ARTICLE
Every week in Polk County, veterans quietly face eviction, food insecurity, housing instability, and homelessness — often without knowing where to turn for help. CASS Cares, formally known as Community Access Support Services Inc., is a Lakeland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that no veteran is left without housing, food, dignity, or hope. Today, the organization is officially launching its “Opening Our First Veteran Home” Campaign — an urgent initiative to open a transitional housing home for homeless and at-risk veterans in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and throughout Polk County. After carefully pausing the project to ensure long-term sustainability and responsible planning, CASS Cares has now secured a master lease and is preparing to immediately open the home for its first residents. “This is not a concept. This is not a future plan,” said Dr. M. Glynnes Smith, CEO and Founder of CASS Cares. “This is a real home that is ready to open now for veterans who would otherwise be sleeping in shelters, cars, unstable housing situations, or on the streets.” The home will provide supportive transitional housing combined with wraparound stabilization services designed to help veterans rebuild their lives with dignity, structure, accountability, and long-term support. CASS Cares works directly within the community to prevent evictions, stabilize households, provide emergency assistance, and connect veterans to critical resources through advocacy and case management services.Funding raised through the campaign will directly support: • Security deposit and lease activation — $4,000 • First three months of rent — $6,000 • Beds, furnishings, and household setup — $4,000 • Utilities and stabilization support — $2,000 • Emergency reserve to ensure continuity of care — $4,000 Total Immediate Campaign Goal: $20,000 Community impact examples include: • A $25 gift card can provide groceries for a veteran for several days • $1,200 can help house a veteran within 72 hours • $2,500 can prevent or end homelessness for 2–3 veterans • $5,000 can fully stabilize 5 or more veterans In addition to housing efforts, CASS Cares also provides free lawn care, handyman services, and companion care to homebound disabled and senior veterans throughout the community. To help sustain and expand these services, the organization is inviting businesses, churches, civic organizations, and community supporters to become founding donors and Legacy Partner Sponsors through cash donations, gift cards, in-kind contributions, and recurring monthly support. Leadership Giving Opportunities Include: • Community Donor — Any Amount • Furnishing Sponsor — $500+ • Room Sponsor — $1,000+ • Home Builder — $2,500+ • Founding Partner — $5,000+ Additional community giving levels include: • $10 – Welcome Home Supporter • $25 – Bedside Builder • $50 – Stability Partner • $100 – Room Sponsor • $250+ – Home Mission Partner “As a Legacy Partner Sponsor, supporters become trusted community partners standing beside veterans when it matters most,” Smith added. “The need is urgent, the impact stays local, and the outcomes are real.” CASS Cares believes this first veteran home will serve as a pilot model for future expansion throughout Polk County as the organization continues pursuing long-term solutions to veteran homelessness. The organization is encouraging the community to help create pathways toward long-term independence, stability, and dignity for veterans across Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Polk County. “We see you. We honor you. And together, we can move closer to a future with zero homeless veterans.” To donate, partner, sponsor, or learn more about the campaign, visit: CASS Cares Website Online donations may also be made at: CASS Cares Zeffy Campaign https://youtu.be/6wjMDTD1eMY?si=OoZPglK5WpR8Aso4 About CASS Cares Community Access Support Services Inc., operating as CASS Cares, is a nonprofit organization serving homeless and at-risk veterans and families throughout Lakeland, Winter Haven, Polk County, and Central Florida. The organization provides advocacy, emergency assistance, stabilization support, outreach, and community-based services focused on restoring dignity, stability, and hope to vulnerable veterans and families in need. Media & Community Contact: Dr. M. Glynnes Smith CEO & Founder, CASS Cares Phone: 813-730-0739 (Cell) Phone: 863-600-6796 (Office) Email: contact@casscares.org
Every week in Polk County, veterans quietly face eviction, food insecurity, housing instability, and homelessness — often without knowing where to turn for help. CASS Cares, formally known as Community Access Support Services Inc., is a Lakeland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that no veteran is left without housing, food, dignity, or hope.
Today, the organization is officially launching its “Opening Our First Veteran Home” Campaign — an urgent initiative to open a transitional housing home for homeless and at-risk veterans in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and throughout Polk County. After carefully pausing the project to ensure long-term sustainability and responsible planning, CASS Cares has now secured a master lease and is preparing to immediately open the home for its first residents.
“This is not a concept. This is not a future plan,” said Dr. M. Glynnes Smith, CEO and Founder of CASS Cares. “This is a real home that is ready to open now for veterans who would otherwise be sleeping in shelters, cars, unstable housing situations, or on the streets.” The home will provide supportive transitional housing combined with wraparound stabilization services designed to help veterans rebuild their lives with dignity, structure, accountability, and long-term support.
CASS Cares works directly within the community to prevent evictions, stabilize households, provide emergency assistance, and connect veterans to critical resources through advocacy and case management services.Funding raised through the campaign will directly support: • Security deposit and lease activation — $4,000 • First three months of rent — $6,000 • Beds, furnishings, and household setup — $4,000 • Utilities and stabilization support — $2,000 • Emergency reserve to ensure continuity of care — $4,000 Total Immediate Campaign Goal: $20,000
Community impact examples include: • A $25 gift card can provide groceries for a veteran for several days • $1,200 can help house a veteran within 72 hours • $2,500 can prevent or end homelessness for 2–3 veterans • $5,000 can fully stabilize 5 or more veterans
In addition to housing efforts, CASS Cares also provides free lawn care, handyman services, and companion care to homebound disabled and senior veterans throughout the community. To help sustain and expand these services, the organization is inviting businesses, churches, civic organizations, and community supporters to become founding donors and Legacy Partner Sponsors through cash donations, gift cards, in-kind contributions, and recurring monthly support.
Leadership Giving Opportunities Include: • Community Donor — Any Amount • Furnishing Sponsor — $500+ • Room Sponsor — $1,000+ • Home Builder — $2,500+ • Founding Partner — $5,000+
Additional community giving levels include: • $10 – Welcome Home Supporter • $25 – Bedside Builder • $50 – Stability Partner • $100 – Room Sponsor • $250+ – Home Mission Partner
“As a Legacy Partner Sponsor, supporters become trusted community partners standing beside veterans when it matters most,” Smith added. “The need is urgent, the impact stays local, and the outcomes are real.” CASS Cares believes this first veteran home will serve as a pilot model for future expansion throughout Polk County as the organization continues pursuing long-term solutions to veteran homelessness.
The organization is encouraging the community to help create pathways toward long-term independence, stability, and dignity for veterans across Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Polk County. “We see you. We honor you. And together, we can move closer to a future with zero homeless veterans.”
To donate, partner, sponsor, or learn more about the campaign, visit: CASS Cares Website
Online donations may also be made at: CASS Cares Zeffy Campaign
https://youtu.be/6wjMDTD1eMY?si=OoZPglK5WpR8Aso4
About CASS Cares
Community Access Support Services Inc., operating as CASS Cares, is a nonprofit organization serving homeless and at-risk veterans and families throughout Lakeland, Winter Haven, Polk County, and Central Florida. The organization provides advocacy, emergency assistance, stabilization support, outreach, and community-based services focused on restoring dignity, stability, and hope to vulnerable veterans and families in need.
Media & Community Contact: Dr. M. Glynnes Smith CEO & Founder, CASS Cares Phone: 813-730-0739 (Cell) Phone: 863-600-6796 (Office) Email: contact@casscares.org