Posted on Aug 4, 2015
Functional Zero: Housing Homeless Veterans ... Have you heard of this?
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I've been listening to this series on NPR about the VA's attempt to get vets off the streets and into housing. Based on the reports, it seems to be a program that is working. They're calling it a declaration of war on veteran homelessness. What do you think? Please listen to / read the report at this link. It sounds promising to me.
http://www.npr.org/2015/08/04/427419718/the-u-s-declared-war-on-veteran-homelessness-and-it-actually-could-win
http://www.npr.org/2015/08/04/427419718/the-u-s-declared-war-on-veteran-homelessness-and-it-actually-could-win
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Homeless
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Homeless
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 15
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The War on Drugs, The War on Poverty, The War on Terrorism, The War on Veteran Homelessness... what do these have in common? They're all failures. What else do they have in common? They're all managed in the District of Calamity. One more time, what else do they have in common? They're all political ploys to buy votes through pork barrel spending. Once upon a time there were effective programs. For example, Los Angeles had a model program for sheltering homeless veterans, a model community on the west side of the city, complete with housing, medical care, theaters, and all the other things that one might equate with civilized shelter. It was established and funded locally. What happened to it? It was turned over to the VA. What happened then? Just what you might expect: The veterans were cast out on the streets, the shelter destroyed, the land appropriated and rented out (with the income disappearing, unaccounted for). Is there a lesson in this? What do you think?
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SGT Carl Watson
I am very sorry to hear this about LA, CA as the program sounded good. The VA in Memphis first in 2018 sent me upstairs in the VAMC to speak with someone. When the employee returned from lunch, he told me to go blocks away on another street almost downtown. Fortunately I had a vehicle. After waiting some time one representative showed me homeless shelter listings then he printed some listing of two churches and several homeless shelters.
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The homeless veterans should win. It is criminal we have heros living on the street!
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Suspended Profile
It's wonderful that VA in NOLA has accomplished this. I wish it were true for every VAMC in the country. ONE homeless vet is too many...
UNTIL THEY ALL COME HOME
UNTIL THEY ALL COME HOME
SSG Ricardo Marcial
I can tell you from experience, as i'm currently in a homeless veteran transition home that in Chicago it's horrible. Places like Safe Haven and Pacific Gardens are the worst place a veteran can go to. 60 day max stay and the organizations that are supposed to go these places to assist veterans show up late, leave early or just don't show up.
Take "Not so" Safe Haven, 2 dedicated wings for veterans, male and females. Mixed with a convict population waiting for trial or some other legal issue. Single mothers with their children as well. Now picture the dining facility, single moms with their children, ages range from newborn to 12 yrs old. Some watching over their own, others could care less. Now about the same time the families are eating, they bring in the 50-70 convicts, those that have been in the system before do what they want, the rest are a cluster with no regard for the families. Safe Haven staff a mix of ex-cons and who knows from where they got the rest. Now add the veterans, who's staff may or may not put there time in to get anything done for the veteran. Food is recycled on a daily bases. Bed space for the veterans are maintained full, 70 male 70 female. If any bed is empty, the agency still their money for the bed space and meals.
Now take the 60 day stay, take weekends and holidays out, that's 42 days you have to get either transitional housing, if you find a job they may assist you with first months rent and security deposit. Now on Thursdays, that is the designated day for resource groups to come help you as part of the 25 Cities program to end veteran homelessness. Well if they show up, it s plus, it you have all your documentation that's a plus. if you don't well your 60 days will end, they may give you and extension or they may kick you out.
i could go on about this place but I think I painted the picture for all to see. The idea is great, the process is lacking over site in some places and like any other federal program it is being abused. I spent 2 weeks in that hell hole. Those that remain the whole 60 days, well they need a prayer and some real help.
Take "Not so" Safe Haven, 2 dedicated wings for veterans, male and females. Mixed with a convict population waiting for trial or some other legal issue. Single mothers with their children as well. Now picture the dining facility, single moms with their children, ages range from newborn to 12 yrs old. Some watching over their own, others could care less. Now about the same time the families are eating, they bring in the 50-70 convicts, those that have been in the system before do what they want, the rest are a cluster with no regard for the families. Safe Haven staff a mix of ex-cons and who knows from where they got the rest. Now add the veterans, who's staff may or may not put there time in to get anything done for the veteran. Food is recycled on a daily bases. Bed space for the veterans are maintained full, 70 male 70 female. If any bed is empty, the agency still their money for the bed space and meals.
Now take the 60 day stay, take weekends and holidays out, that's 42 days you have to get either transitional housing, if you find a job they may assist you with first months rent and security deposit. Now on Thursdays, that is the designated day for resource groups to come help you as part of the 25 Cities program to end veteran homelessness. Well if they show up, it s plus, it you have all your documentation that's a plus. if you don't well your 60 days will end, they may give you and extension or they may kick you out.
i could go on about this place but I think I painted the picture for all to see. The idea is great, the process is lacking over site in some places and like any other federal program it is being abused. I spent 2 weeks in that hell hole. Those that remain the whole 60 days, well they need a prayer and some real help.
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Suspended Profile
SSG Ricardo Marcial I am very sorry to hear that you are having such troubles. I hope that you will find an answer soon...
SSG Ricardo Marcial
LCDR Rabbi Jason Matlow,
My situation has changed, I housing his now much better, and I finally after 3+ years I'm finally working.
This topic is very personal to me. And it burns me to see organizations abusing the system, and those that pay the price are those they are suppose to be helping.
My situation has changed, I housing his now much better, and I finally after 3+ years I'm finally working.
This topic is very personal to me. And it burns me to see organizations abusing the system, and those that pay the price are those they are suppose to be helping.
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Suspended Profile
Ricardo, I'm very glad to hear your situation has changed. I don't want you to share details publicly that you don't feel safe with, but are you getting all the help you need with everything? Please contact me off line if you need other help besides housing and job, which, thankfully, you have now...
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SGT Jeff Daley, you may have answered your own question (with a question), do some of these vets what help? Prior to working at the VA, I sent a brief 'tour' as a case manager with Goodwill NM who oversees the Homeless Veteran Housing 'grant' program here in ABQ. Half of my group was chronic homeless and could not make the transition. They didn't want to. Yes, the cold months, they did want shelter, but all of the responsibility with rent, bills, and yes, employment wasn't what they wanted.
I think we really need to examine the root cause of the homelessness; is it a lifestyle or is it an untreated mental illness condition. That's where I would start.
Thanks for the topic, more conversation needs to occur on this topic.
I think we really need to examine the root cause of the homelessness; is it a lifestyle or is it an untreated mental illness condition. That's where I would start.
Thanks for the topic, more conversation needs to occur on this topic.
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SGT Carl Watson
I was poor after I lost my job back in 1990. I did not or had not look for assistance from the VA after being rejected, mocked and taunted in 72, 74 and later in 91. I complained to some welfare recipient about how rude the social worker was when I applied for Food Stamps and Housing. I was advised just to put up with the attitude for one day and then the benefits will be granted. I had never applied for Food stamps or moved into a subsidize housing in my life. In 2000 Am Vet assisted me faster than the VA had. Some do need psychological help first after being treated not as a veteran should have been treated but I then was mistreated at the VAMC MHC and/or employees. I was again insulted, disrespected and lied about by several VAMC employees who I think could not have kept a job at a private hospital. Veterans need to be given an opportunity to visit private psychiatrist.
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Yes Heard something about it the last few days on NPR. I would like to hear more but it sounds wonderful.
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Seeing as you can't force something as coveted as a home on someone who doesn't want it, I think most places are doing pretty good, despite this" in decreasing the number of, and providing medical and other needs for the homeless veterans located in its cities. We're doing pretty good here in AZ, and community involvement is also noteworthy, but there are still quite a few out there we need to reach, as well as those who just don't want the help...
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
SPC Jeff Daley, PhD - I've worked with some through VFW Post 9972 and other VO's here in Sierra Vista as well as volunteered for a few of the Veterans Stand's and Job Fairs when I was Sr Vice Commander of the local VFW, and yes, the homelessness still exists, male and female vets, as well as a non-vets. Again, many actually welcome the help, but others were quite stubborn and unreceptive of us even being there. I did learn one thing though, the number we were able to assist was, indeed, far lower than those we "couldn't" and that try as we might, we couldn't help everyone, and some are going to destroy themselves no matter how much, short of forcing them, we try to help them... Quite disheartening, and affected me to the point I just couldn't do it anymore, but I still support in other ways, I just couldn't deal directly with attempting to even try to accept their choice of self destruction without my brain understanding why, after all, they are our brothers and sisters, even the non-military...
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
Another step in the right direction maybe... This may prompt more cities to provide shelters for the homeless... And possibly provide "central" location/easy access to our homeless vets... Just a thought...
"The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that half a million people are likely to be homeless on any given night. A study by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness found that 42% of homeless people sleep in public locations such as under bridges, in parks, or on the sidewalks."
"The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that half a million people are likely to be homeless on any given night. A study by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness found that 42% of homeless people sleep in public locations such as under bridges, in parks, or on the sidewalks."
Department of Justice Argues Against Criminalizing Homeless People
The court filing came in a legal battle that began in 2009 with a lawsuit filed by seven homeless people convicted of violating Boise ordinances.
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If they don't approach this differently than they have with other projects there will be no winning. I wil pray and hope for this programs success.
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It takes a village to take care of the homeless vets. People who give a damn and know who to contact. Sometimes getting the right number is the difficult part. There are two major programs: HUD program, and a in treatment center for mental illness and chemical dependency. A person can contact 1-877-4AID-VET which is the National Number and the information will be farmed out to local institutions for the Veteran.
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I wish they would not "declare war" on the Homeless Veteran Issue. The war on drugs, failed. The war on poverty, failed. the war on segregation, a farce. The war on racism, failing. It seems every time war is declared on social issue, it fails or is doomed to fail. Maybe we should declare it "The Fight" or "The Conflict" or something other than "The War". Simple semantics might make a difference, it seems to with politicians.
http://www.soc.iastate.edu/sapp/soc235ch03.html
http://www.soc.iastate.edu/sapp/soc235ch03.html
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