Should closed bases be used to house homeless Veterans?

SSG Robin Rushlo — Mon, 12 May 2014 09:36:54 -0400

Look we have a number of Closed bases that are just falling apart. Why not move homeless VETS to them to care for them and fix them up and then the homeless vet would have a place to stay and something useful to do. People need to feel wanted and useful and this is one way to do it. What do you think?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2014 9:49 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 May 2014 09:49:59 -0400

Homeless people in general need a sense of being, not just homeless vets. With that being said, I don't feel that using closed down bases/posts to provide free housing is a good idea. That would just become an outlet for people not having to do anything after their service as they would qualify for free housing. We have enough government fraud as it is in America e.g. Welfare, food stamps etc.

I am all for getting them some shelter, and providing support long enough (must be pre determined) for them to get themselves together and start submitting job applications. With the number of businesses claiming to hire vets, we need to hold them to their claims and help those homeless get jobs, and not just provide free living. There has to be a balance though. One application a week (for example) and no missed interviews.

The big question, with all the debt our Nation has already, who is going to pay for this? I would like to hear more of your idea.

Response by 1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2014 6:26 PM

1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 May 2014 18:26:01 -0400

This is a delicate issue. Homeless veterans have no one root cause of their homelessness. They also need access to services. If you tell me that the local VA is on old military installations this would make more sense than you know. But we all know these services are not located there. The veterans you are particularly referring to will need not only the VA, but HUD, counseling, in some cases substance abuse services, mental health care, etc. None of these things are close to old military installations. While the idea of bringing our former troops off the street and doing this briefs well to us, it does not in fact come close to meeting the mission. I will not claim to be an expert, but I do live with one, and what she says is what I just said above. Pooling local resources that support housing for homeless veterans, in a dispersed manner, while ensuring the veterans get continuing care and access to employment and their needed services will better set them up for success than just sticking them in abandoned buildings hoping they make progress. Abandoned military installations are just that, abandoned, for a reason. How would you feel if you were stuck there and told, hey here you go, we really value your service, please take care of this ghost town for us?

Bottom line... we can't push them to the side or marginalize them like this. That, has already happened enough.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 12:02 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 00:02:12 -0400

This is one of the best ideas I have ever heard of this would not only give the vets a place to live but it would also give the goverment a good use for the hundreds of buildings that are no longer being used. Also by allowing the vets to earn their way and teaching them a trade by which they could earn a living by letting them fix the buildings and renovating the structures into livable appartments and houses and even shops and atores where they would be the store keepers, carpenters, mechanics, electricians, cooks, ect thereby giving them back their dignity

Response by PFC Jason Rodrigues made Jul 22 at 2014 4:05 PM

PFC Jason Rodrigues — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:05:39 -0400

There are 24 empty or abandoned houses per homeless person in the US, many of those homeless people are Veterans. Perhaps something should be done to secure some of those houses and make sure they are up to standards for quality of life and also making the houses more sustainable (rain catchment systems, solar or wind or geothermal power/climate control, gardens, livestock), and sell those houses to homeless Veterans and the rest of the homeless population for an extremely low amount of money...say $10. Will this take time and money? Yes of course but it will also solve some very important issues, while at the same time giving people a stronger sense of civic duty and pride. Then it would be up to that individual or family to maintain the property. Just a thought.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jul 22 at 2014 4:46 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:46:27 -0400

Better than using them to house illegal immigrants, at least that's my opinion of it....

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 22 at 2014 6:15 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:15:12 -0400

SSG Robin Rushlo A most brilliant idea. Bravo!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2014 11:50 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:50:46 -0400

I totaly agree that the closed bases should be used to house the homeless vets ant that it would also give them a means of release for their PTSD. This would also be a better use for the places than to use them to house illegals that should be deported. If the illegals are picked up a second time they need to be shot for breaking the laws of this country by being here illegally.

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Jul 23 at 2014 1:05 PM

PFC Zanie Young — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 13:05:38 -0400

There is a VA Clinic as well as a homeless veteran program in Fort McPherson. There is a lot of empty BOQs as well as barracks on that base. I would rather use that space for homeless veterans and their families, as well as any veteran who can use the facilities that cannot live on their own under normal circumstances (such as WWII veterans who still want their independence) than to sell it to individuals and businesses who need a very large space or those who don't appreciate its history, or even immigrants. If you close a base, use it to benefit veterans first!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2014 2:19 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:19:18 -0400

I this this is a great idea which, with adequate thought and planning could work. Something to consider is that old installations could be used as a starter for community building. If we consider that the vets are re-habing old buildings they could possibly get work credits for the work they perform. If you add subsistence capability such as grocery, amenities, etc. which would provide product at either work credit or cash, you develop a community of people, working toward their own good. The VA may be able to move some of their services into the Re-Hab buildings. You add in some industry, for instance making license plates, or anything else, which may fit a model and the community can start to become sustaining.

I think that just providing housing does not help in the long run, but providing those vets a sense of purpose and the ability to utilize what skills and capabilities they have remaining to them would be very empowering. Combine this project with the VA Home model and you may have a workable system.

Response by SCPO Christopher Rubino made Jul 24 at 2014 12:12 PM

SCPO Christopher Rubino — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:12:37 -0400

Awesome idea. Get rid of two senior level administrators at the VA and there would be enough to fund a couple of bases for this purpose. Tie in their SS and Welfare. Maybe a portion of the VA benefits. Add a clinic on base. Have them rebuild the base and then use it to free enterprise. So many opportunities.

Response by SSG Jim Handy made Jul 24 at 2014 2:15 PM

SSG Jim Handy — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:15:36 -0400

I totally agree with this. It could not only house Veterans, it could put Veterans back to work. These facilities could be operated and maintained by Veterans. My favorite base was Ft. Ord Calif. and it is now falling into ruins. There are buildings there that could be salvaged and refurbished and used just for this purpose. Veterans could be used to restore this base for this purpose and Veterans in the homeless program could be used to clean up and maintain this base. There are homes that could be renovated and used as starter homes for Veterans coming out homelessness. I would go as far as saying there are buildings there that could be configured to hold a couple of start up businesses that could employ Veterans and train them to come back into the work force. The best part is, this could all be run by Veterans who are currently unemployed due to certain disabilities, which would be helping another group of Veterans. I believe this is some thing that should be seriously looked at.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jul 24 at 2014 5:19 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:19:08 -0400

Definitely. The process would have to start from the City promoting that resource to veterans. Presidio, Alameda NAS, Oakland Army etc. Yet, in that locale, the people are so progressive and anti military...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 24 at 2014 9:15 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 21:15:26 -0400

Why not. I like your plan. It's simple and gives purpose to our fellow vets who may be down on their luck and also the facility. Maybe start with a small portion, gets some corporate sponsorship and build up.

Response by SPC David Golden made Jul 25 at 2014 2:48 PM

SPC David Golden — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:48:32 -0400

Yes, the Government should do all they can to help any Veteran, homeless or other wise.

Response by Sgt Tom Reagh made Jul 26 at 2014 2:48 PM

Sgt Tom Reagh — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:48:06 -0400

Here is a way to help support such an idea.

http://youtu.be/mCCN4nq7BlQ

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 5 at 2014 4:53 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:53:41 -0400

I think that idea has merit if, and only if, there were some parameters set up to ensure they did not become uninhabitable slums. Oversight, rules, requirements, etc. would have to be established.

Would much prefer to see them used for veterans than used by illegal immigrants, used as crack houses, or just left to deteriorate.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 8:50 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:50:19 -0500

You know...the VA already has something similar to this idea in place. Problem always boils down to money and programs. IMO the homeless situation, as already mentioned in this thread, is not a simple issue. There are homeless veterans that are homeless because of drug addiction (so many want to call it substance abuse - hotel sierra - it's drug addiction). But simply removing the drugs is like taking alcohol away from an alcoholic - it doesn't make them sober, just dry. To truely get someone sober - first they truely have to WANT to be off the drug. Unfortunately, most die shortly after they reach bottom. Trust me when I say this - the high is often more important than their families, a job, a place to sleep, a shower, their very life itself. We are simply throwing good money after bad if we assume that simply getting most homeless Vets a place to stay is gonna solve their problem. Rare is the homeless vet whose sole issue is bad luck / divorce / loss of job as the root cause.

We are not talking about a short-term event here - we are talking about putting up 1000's of veterans for long term care. Many of the homeless have such difficult mental health issues that the treatment is very long term and requires constant care and restricted movement to control the environment in order to provide the proper care.

I'm not saying the idea is bad. I'm saying we need a coalition of health care providers, mental health care, sexual abuse, drug, alcohol, trauma, education and massive, massive amounts of money provided over decades. The money for the infrastructure (the base) will be low dollars compared to what is needed to truely get the homeless veteran off the street and back into a productive member of society.

Response by Sgt Sasha Cruz made Nov 18 at 2014 9:13 PM

Sgt Sasha Cruz — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:13:55 -0500

Yes, I think that is a great idea!

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Jan 8 at 2015 7:54 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:54:16 -0500

Absofrickinglutely !!!!! but having said that they need to be screened for drugs and put on an honor system, you abuse what you have been given and its gone, just that simple in my eyes.Yes people do have issues with drugs and they should be dealt with accordingly, but having said that ...what in the hell are you doing with drugs if you cant even afford a flipping place to live?? I am a firm believer that no one forces you to do drugs so have little empathy for people who do.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2016 5:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 17:35:32 -0500

yes

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jul 10 at 2017 5:20 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 05:20:06 -0400

It's a positive idea and could work !