Issue: Suffering in the Veteran community of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties caused by lack of adequate, readily available and reliable Veterans Administration healthcare. Our Veterans need a hospital in Homestead and the VA refuses to help. Population of South Florida has almost quadrupled in the preceding 20 years. Our Veteran population, now exiting almost 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, are burdened with medical and mental health needs associated with combat Veterans. The VA has not risen to that increased demand for physical and mental health care. Of immediate concern, the travel distance for medical care at the Bruce W. Carter Medical Center Miami is impractical and unacceptable. The very small, under serving clinics in Key West, Key Largo and Homestead are woefully inadequate for our Veteran’s needs. Why is this important? Because Veterans must travel 72 mile round trip from Homestead, 114 miles round trip from Key Largo and 322 miles round trip from Key West to the Bruce W. Carter VA Hospital in Miami for needed treatment! The hospital itself was opened in 1968 when the affected population was approximately 1/3 of what it is today. This is unacceptable and robs our Veterans of needed care. Homestead political leaders and community care about Veterans. The Homestead City Council voted, in a non-partisan resolution, to offer free of charge a 2 1/2-acre parcel to the VA allowing them to build a hospital to better serve the Veteran population. This is a prime location and a $1million property. Homestead is showing a caring and innovative approach in partnering between local government and Federal agency. To date, VA bureaucracy refuses to even consider this proposal. The proposed location is central to our South Miami-Dade County and Monroe County Veteran community. The present clinic location in Homestead is along a single road, with no bus service and virtually invisible to passersby. This location is also falling apart, there are mold issues compounding Veterans health concerns, inadequate parking and insufficient waiting room space. This is a satellite location with limited services just like the clinics in Key Largo and Key West. Veterans deserve better care than what they are getting in South Florida. Many locals in the local Veteran community are unaware of this hidden asset. The proposed location is across the street from Miami-Dade County bus service and adjacent to major thoroughfares of the Florida Turnpike, US 1 and Krome Avenue. Would you please make your voice heard in support of underserved Veterans? Why should Veterans have to beg for the medical and mental health services already promised? Please sign this petition demanding the VA construct a hospital facility on property donated by the City of Homestead. This initiative enjoys great support with Veterans and residents in the South Florida area. As we move forward, we’re hoping for 500,000 signatures from concerned citizens like you. Support Veterans Not Forgotten Want to stay updated and help spread the word? Follow Veterans Not Forgotten (VNF) on our social media and share our message with others. Every follow, share, and signature helps us advocate for better VA healthcare for South Florida veterans. TikTok: @veteransnotforgotten Instagram: @veterans_not_forgotten Email: veteransnotforgotten26@gmail.com Facebook: Veterans Not Forgotten