To Eliminate Homelessness among Veterans in Central Florida
National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2008 by George Taylor Sr. and his friends who were passionate about helping homeless veterans in their community. They started by going out in the woods in Titusville to find homeless veterans, give them food and encourage them to enroll in the VA. Their mission soon evolved to eliminate homelessness among veterans in Central Florida by providing street outreach, housing assistance, and transitional housing facilities.
Since then, NVHS has made a remarkable impact on reducing veteran homelessness in Brevard County. According to the Bi-Annual Point in Time Count, the homeless veteran population has decreased from 1,800 in 2008 to less than 200 in 2024, an amazing 90% reduction! However, NVHS is not satisfied with this achievement and strives to reach mission complete by housing all the homeless veterans and preventing the at-risk veterans from losing their homes. According to the US Census Bureau, there are 4,700 veterans in Brevard County that are in poverty and need support.
What makes NVHS truly unique is the fact that they tackle homelessness directly where it exists…on the streets of their community. They proactively go out to find their clients through street level outreach where they live, provide basic needs to ensure their survival and build rapport, and connect them to any organization that offers a service beneficial to them, rapidly moving from homeless to housed.
NVHS is also committed to being fiscally responsible and transparent. They have a Platinum rating on GuideStar, and a 4 of 4 rating on Charity Navigator.
In 2020, NVHS lost its founder and president, George Taylor Sr., who dedicated his life to serving his fellow veterans. His son, George Taylor Jr., who had been the vice president of the organization since 2009, was appointed as the president and board chair by the board of directors. He continues to lead NVHS with the same vision and passion as his father.
To find out more about NVHS and the difference they make on a daily basis, read their blog, visit their programs page, or contact them directly.
Please view their NVHS Brochure here.
Please click here to view videos.
Operations
George Taylor Jr
President/CEO
Jennifer Taylor
Chief Operations Officer
Michael Weller
Chief Financial Officer
Kasey Corson
Community Relations Director
Jan Taylor
Housing Program Manager
Greg Bowman
Community Outreach Manager
Deirdre Seifert
Administrative Coordinator
Janet Thurman
Prevention Coordinator
Jennell Newton Jones
Outreach Coordinator
Board of Directors
Meet the NVHS Board Of Directors. This team of people have the veterans best interest at heart and represent that interest in the community.
GEORGE TAYLOR JR.
Chairman
STEPHEN BURDETT
CPA Treasurer
Arthur “Gunner” Dudley
DANA BLICKLEY
NORMAN MOODY
LISA NASH
Secretary
STU SMITH
THOMAS SCHMUTZ
Read From Our Blog About Us
Why Referrals Matter Before Housing Instability Becomes Homelessness
When a veteran loses housing, the crisis often starts long before they sleep outside, move into a vehicle, or enter an emergency shelter. A missed rent payment, an eviction notice, an unexpected expense, reduced income, or an unsafe living [...]
From Outreach to Housing Stability: How NVHS Support Works
Finding the right support can be difficult when a veteran is experiencing homelessness or fears losing their home. A veteran may know they need help but not know which program fits their situation, where to begin, or what happens after [...]
Florida Winter vs. Northern Winter: Why Florida’s Cold Weather Still Puts Veterans at Risk
Florida winters may look mild compared with the freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall common in northern states, but that does not mean cold weather is harmless for veterans without stable housing. A night in the 40s can feel very [...]