Posted on Jun 11, 2015

VA homeless program to add more than 150 job coordinators. Is this even close to enough?

5.3K

In 2010, President Barack Obama and the VA launched the Ending Veterans Homelessness initiative, with the goal of getting every veteran off the street by 2016. The VA says its efforts have cut the homeless rate among veterans by more than 30 percent since that pledge, and current estimates put the homeless veterans population at 50,000. Some homelessness advocates have criticized the goal as unrealistic, but VA officials say with less than seven months to go in 2015, they are still committed to the timeline.

http://www.stripes.com/va-homeless-program-to-add-more-than-150-job-coordinators-1.351679

Posted in these groups: 210d76c2

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vietnam 20veteran

Homeless

Posted >1 y ago

Follow this discussion

Responses: 9

SSG Trevor S.

Posted >1 y ago

If they do their jobs instead of mucking about perpetuating red tape it would be enough. But, we know the real deal.

(1)

Comment

(0)

MSG Brad Sand

Posted >1 y ago

To little too late...of course it is really never too late to start helping but too late for their time line. Maybe it will help 150 veterans get jobs in the near term?

(1)

Comment

(0)

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.

>1 y

Tell the truth .. I think 150 would be a high-side guess.
These folks aren't the easiest to find places for.

(0)

SN Keagan Miller

Posted >1 y ago

I live in Portland, Or which just got recognized for having "Functionally" ended Veteran Homelessness. Of course, it's not over, but we have made huge strides in rectifying the issues. As an Employment Specialist for the VA's Grant/Per Diem program I can tell you that some people fall through the cracks but with this achievement we have a model that works so we can hopefully use it across the country and for other homeless populations.

(0)

Comment

(0)

PO1 Glenn Boucher

Posted 10 y ago

So putting 150 more job coordinators in the employ of the VA is going to do what exactly? That's probably 148 non functioning, non caring, overpaid senior level management personnel who won't do nearly enough to help out. There will be some blustering and promises made but in the end nothing much will change except that the number of homeless veterans increases.
In 5 years now what have they accomplished exactly?

(0)

Comment

(0)

CW2 (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I hipe they will be able to figure out who actually served..too many people claiming to serve actually get benefits. everytime I hear "homeless" veteran I question whether that person even served.

(0)

Comment

(0)

SN Keagan Miller

>1 y

It's not that easy to fake being a veteran for benefits these days, the screening process for most VA programs are pretty good about spotting fakes. I saw one guy trying to use his dad's DD214 (he was dealing with a severe mental illness) but I'd say 99.9 percent are veterans.

(0)

SFC Rollie Hubbard

Posted >1 y ago

Not even close.

(0)

Comment

(0)

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.

>1 y

Me thinks...

(0)

PO1 John Miller

Posted >1 y ago

I don't think it's enough either. But on the other hand, the VA has already proven that it's over budget. Are they going to get a new pot of money to pay these job coordinators or is it going to come out of a current pot?

(0)

Comment

(0)