Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski is attending a White House announcement Wednesday on The Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness at the request of First Lady Michelle Obama.

Outgoing US Department of Housing & Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan has set a goal of ending military veteran homelessness in 2015. The department estimates that nearly 58,000 veterans were homeless on any given night in 2013. Secretary Donovan is credited with helping to reduce homelessness among US veterans by 24 percent since 2010.

Mrs. Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, are the co-founders of a three year old White House initiative Joining Forces. It encourages Americans to support the men and women in the armed forces and their families. In April, Joining Forces announced pledges from foundations and corporations had reached more than $160MM to help veterans and their families get the services they need.

Wednesday’s announcement at the White House is scheduled for 12:45pm.

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