(NAPSA)—According to a sur- vey by Harris Interactive, 75 per- cent of military families believe that owning a homeis one of the most important things to service members upon returning from active duty. The reasons include a desire to have their own residence (73 percent), establishing a household (48 percent), and financial security (36 percent). In addition, the majority of veterans (88 percent) said that owning a home makes them feel safer. While one roadblock that veterans face in the pursuit of homeownership is securing steady employment, they display a generally positive attitude in regard to potential employers andpositions. *More than two-thirds believe that employers appreciate their unique skills learned in the mili- tary, while the same 67 percent believe employers are eager to hire veterans. *It’s important to note, however, that nearly half agree that their skill set does not match the requirements for many available positions. *Only one in five considered opening their own business when they returned home from the military. All totaled, finding a suitable home and employment and assimilating back into civilian life are challenges many veterans and their families face. Fortunately, services for veterans, including employment, mental health pro- Returning veterans want a home and a job. Fortunately, some organizations can help them get both. grams, housing and other special care services, are available. For example, Easter Seals provides direct services to the new and unmet needs of tens of thousands of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and “Recruiting America’s Heroes,” offered by Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, provides returning veterans who are interested in becoming real estate agents with specific benefits to make a smooth transition. Former military person- nel get special training programs and continuing education courses, discounts, and waived annual global conference registration fees. Anyone interested in learning more about the resources available to active and retired service memberscan call the Easter Seals Community One Source Hotline, (866) 423-4981, e-mail veterans@ easterseals.com or visit www. century21.com/aboutus/.
