Homeless Veterans

“Every veteran has a home, and it’s called America”

- Jesse Brown
Former US Secretary for Veteran Affairs

http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=6

“Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans. Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.

The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam veterans in San Diego. Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless veterans, reaching more than 200,000 veterans and their family members between 1994-2000.

The stand downs planned for 2008 are listed below:

Date	# of Days	Location	Contact	Phone Number
1/12/2008	1	Washington, DC	Paula Gorman	202-745-8000 ext. 6892
1/31/2008	1	Waco, TX	Paula Wood	254-743-1261
2/26/2008	1	Portland, OR	Keith Scheff	503-220-8262 ext. 33722
3/15/2008	1	Viera, FL	John W. Carroll	321-637-3788
3/19/2008	1	Hattiesburg, MS	Paul B. Matens	601-362-4471 ext. 5504
3/27/2008	1	Raleigh, NC	Bob Williamson	919-286-0411 ext. 6045
4/5/2008	1	Columbus, GA	Spring Love	334-725-2838
4/11/2008	1	Brentwood, NY	John A. Sperandeo	631-261-4400 ext. 7031
6/12-13/2008	2	Chicago, IL	Eugene Herskovic	312-569-8085
6/20-21/2008	2	San Juan, PR	Daniel Aponte	787-641-7582 ext. 12327
6/2008	2	Fayetteville, AR	Brian McAnally	479-444-5065
7/12/2008	1	Sandpoint, ID	John E. Davis	208-255-5291
8/15/2008	1	Tampa, FL	Wendy Hellickson	813-979-3559
8/21/2008	1	Haverhill, MA	Shara Puglisi	781-687-2457
8/2008*	1	Faibanks, AK	John Pendrey	907-273-4051
8/2008*	2	Anchorage, AK	John Pendrey	907-273-4051
9/20-21/2008	2	Colville, WA	John E. Davis	208-255-5291
9/23/2008	1	Savanah, GA	Michael Bland	800-595-5229 ext. 2374
9/2008	1	Rutland, VT	Aleta M. Runey	802-295-9363 ext. 6184
9/2008	3	Philadelphia, PA	Stephen Bennett	225-823-5800 ext. 5506
10/4-5/2008	2	Libby, MT	John E. Davis	208-255-5291
10/22-23/2008	2	Michigan	Frances E McGiven	313-576-1000
10/24/2008	1	Dayton, OH	Kristina Walker	937-268-6511 ext. 2481
11/2008*	1	Salem, VA	Gaylene Sanford	540-982-2463 ext. 1230
11/2008*	1	Roanoke, VA	Robert Schmitt	540-982-2463 ext. 1230
11/7/2008	1	Columbia, SC	Margaret Battle	803-776-4000 ext. 7445
11/10/2008	1	San Antonio, TX	Ann Guerrier-Marsh	210-692-1155
11/20/2008	1	San Juan, PR	Daniel Aponte	787-641-7582 ext. 12327
11/24/2008	1	Freeport, NY	John A. Sperandeo	631-261-4400 ext. 7031
TBD	1	Austin, TX	Paula Wood	254-743-1261
TBD	1	Asheville, NC	Allison Haberfield	828-298-7911 ext. 15506
TBD	1	Tillamook, OR	Steve Weld	503-842-4358
TBD	1	Yakima, WA	Robert Vasquez	509-457-2736
TBD	2	Bend, OR	Stu Steinberg	503-220-8262
TBD	3	Roseburg, OR	Laura James	541-826-2111
TBD	1	Macon, GA	Adelaide Anne Martis	478-272-1210 ext. 3635
TBD	1	Columbus, GA	Spring Love	334-725-2838
TBD	1	Longview, WA	Christina Pegg	360-423-0140

*Indicates event planned for that month, exact date not determined. TBD stand down planned, date

not yet determined.

The next Suffolk County veterans stand down will be April 11, 2008 1000 hrs to 1400 hrs at the Health, Sports, & Education Center on the Brentwood Campus of Suffolk Community College. The next volunteer meeting is on Friday 3/28/08 at 1400 hrs at the Police Academy Gymnasium ( Suffolk Community College Brentwood) the meeting after that is on 4/4/08 1630 hrs at the same place you can call (631)853-8387) for additional information.

Commander

Dick Woltman

(Thank You VFW Commander of Suffolk County Woltman)

http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/1839

http://oldtimer.wordpress.com/tag/homeless-vets/

Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Full Report: Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans (PDF | 1.77 MB | 36 pages)
Snapshot: Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans (PDF | 304 KB | 2 pages)
Veterans Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan (PDF | 56 KB | 2 pages)
Vital Mission: Appendix A: Methodology (PDF | 23 KB | 2 pages)
Vital Mission: Presentation (PPT | 3.79 MB | 14 pages)
Vital Mission: References (PDF | 23 KB | 2 pages)Far too many veterans are homeless in America. Homeless veterans can be found in every state across the country and live in rural, suburban, and urban communities. Many have lived on the streets for years, while others live on the edge of homelessness, struggling to pay their rent. We analyzed data from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau to examine homelessness and severe housing cost burden among veterans. This report includes the following findings:

• In 2006, approximately 195,827 veterans were homeless on a given night—an increase of 0.8 percent from 194,254 in 2005. More veterans experience homeless over the course of the year. We estimate that 336,627 were homeless in 2006.
• Veterans make up a disproportionate share of homeless people. They represent roughly 26 percent of homeless people, but only 11 percent of the civilian population 18 years and older. This is true despite the fact that veterans are better educated, more likely to be employed, and have a lower poverty rate than the general population.
• A number of states, including Louisiana and California, had high rates of homeless veterans. In addition, the District of Columbia had a high rate of homelessness among veterans with approximately 7.5 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness.
• We estimate that in 2005 approximately 44,000 to 64,000 veterans were chronically homeless (i.e., homeless for long periods or repeatedly and with a disability).

Lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness. The 23.4 million U.S. veterans generally do not have trouble affording housing costs; veterans have high rates of home ownership and appear generally well housed. However, there is a subset of veterans who have severe housing cost burden.

• We estimate that nearly half a million (467,877) veterans were severely rent burdened and were paying more than 50 percent of their income for rent.
• More than half (55 percent) of veterans with severe housing cost burden fell below the poverty level and 43 percent were receiving foods stamps.
• Rhode Island, California, Nevada, and Hawaii were the states with the highest percentage of veterans with severe housing cost burden. The District of Columbia had the highest rate, with 6.4 percent of veterans paying more than 50 percent of their income toward rent.
• Female veterans, those with a disability, and unmarried or separated veterans were more likely to experience severe housing cost burden. There are also differences by period of service, with those serving during the Korean War and WWII more likely to have severe housing cost burden.
• We estimate that approximately 89,553 to 467,877 veterans were at risk of homelessness. At risk is defined as being below the poverty level and paying more than 50 percent of household income on rent. It also includes households with a member who has a disability, a person living alone, and those who are not in the labor force.

These findings highlight the need to expand homeless prevention and affordable housing programs targeted at veterans. Further the findings demonstrate that ending homelessness among veterans is a vital mission that requires the immediate attention of policymakers.

http://www.nchv.org/about.cfm

Mission:

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) will end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and building the capacity of service providers.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a 13-member board of directors — is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.

NCHV also serves as the primary liaison between the nation’s care providers, Congress and the Executive Branch agencies charged with helping them succeed in their work. NCHV’s advocacy has strengthened and increased funding for virtually every federal homeless veteran assistance program in existence today.

http://unitedveterans.org/index.html

United Veterans of America Inc. is now Soldier On.

NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS:

http://www.nchv.org/about.cfm

Contact Information

333 ½ Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003-1148
E-mail: nchv@nchv.org
Toll Free: 800.VET.HELP
Fax: 202.546.2063
Toll Free Fax: 888.233.8582

“It has been two years since the President and Congress declared ending homelessness in America within 10 years a national priority, and yet the number of homeless individuals and families continues to rise across the country. The ravages of homelessness now impact more than three million people every year, and few segments of the population are more at risk than America’s former guardians – her military veterans.

Tonight, nearly 200,000 veterans will sleep under bridges, in alleys and abandoned buildings because they have no home. They are this nation’s forgotten heroes – men and women who once proudly served in a military uniform. Though only 9% of the U.S. population have served in the armed forces, 23% of the homeless people in this country are veterans. One of every three homeless men served in the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that more than 500,000 veterans will experience homelessness at some time during the year, and that its homeless programs will reach about 20% of those in need.

A successful local campaign to end and prevent homelessness depends on community partnerships and the compassion and involvement of its citizens. As an individual or as a member of a group or organization, you can make a difference in the lives of America’s former guardians. They answered the call to serve our nation in a way increasingly few Americans ever will, and they deserve the full measure of our support in their greatest hour of need.

How You Can Help
Everyone can help save lives and restore the hope and dignity of America’s homeless veterans.”

Make a difference. Take a moment and consider how you can convey/demonstrate/show your appreciation, patriotism, American pride and gratitude to our Wounded Warriors, Veterans and those who have fallen through the wide cracks. Then do what you can do to help, reach out and facilitate healing-whether it be body, mind or soul. Don’t wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow might not come for some who need help today. Putting your conviction into action is what makes our country strong, united and secure.