Can We End Veteran Homelessness? New Orleans Did!

2015-12-08T11:19:29-05:00

Can We End Veteran Homelessness? New Orleans Did!

RP Members take a look at what New Orleans accomplished!

https://youtu.be/Q0gC77167jw

As of this time last year, there were some 50,000 homeless veterans across this country. With those numbers in mind, some 300 mayors, 6 governors, and 71 other local officials around the country committed themselves and their local constituencies to find housing for all homeless veterans by the end of 2015. At the beginning of 2014, New Orleans identified some 193 homeless veterans in the city. Another 35 were identified over the course of the year.

By the end of 2014, New Orleans had housed 277 homeless veterans, essentially eliminating the problem for the veteran population in their city. The last known homeless veteran in the area was placed in his new digs on Jan. 2, 2015, bringing the total number housed to 278. By doing so, New Orleans became the first entity in the country to accomplish the goal of housing all of its homeless veterans. This is a real ray of hope for homeless veterans and homelessness in general.

New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu expressed the real and most meaningful motivation behind the effort in New Orleans when he said, “We owe our veterans our eternal gratitude for their service to this nation, and making sure that they have a place to call home is a small but powerful way we can show our appreciation.” It is a matter of reason and logic that having a house, an address, a place to call their own, will go a long way toward restoring the dignity and self-respect of these formerly homeless men and women, but it will also help them to get work, to take charge of their own lives, and become participating members of the society once again.

New Orleans eliminates homelessness amongst city's vets / Mayor Mitch Landrieu

New Orleans eliminates homelessness amongst city's vets New Orleans is the first city to meet and exceed First Lady Michelle Obama’s challenge to eradicate v...

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made Dec 8 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-12-08T11:30:55-05:00

That is truly amazing!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 8 at 2015 11:59 AM

2015-12-08T11:59:56-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs this announcement that New Orleans ended veterans homelessness is typical of big government actions. They tend to announce success when a policy or program is implemented instead of waiting until it has accomplished its mission. We read about the action by New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu earlier in the year focusing on 277 veterans being housed.
I hope nobody is gullible enough to believe that every homeless veteran in the New Orleans area has found suitable housing. The number of homeless veterans and others tends to increase in southern and warmer areas during the winter.
While many homeless veterans may let it be known they are veterans many others are sad/depressed and do not willingly let it be known.
Each veteran is an individual and some will experience homelessness at different points in their post-service life. I hope and pray that each is treated with the honor and dignity they so richly deserve.

Response by SGT Timothy Rocheleau made Dec 8 at 2015 6:35 PM

2015-12-08T18:35:43-05:00

Irregardless of whether they have found suitable housing for every veteran in their area with the announcement of placing 277 homeless vets into suitable housing is an accomplishment to be commended and to be proud of. To sit here and down talk it is irresponsible at the very least. If as you say there are bets out there "too depressed, sad or proud" to let it be known that they are in fact a homeless vet is not something that you can nor should place as a failure in the governments part of Lousiana. Housing this many people of any identified homeless population is a resounding success. What are you doing to aid homeless vets to find suitable housing?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 8 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-12-08T21:56:59-05:00

Tucson is making progress! Great for The Big Easy!

Response by SGT Beau Thomas made Dec 8 at 2015 11:46 PM

2015-12-08T23:46:01-05:00

I worked at a college VA dept that had a VRAP program aimed at homeless vets. I had the DD214 of each vet and I'll tell you that 95% of the homeless vets were discharged from the service with "General" or less, and most of that 95% served less than two years with very, very few being deployed. So why would the people owe anything to a "vet" who served a short period and got kicked out with a bad conduct discharge. We are reaping the benefits of lowering the standards to let people who should have never served enlist.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Dec 9 at 2015 9:21 AM

2015-12-09T09:21:28-05:00

We may not end homeless, but can be decrease if more family and friends get involve.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jan 23 at 2016 12:50 PM

2016-01-23T12:50:01-05:00

Have to put in a plug for Austin which has also participated in the national program over the past couple of years and recently announced that housing had been provided or committed to for all 500 or so homeless vets . Not all are actually in housing but housing has been identified to accommodate them in the near future. There will always be homeless vets and others, but the City has a mechanism in place to continually identify homeless vets and get them in the program. This program focuses on 'housing first' to be followed by finding the vets a source of income other than public grants to keep them housed on a more permanent basis.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/opinion/facebook-comments-jan-7-2016/npxTy/

Facebook comments: Jan. 7, 2016

Mayor Steve Adler said Wednesday that Austin now meets the federal definition of ending veteran homelessness— such as having a system in place and enough housing stock — so any veteran on the streets can move into housing within 90 days, as reported by the American-Statesman’s Andra Lim.

Response by SrA Kevin Bel made Jan 7 at 2018 10:22 PM

2018-01-07T22:22:07-05:00

I went from having nowhere to live and in less than 24hrs the VA had me in a condo with 3 other vets on a block with 10-15 other condos. It was small a community and being with other veterans in the same situation helped get me back motivated and on my feet quickly.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2019 12:49 PM

2019-06-06T12:49:10-04:00

Nice Share COL Mikel J. Burroughs - No Veteran should be left on the streets in my opinion. Many have substance abuse problems yes, but they deserve treatment and hosing in a safe location. If we offer housing & monetary assistance/green cards to all foreigners who currently claim asylum in the US (as many States and cities do), then we should put Veterans on an equal level at least.