The Fastest Growing Segment of the Homeless Population Finds a Voice
illi News/10202451

ORLANDO, Fla. - illiNews -- "Never Leave a Fallen Comrade." Although that quote hails from the Soldier's Creed, it applies to every man and woman who has ever worn a U.S. Military uniform. Those words are important and held in high regard on and off the battlefield, but none ever imagine that the battlefield will be on American soil. When veterans arrive home, however, many are left behind, forgotten, or even left homeless, but more and more, those being left behind are our women warriors. Therefore, the creed is just as important in a veteran's day-to-day life as it was when they served.

This year's Ms. Veteran America competition, highlighting the "Women Beyond the Uniform," will have a little extra snap in the hip. FOX Weather Meteorologist, Nick Kosir, famously known as the "The Dancing Weatherman," will entertain and keep the competition flowing as he Emcee's the 2022 Ms. Veteran America competition.

Ms. Veteran America was created in 2012 because on any given day in the United States there are over 55,000 homeless women veterans. This is a staggering statistic that Ms. Veteran America has been combating for over a decade. The next Ms. Veteran America will be crowned on Sunday, October 30th, presented by Aventon Companies, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando where she will begin her new mission. She will travel the country advocating, fundraising, and supporting homeless women veterans and their children, and her fellow sisters-in-arms.

"As an organization with many former servicemen and women in our ranks, we fully realize the importance of supporting our troops. We are very proud to partner with Final Salute in order to help them continue their mission of assisting homeless, women veterans. It is an extremely worthy cause that we wholeheartedly support," said Mark K. Coletta, Senior Managing Director of Aventon Companies and a Marine Corps Veteran.

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"The Woman Beyond The Uniform" is more than a tagline because each woman warrior is more than the uniform – they're wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, advocates, and everything in between. They are why we never leave a fallen comrade. They are why Ms. Veteran America has a platform and why she advocates as a unified voice. These women should not be left behind – these heroes should not be homeless.

Since 2012, Ms. Veteran America has provided a voice to homeless women veterans, and this movement has raised over $705,000 to support the mission of Final Salute, Inc.

The 2022 Ms. Veteran America competition is on Sunday, October 30th at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, FL. This year's event is back in-person and will be streamed live too. The 25 finalists represent different branches of the military, service era, combat deployments, and military occupations. Prior to the finale, the finalists will be put through a rigorous round of interviews testing their knowledge of Final Salute, Ms. Veteran America, and Women in Military History. In addition, they have an opportunity to present a lip-sync routine as part of their talent requirement, so you're in for an awesome show!

"When I raised my right hand to defend my country and promised to never leave a soldier behind, I made a lifetime commitment. We have too many homeless women veterans in this country. Ms. Veteran America is on a mission to combat this plague that has infected our country for too long. It's beyond time to have a cure in place to ensure that every veteran has a place to call home. People often ask why I chose this 'type' of event to showcase women and highlight women veterans. There are two reasons: One, because no woman joined the military to make a man of herself, and two, because we were all proud to Serve Like A Girl!" states Maj. Jas Boothe, Founder, Ms. Veteran America and Final Salute Inc.

Maj. 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.

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Ms. Veteran America serves as a role model, teaching and empowering young women to support, inspire and lift-up one another. Proceeds from the Ms. VeteranAmerica competition supports the national nonprofit, Final Salute, Inc. (www.finalsaluteinc.org), which provides housing, job support, and educational opportunities to women veterans in need. To date, Final Salute, Inc. has supported over 8,000 women veterans and their children in over 30 states and territories, provided over 17,000 days of housing and raised over $3 million in support of their mission.

To learn more about Ms. Veteran America and the 2022 competition in Orlando, FL, please visit www.msveteranamerica.org. To purchase tickets, visit https://MVA2022.eventbrite.com.

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Previous Ms. Veteran America Title Holders
2012 – Denyse Gordon-Watts
2013 – Allaina N. Rapps
2014 – Kimberly Youngling
2015 – Kerri Jeter
2016 – Molly Mae Potter
2017 – Lindsay Gutierrez
2018 – Desiree Pabon
2019 – Naviere Walkewicz
2020 – Mary Ann Hotaling
2021 – Elise Dent

About Ms. Veteran America
The Ms. Veteran America competition highlights more than the strength, courage and sacrifice of our nation's military women – it also reminds us that these women are mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. Ms. Veteran America is also a role model, teaching and empowering young women and girls to support, inspire and uplift one another. www.msveteranamerica.org

About Final Salute, Inc.
The mission of Final Salute, Inc is to provide homeless women veterans and their children with safe and suitable housing. Women veterans are currently the fastest growing homeless population in America, with an estimated 55,000 in their ranks. Heroes should not be homeless. www.finalsaluteinc.org