Detour Donates Profits to Help Homeless Veterans
by: Dave Barber and Brian McNeal
The Michigan based bluegrass band Detour has committed profits from the sales of its song “Homeless Of The Brave” to Goodwill Industry’s Patriot Place project, a transitional housing community for Northern Michigan’s homeless veterans. On November 3rd, the band presented Goodwill of Michigan executives with a $1000.00 check from the proceeds of downloads and other sales of their song.
The song, which is included on their newest release “A Better Place,” w
as written by band member Jeff Rose as a direct response to a story that he heard on the radio about the plight of homeless veterans.
Rose was “stunned to learn that there are approximately 70,000 homeless veterans in this country and over 600 in northern Michigan alone”.
The song is a story about American veterans who return home, only to find they cannot get jobs, or in some cases, even find places to live and sleep. The chorus of the song sums up the hopefulness that Detour has for this project:
It’s time we stand up and say,
there’ll be hell to pay, if another soldier dies upon these streets,
In the richest land on earth, please tell me what it’s worth,
if we let them go down in defeat, oh there has to be a way that we can save,
those living in the land of the free and the homeless of “The Brave.”
there’ll be hell to pay, if another soldier dies upon these streets,
In the richest land on earth, please tell me what it’s worth,
if we let them go down in defeat, oh there has to be a way that we can save,
those living in the land of the free and the homeless of “The Brave.”
Based on that response and the ongoing feedback that Detour has received around the song they decided to seek a partnership with Goodwill to do whatever they can to assist homeless veterans. Rose noted that “I find it totally unfathomable that this situation exists in America, with all of the abundance that we enjoy”.
Michigan “bluegrass powerhouse” Detour, who placed a song from their second album “The Road That Lies Ahead” on the national bluegrass charts for nine months, is targeting airplay for the “Homeless Of The Brave” across the country with the goal of helping to raise even more awareness and funds.
Detour’s “A Better Place” CD is available online from Elderly Instruments or CDBaby. Downloads of the song may be purchased through iTunes, Amazon and other online stores.
The needs of homeless veterans are significant. Frequently, veterans have experienced horrific scenarios in war zones, resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These challenges often lead to substance abuse issues.
Often the skills learned while in active duty do not easily translate into the civilian workforce. However, these men have learned many other very employable leadership skills – they just need our help. Each of these factors can contribute to homelessness, and studies have shown that veterans overcome such obstacles in an environment of their peers.
Goodwill’s Patriot Place helps homeless veterans:
- cope with mental disabilities such as PTSD
- overcome substance abuse issues
- secure income through employment or VA and/or Social Security/Disability benefits
- find permanent housing.
Radio stations can download Public Service Announcements and Detour’s music at airplaydirect.com/music/detour
Pardon the small amount of wind noise in the microphone at about 1:50. It only lasts a few seconds.
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