and abuse (substance, physical, sexual, neglect).

About National Runaway Switchboard

Established in 1971, National Runaway Switchboard serves as the federally designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth.

Recognized as the oldest hotline of its kind in the world, National Runaway Switchboard, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, handles an average of 100,000 calls annually-more than 3 million calls since the organization’s inception.

NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

More than 13,000 youth have been reunited with their families through National Runaway Switchboard’s Home Free program done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc.

National Runaway Switchboard’s crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY.

For more information, visit 1800RUNAWAY.org.

Chicago Cubs, National Runaway Switchboard Host Holiday Dinner for Runaway and Homeless Youth | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

IDVA Director Dan Grant was joined by State Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee) and State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) at the facility, which was the first in Illinois to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans.

“The Prince Home has done an incredible job of providing housing and supportive services to homeless veterans, and also helping to restore their independence and dignity,” said IDVA Director Dan Grant.

“The Prince Home is a shining example of the leadership the State of Illinois has shown in caring for Veterans and meeting their needs.”

Prince Home, located on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Manteno, opened in 2007 and provides housing and supportive services for 15 homeless and disabled veterans.

The Prince Home now serves as a national model for meeting the needs of homeless and disabled veterans, including veterans who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The event was free and open to the public, and ran from 8 a.m. until noon.

“Prince Home is serving veterans who are homeless with respect and dignity. By providing housing, advocacy, therapeutic and support services, Prince Home fosters integrity, duty and commitment to cultivate individual growth and independence,” said Deanna Mackey, Prince Home administrator.

November is National Homeless Awareness Month and homelessness is a crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of veterans nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Most homeless veterans are male, and nearly half suffer from mental illness, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Prince Home open house was designed to bring additional awareness and share information about how the State of Illinois is assisting veterans who are homeless.

Since opening, 42 male and female veterans, ranging in age from 25 to 62, have utilized Prince Home. The average stay is about five months.

The home has a staff of nine skilled professionals with social services backgrounds, including the administrator, caseworkers, addiction counselors and a psychiatric nurse.

Residents are required to participate in a structured curriculum and planned programs and activities including job and housing search, volunteer work and chores.

Residents are also required to budget the income they do receive, and a portion of it is placed in a “discharge savings trust fund” when they are ready to be discharged.

“The men and women who utilize Prince Home are proud individuals who’ve served their country with honor. Those who have fallen on hard times have earned our help,” Director Grant said.

“We are restoring structure, and step-by-step, helping them to rebuild their lives.”

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Brings Awareness to Homeless Vets at Prince Home | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.