Women Veterans Center 5th Birthday Success!

The first and only non-profit program dedicated to helping military women Raised over $20,000 for annual celebration

On Thursday, January 17, The Veterans Multi-Service Center’s Women Veterans Center (WVC) celebrated their milestone 5^th Birthday with a sold-out event, recognizing and honoring 800+ military women and their families, and a host of community supporters. The WVC is the only community-based facility in the Philadelphia region – and one of only a handful in the entire United States – dedicated to championing the growing needs of female veterans.

Media personality Nicole Michalik emceed the celebratory reception at the Independence Visitors Center, along with keynote speaker Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, President of Independence Blue Cross Foundation. The evening featured an inspiring speech from Faith Shockley, a female veteran who has fought bravely in the past year to overcome both sexual assault and a substance misuse. Shockley, thanks in large part to her strong support system at the WVC, has been clean and sober for six months. “Faith is one of the strongest women I know and a shining example of what we can achieve when we work together to empower women,” says Program Manager Anna Stormer. “The VMC’s Women Veterans Center was the first and, to my knowledge, the only facility of its kind in the United States. The Veterans Multi-Service Center is proud to host a program run and supported by women, and striving to empower our consumers every day, each at their individual point of need.” Since 2014, the WVC has provided comprehensive assistance to 836 military women and their families. Here are some other facts and figures about the program and female veterans.

Nearly 84% of female veterans are of working age (17-64), compared to 55% of male veterans
WVC’s consumers are mainly African-American women, aged 55+ and earning $14,000 annually
In 2011, 10% of female veterans lived below the poverty threshold, compared to 6.6% of male veterans
Approximately 2% of all female veterans will experience homelessness over the course of a year; and approximately 15% of female veterans already living in poverty will experience homelessness
Female veterans are more than twice as likely as non-veteran women to experience homelessness
Women make up the fastest growing population of veterans following 9/11; 1% of the population are veterans and 10% of them are women
One in six female veterans report being sexually assaulted during their service
Female veterans are two times more likely to engage in suicide than civilian women