Who is really interested in solving the homeless veterans problem?

PFC James (LURCH) Janota — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 20:22:41 -0400

Who is really interested in solving the homeless veterans? Who is willing to do what it takes? Do you know what it takes?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 10:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 22:53:30 -0400

It takes a lot. It takes a community to want to help. It takes them to have shelters and build houses for these veterans. It takes businesses to get these veterans jobs. It takes a VA that can help our veterans get the help that they need when they need it. It takes a veteran who will be willing to swallow their pride and accept the help. It takes a village. It takes money and time. Many people will donate money but not the time.

It takes a Presidential act or Congress to send us to war, but it takes the whole nation to ensure that we take care of us when we return. We are failing at it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 11:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 23:44:09 -0400

save up on whatever job you can get, don't be choosy. Once you have about 5 grand, you are mobile. Get rid of all the stuff you do not absolutely need, and move to where the new jobs are at. Get a buddy to go with you, safety in numbers!

I heard somewhere in the US we are building some new nuclear plants, they are training new people who are willing to learn. Some oil fields offer high pay jobs in South Dakota, for example. Winter is brutal there and you might end up living in a trailer, but good money. A couple of years of that, and no major purchase (let that shinny BMW go!), you should be set on a good start. Still with me, let's begin a plan together.

Once there, do save up big time for a safety net, about 100 grand, buy or rent a small house/apartment, now you have a roof over your head. If you do not like to work for a boss, you must learn to invest in stock, bonds, mutual funds, and annuities, etc, and build a passive income to live on. Passive income means you do not have to work for it, once you set it up right, you just to wake up to collect that money. Better yet, be your own boss and start a small, innovative business and hire and make money off people you train/hire. Uncle Sam can help loan you some seed money (even grant if your business plan is sound.) for veterans starting a business.

Just some ideas of getting that financial peace of mind, and you must take action to learn about money, research where to move to chase that good paying job. Yahoo Finance, CNN Money, CNBC are all good source to start.

You still have your health my friend, with strong will and a bit of luck, you can go far!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jul 12 at 2014 1:18 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 13:18:41 -0400

PFC James (LURCH) Janota - I do what I can with what I've got IRT veteran employment, to wit:

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Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2014 7:43 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 19:43:44 -0400

I was homeless this time last year, living out of my car and making due as I could with a VA that was too apparently eager to please everyone but those who actually needed it. It got squared away by Sen, Burr who expedited the process and very quickly I might add.

Response by PFC James (LURCH) Janota made Jul 13 at 2014 12:26 PM

PFC James (LURCH) Janota — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:26:48 -0400

We have an opportunity growing. http://www.gofundme.com/homes4veterans
We just need either 1 million people to chip in $5.00 pre person, 500,000 people to chip in $10.00 per person, or 250,000 people to chip in $20.00. This would be enough to get it up and running and you only have to make a one time only donation. After that it will generate enough to run on itself. It will create jobs for transitional veterans entering the civilian world, housing for the homeless veterans and non veterans, with job opportunities as they will be able to jointly, own the organization.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Jul 13 at 2014 12:29 PM

CPT Richard Riley — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:29:38 -0400

It seems a slight disingenuous question, although I will grant you a real issue, especially here in Pinellas County, FL. I hope you don't mean to question whether any member here is interested in solving that problem with it's associated issues ... but I will accept the question at face value.

Homeless issues for single prior service males in Pinellas County has been a problem for as long as I can remember participating in programs to reduce it. I had four conversations with the late Congressman Bill Young about it. Have you contacted the Boley Center in ST Petersburg? The Salvation Army's program on 4th ST S? Catholic Charities? Pinellas Hope? There are many different avenues to give you temporary shelter while you work to obtain a good base and eventually step back out on your own. There is - heaven on earth for veterans in Pinellas park/ ST Pete Beach area. I volunteer with the Florida Coalition for the Homeless.

If you want help in finding solutions, I can steer you to several programs but I can't solve your problem for you. You need to look at yourself and find a positive attitude - it's no one in particulars fault (nor yourself either) that finds you where you are today. Let's look for solutions, take one step at a time, and resolve the problems that put you here.

Here is a PDF directory of service providers from FCH to look at: http://www.fchonline.org/pdf/ResourceGuide.pdf

If you need additional help, message me. I will do what I can to help you get squared away and rest assured, there are a myriad of people here that will give you support from a distance.

Response by SrA Joe Henderson made Jul 15 at 2014 6:46 PM

SrA Joe Henderson — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:46:13 -0400

When it comes to Homeless veterans there is a specific group of homeless veterans I am interested in, not to say the other groups aren't important. I am interested in the veterans that homeless that are deaf or hard of hearing. Where it is hard for the average homeless veteran, deaf veterans tend to be marginalized and not able to get the services that other individuals would. For the deaf Homeless veteran they may qualify for the VA benefits, medical assistance, they tend not to be able to participate in public events that are provided for the general vet homeless community. If they attend from my experience things like interpreters are not provided. Has anyone else gone to an event to help the homeless vet that was prepared to assist a veteran if they were deaf?

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Aug 6 at 2014 12:28 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:28:20 -0400

James-I wish there were simple answers. There are many programs out there, but as you discovered, all worthless if you do not fall within strict meanings.
I have worked long and hard to help put things together in may areas. I spent a lot of money and time diving what you learned - but coming from the top brass down. We are engaged in several areas in helping the homeless by developing our own programs, then making sure they work. The red tape and politics involved with municipalities is unbelievable, and the projects we have had to run to get the backing of municipalities is amazing as well. It is taking way too much time, but once we have it set we will be able to handle a great number of veterans and their families, and offer a number of other programs for work, wellness, etc.

Good luck and God Bless. I am hoping we are there sooner than later. Our group is a dedicated bunch of folks with heavy backgrounds. This is not for the faint of heart - so you need to do what you can do to help yourself, because the government speaks out of both sides of its' mouth.

If you like, you can share more with me offline, and I will see if there is anyone near you who can help.

Be well,

Craig

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2014 7:49 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 07:49:44 -0400

Sgt Craig Northacker, thank you for your support. I always welcome suggestions. Please advise on the information you have as to who I can either partner with or which organization would be able to assist me with this. I will be taking a grant writing class in Sept to learn how to write a grant for this proposal. Thank you for stepping up with any advice you can give on housing our veterans.
Thank you.

Response by Sgt Randy Hill made Aug 7 at 2014 9:32 AM

Sgt Randy Hill — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:32:10 -0400

Considering one mistake or unfortunate occurrence can put you in the street, I say hell yes I would like to see this eradicated. Veterans,especially in transition, are vulnerable. Though this seems to happen at any given moment. Like when a non veteran spouse or domestic partner kicks you out because they do not even begin to comprehend what it is like to be in our shoes. Their are not enough words to explain such things.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 28 at 2014 10:14 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:14:14 -0400

I am posting again on this topic because new information has come to me that I want to share. The current issue of The American Legion (Sept 2014) contains an article about the VA in Los Angeles where one of every eight homeless veterans can be found. I can't reprint the entire thing here nor can I find an on line link to it. If you're a member of the American Legion, make sure you read it. If not, join just to get this article. In brief...

1) A large tract of land was donated to provide housing for disabled veterans
2) Housing was built to accommodate more than 1000, plus a library, theater, and finally a hospital, etc
3) It lies between Westwood and Beverly Hills to the east and Brentwood to the west, exclusive communities for the very wealthy.
4) It was annexed to the VA
5) During the Vietnam War era, the VA shut down the operation at the behest of neighbors who didn't like having disabled veterans around and took advantage of the unpopularity of that war to press their case
6) The VA now leases the land to commercial ventures and there is no accounting of the rental income
7) The Justice Dept is investigating but neither they nor the VA will comment

Sounds like a subject we should address to our Representatives in Congress to look into.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Aug 28 at 2014 4:30 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 16:30:50 -0400

We are. We know, and we are doing it. Just ask us - then find out how difficult it is to make it happen despite all the programs and money that is thrown at the problem.

We are a bunch of old grunts who know how to rely on ourselves to make things work despite the system. All NCO's, so we get to kick anyone in the ass who is feeling sorry for themselves. Including ourselves.

We all work long hours with no pay because we want our brothers and sisters to not go wanting unless they cause their own problems and do not want to help themselves. If you do want to move on, call us. If you are a BS artist, save the call and both of us the aggravation. We want the guys and gals who had our backs and wound up in a bad spot because life happens, but want to claim back and take responsibility for their life. And you are not allowed to work less than we do.

Response by PFC James (LURCH) Janota made Oct 22 at 2014 3:26 PM

PFC James (LURCH) Janota — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:26:55 -0400

Ok I have found a way to get veterans homes, jobs, and a way to have a living support community. Help me get this started so that we can arrive to a point that no veteran is homeless and all can have a way to live that incorporates pride and ownership along with a growing support group. This will also provide a vehicle to enable them to serve the communities as well. Please go to this website and support our efforts. Workwithgod.weebly.com/make-it-happen.html is the website that will help us form a platoon to make it happen. Please spread awareness to all our brothers and sister in arms.

Response by Sgt Michael Baker made Oct 26 at 2014 9:42 PM

Sgt Michael Baker — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:42:12 -0400

We are working with a few programs that are not specifically about homeless vets but have a lot to do with helping to find some solutions. We do have a few homeless resource organizations through our membership with the San Diego Veteran Employment Committee and they do provide immediate shelter. In addition we are part of a equal digital access program that any low income person can apply and get, (Less than 5 minute survey involved) and prices for high speed broadband are 0 to 10.00 per month.
It is a heartbreak and just a complete f up to have any veteran living on the streets. There is a new grant for small grassroots nonprofits interested in addressing this question which is a 3 year grant. Interested?

Response by CW3 Guy Snodgrass made Oct 28 at 2014 9:00 AM

CW3 Guy Snodgrass — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:00:05 -0400

I believe "solving the homeless vets" issue will never be truly "solved" as Cpt Maurelli stated in his comment "It takes a Presidential act or Congress to send us to war, but it takes the whole nation to ensure that we take care of us when we return. We are failing at it." The "fate" of vets will not stay in the news long enough to "solve" but I do believe "we" (fellow vets and Americans) can make a difference. What I envision is "not" providing another "charity" type function, but helping them to get jobs, training, education and purpose.
I realize not everyone wants "help" there are those (vets and civilians) that want "something for nothing" those folks don't want help, they want "hand outs". Those folks there is no way any of us could help them.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 30 at 2016 1:23 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 13:23:51 -0500

http://kcur.org/post/st-michaels-veterans-center-continues-work-zero-homeless-vets

St. Michael's Veterans Center Continues Work To Zero Homeless Vets

Eighteen months ago, the first phase of St. Michael's Veterans Center was just opening on Chelsea Street in Kansas City, Missouri. Now the center is

Response by CH (CPT) Jerry McGowin made May 22 at 2020 9:44 AM

CH (CPT) Jerry McGowin — Fri, 22 May 2020 09:44:16 -0400

shipping container tiny homes could solve this problem. 50k furnished. Way cheaper than any other housing solution