Women Veterans Are Changing The Discussion Around Homelessness

An estimated 55,000 women veterans are homeless in the United States. The Ms. Veteran America competition has been changing lives since October 2012.

Online PR News � 25-September-2017 – An estimated 55,000 women veterans are homeless in the United States. These women take an oath to defend our country, only to return home from war to not have suitable assistance in place to help them make the transition from combat to civilian life. The Ms. Veteran America competition has been changing lives since October 2012.

The 25 finalists for Ms. Veteran America 2017, Presented by Cognosante, represent every branch of the United States military, will take the stage on Sunday, October 8th at 6:00pm at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, DC. One lucky woman veteran will accept the title of Ms. Veteran America 2017 and will travel the country advocating for homeless women veterans and their children.

Not only does Ms. Veteran America advocate for homeless women veterans and their children, but she serves as a role model, teaching and empowering young women to support, inspire and lift-up one another. Proceeds from the Ms. Veteran America competition supports the national nonprofit, Final Salute Inc. (www.finalsaluteinc.org), provide housing for homeless women veterans and their children. To date, Final SaluteInc. has supported over 3,600 Women Veterans and their children in over 30 states and territories, provided over 12,000 housing days and raised over $2 million to support to homeless women veterans and their children.

Jas Boothe (CNN Hero and Oprah Winfrey Standing Ovation Recipient) is the founder of Ms. Veteran America and Final Salute Inc. She was prompted to start Final Salute Inc. and bring attention to the fastest growing segment of the homeless demographic in America, women veterans, when she was made aware that no other resources existed for them and their children. Jas was homeless during 2005-2006, due to Hurricane Katrina and her battle with head, throat and neck cancer. No resources existed to help her during that challenging time. Boothe set out to make changes.

“Historically, it has always been women who have brought about change for other women; women veteran issues will also take such an approach. All of these women have stepped forward to become a voice for a population of forgotten veterans who feel as if America isnt listening to them. These women are the epitome of what it means to never leave a fallen comrade, said Major Boothe.

The 2017 Ms. Veteran America competition Master of Ceremonies and Celebrity Co-Host is actor Lamman Rucker a DC native of the hit series Greenleaf on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The Mistress of Ceremonies is Marissa Strock, Purple Heart Recipient, Combat Disabled Veteran, Glamputee and comedian.

The Keynote Speaker is Catherine Bach, Daisy Duke (Dukes of Hazard), and Special Guest, Nicole “Fifi” Malachowski, the first female Thunderbird Pilot.

Special honors will be presented to HomeAid Northern Virginia, Van Metre, Winchester Homes and the Home Depot Foundation for their support of Final Salute Inc. and the homeless women veterans and children they serve and support.

Other supporters include 4-Star Sponsor, CACI and Salute Sponsor, GrimmerTechnology & Operations, Inc.

The 2017 Ms. Veteran America competition will be held October 8th at 6:00pm at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, DC. Event tickets may be purchased at https://mva2017.eventbrite.com