Iraq Veteran Forgit R allies Virginians to Help Homeless Veterans at Thanksgiving November 20, 2007 Contact Will Jenkins 757-305-6673 email: will@forgit2007.com Today, Bronze Star Recipient and Iraq War veteran Philip Forgit called upon Virginians to remember the state's hundreds of homeless veterans this Thanksgiving. Forgit, who is running for the first Congressional district seat in the December 11 election, is seeking to raise awareness of the difficulties veterans face when they return home from war. According to the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients, veterans account for about one in four homeless people in America. Every year the Veteran's Administration estimates that over 400,000 veterans experience homelessness; other aid groups put that number even higher. "When I returned home from Iraq, I was grateful for the support of my family and church as I made the difficult transition back to normal life. However, today hundreds of thousands of veterans will spend Thanksgiving on the streets--forgotten by the nation they risked their lives to serve," said Forgit. "This Thanksgiving, I appeal to all Virginians--whether you support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or oppose them--to remember our brave veterans young and old and to show them they are not forgotten." Forgit is encouraging Virginians to contact their local Veterans Affairs (VA) office or a local homeless veterans provider to find out more about the needs in their community and how they can help. Citizens can also join a local homeless coalition or start one if there are none in their area. This year, more than 400 homeless veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been documented seeking aid, and the VA is worried that those numbers could rapidly increase soon. While the VA provides treatment and assistance to many veterans, aid groups estimate that over half of homeless veterans are left out because of lack of funding or personnel. "Our veterans deserve better," said Forgit.  "My first priority in Congress will be to make veteran?s benefits and health care funding for our vets mandatory in our national budget. I will also take the lead in modernizing the GI Bill.  As an Iraq war veteran and Naval Reservist, I will be a voice for our troops and veterans." After years of weak oversight and underfunding by the Republican-led Congresses, this year the 110th Congress passed the largest increase in funding for veterans health care in the 77 year history of the VA. Forgit and other local veterans are available for interviews on the needs of our troops and veterans.