Don't fall for every homeless vet sales pitch

Wednesday’s Coeur d’Alene Press pictured a veteran placing a $100 donation into an ammo box adorned with American flags used by the nonprofit America’s Homeless Veterans. The funds were to “help provide vital programs, services and support to veterans to obtain and sustain housing, food and shelter.”

Since 1996, I have been active in veterans affairs locally, serving as Chapter Adjutant, Commander and State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans. Our 590 members have many ties with all of the local veterans organizations and the county, state and federal offices. We have no knowledge of this group doing anything for anyone.

On the web, there is a 501(c)(3) called the Center for American Homeless Veterans but doing business as American Homeless and Disabled Veterans (AHDV), also known as Association for Homeless and Disabled Veterans. Their most recent IRS Form 990 for the year ending Sept. 30, 2014, reveals the following information:

ADHV collected $2,126,709 in total revenue, 98% of which was collected by the firm Outreach Calling. ADHV paid that company 68% of the revenue they collected — $1,424,197.

- A dollar donated to ADHV was spent as follows:

- 67 cents to the fundraiser

- 21 cents to other expenses, primarily consulting

- 10 cents to salaries, benefits and payroll taxes

- 1 cent to legal, accounting, interest

- 1 cent to office, IT, insurance

ADHV, in theory, educates the public and lobbies Congress with some of the consulting expenses. In reality, real assistance comes from old line veterans’ organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc. Fort Sherman Chapter 9 with an income of more than $40,000 spends nearly every penny directly on local veterans and their families.

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Bob Hunt is a Post Falls resident.