Studies reviewed from 2021 shows there are more than two million women veterans currently living in the United States. Past research has shown that women who are experiencing homelessness, are often more likely to be veterans, than those in the general population. Furthermore, statistically one in three women veterans have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) ranging from repeated threatening sexual harassment to sexual and aggravated sexual assault. Further research revealed this study released last year from a Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) report cited online at https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105360 which states, "SSVF officials said women veterans are more likely than men to be living with children and thus, require larger, more expensive apartments". These are just two of the multiple, credible, female veteran statistics available from online government and institutional resources.
Since we began our mission in 2018 at Operation WEBS, we've been working together with county officials to develop the first tiny home farming community in North Santa Barbara County, CA where women veterans can safely reside together in our tiny home community as a part of our rapid re-housing initiative. Our program initiative is designed for women veterans to live and work together on the farm (Restoration Ranch) to rebuild their lives through responsibility, purpose, farm work, and camaraderie, while receiving veteran supportive services they so desperately need and deserve. We have also developed relationships with local Trades Unions (Plumber, Electricians, Carpenters) to not only partner in the construction of our Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW), but also to educate our veterans on Apprenticeship opportunities available to them in California and across the United States. Some of our milestones can be explored via the the following links to news stories over the past four years:
https://people.com/human-interest/veteran-sandy-blair-operation-webs-tiny-homes/
https://greatnonprofits.org/org/operation-webs-women-empowered-build-strong
Operation WEBS and our partners are relentlessly working to develop a 10 acre farming community where women veterans can rebuild their lives together through responsibility, renewed purpose, and organic permaculture and animal care programs, while receiving various veteran supportive services. Veteran resources already secured include transportation to and from appointments, tele-healthcare for counseling needs, new career opportunities with the Building Trades Unions for Apprenticeships, new education opportunities local Allan Hancock Community College Veterans Services Department, and job placement, to name a few. The services offered include but are by no means limited to the following:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Our high quality, ANSI certified, tiny homes on wheels (THOW) offers safe and affordable housing solutions to underserved women veterans, which is our top priority at OpWEBS. We have worked to provide rapid re-housing through word of mouth, SSVF, Good Samaritan, and HUD VASH for long and short term housing stability.
STABILITY: Women Veterans currently couch surfing or living unhoused in cars, or on the streets in vulnerable situations can find safety and support at OpWEBS! (DD-214)
HEALING: Holistic therapy through organic gardening and permaculture development, farm animal care, buddy system nature walks and self reflection, and organic conversations which develop to sharing experiences all contributes to the security and stability offered at OpWEBS to rebuild their life and dignity.
SAFETY: Remote, 17 acre property offers ranch style living with use of 10 acres and a community home, away from the distractions of day-to-day life in town.
RENEWED PURPOSE: Daily chores and responsibilities, various workshops events, veteran services collaboration, plus new education and career opportunities.
COMMUNITY: Shared living with other women veterans offers a sense of security and camaraderie. Safety, self-reliance, and confidence grows within our veterans knowing they are not alone on their journey to rebuild their lives stronger, together.
You are invited to join us on this life changing journey! Together we can serve the growing population of underserved women veterans in our communities who are silently struggling to rebuild their lives after traumas endured during their military service to protect the FREEDOMS of everyone living in the United States! 100% of your generous contribution directly impacts our mission and you can choose which projects to fund and dedicate your support to a loved one.
All members who serve at Operation WEBS are dedicated to serving as non-paid volunteers. THANK YOU for your compassion, respect, and support for all our daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers & grand daughters, nieces, and God-daughters who selfishly volunteered to defend our freedoms, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
God bless America!
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