How do you help homeless veterans?

There is a new 3 year grant available for companies that have programs to help homeless and or prevent those at risk for being homeless. Is is intended for small grassroots companies with the idea being that by making money available to them many or some will opt in to help eliminate the homeless veteran crisis.
" Only proposals from initial supportive service grant programs will be considered. Currently funded SSVF grantees are not eligible to apply for funding under this NOFA. VA has designed this 3-year effort to provide a surge of resources in communities with the highest need. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 5, 2014. VA will award the grants in March 2015. Awards made for supportive services grants will fund operations beginning approximately March 1, 2015 through February 28, 2017. "
Check link for more info http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp

Personally speaking, the best resource I've found for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan has been the IAVA. I know a lot of homeless veterans that we see out there are obviously too old to be an OEF or OIF veteran so in that case you can always ask any of the American Legion or VFW posts to point you in the right direction -- bear in mind that a lot of those posts tend to be spots where old warriors who aren't OEF/OIF just go to get drunk at 10am, so if their solution is "bring him here", I suggest tactfully and politely asking for their veteran assistance contacts.

You sometimes have to be careful. There've been more than a few publicized cases of fraudulent claims, I think "Angry Beard Guy" was outed as a phony and there was also a homeless person who was spotted driving off in a shiny new car (not sure if they ever played the veteran card). I don't wanna be a debbie downer here, so just exercise caution.

Look up Valor Clinic on Facebook. Read their mission, look at their photos, and read their posts. It will give you ideas for your own outreach endeavors. Good stuff.

CW3 Guy Snodgrass This organization has an outreach for Vets, and just purchased a school in St Louis, to provide a temporary place for people to get on their feet. http://www.ppcsinc.org/ Would be a good model to follow. They have events and community following. One place that helps them is an Irish Pub in that community, John D McGurks Saloon and Garden, how much your bill is, they will meet and donate that money to this organization. This is just one of many events that are held as fund raisers. Another event, they also sponsor Trivia Nights, where participants donate to play, and there are prizes donated to winners.

I believe in helping the homeless veterans, but finding out and proving they are truly vets can be hard, it is not like they are carrying their 214 with them, though some might be. When i see someone that is in their 40's and they are holding a sign that says vietnam vet, I have doubts. I also know the military taught you how to get things done, so I have a hard time accepting that the majority can't take care of them selves, though I am sure some just don't want to. Anyway, a true vet that is homeless, down on his luck and had his stack of cards fall on him/her, needs all the help that we can give them. That is one of the reasons I still serve with the VFW.

I appreciate the advice and encouragement. I will follow up on the recommendations.

"It's certainly a challenge, and you will be disappointed at the lack of honor in some people, but it's worth it to help our brothers and sisters in arms." I expect this and is partly what has prompted my crusade. I have witnessed too many administrators taking advantage of the homeless (not just our veterans) and with my "temperament" I don't really have much patience with those kinds of folks.

I will make this happen...I just hope I can accomplish it sooner rather than later.

Again, thank you

I have volunteered and assisted at local shelters where homeless veterans sometimes need to stay. I would suggest first volunteering at an existing shelter, and perhaps speaking with the person in charge about the logistics and the realities of such a situation.

It's certainly a challenge, and you will be disappointed at the lack of honor in some people, but it's worth it to help our brothers and sisters in arms.

Long before I entered the Army as a Chaplain, I served the nation as a civilian social worker caring for homeless people. In Atlanta I was manager and coordinator of volunteers for a shelter of 8 men who had tiny private rooms. I later served as manager of a residential facility for homeless gay men living with AIDS in Louisville, Kentucky. I saw Veterans at both places. Homelessness is often a preventable cycle. I helped guys leave that cycle for good, but it was difficult for them. Part of my strategy as Chaplain is to care for all my Ssrvicemembers, and particularly those exiting service for various reasons. I am helping the SM take a hard look at their options - including homelessness. We discuss it long before they ever enter that cycle. Together we develop stategies for them to work and live as a Veteran who does not need to become homeless. Over the years I have discovered that given the unfortunate correct conditions - I could become homeless. I never forget that. I guess as a.Chaplain one of the things I try to do is to prevent homelessness before it starts. And THAT is sometbing we can ALL do!

This is shamefull.. i had a job once.. where a I employed kids to sell newpapers.. one day i came upon a disabled Vet.. who appeared to be down on his luck.. me AND the Kids pitched in to assist him.. and his statement to Us was.. " Only in America can we have Disabled Veterans on the Street.. and a Draft Dodger in the WhiteHouse." Clinton Era.. No Doubt..

As an addition to my original post (as well as others I have seen posted on RP) I just came across this article http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/feeding-the-homeless-act-of-charity-or-a-crime/ar-BBdijkL "Feeding the homeless: Act of charity or a crime?"

I guess I would be fined as my wife and I have and do help feed the homeless in DC. Has anyone else heard of this or came across these "laws"?