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Homeless Veterans Committee

America's Homeless Vets, a Causality of Epidemic Proportions

The situation with Vietnam era veterans (Vets) is immoral, deplorable, and ongoing! This is a call to our government and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to update our benefits equal to other veterans, including current educational grants; employment training and placement; and guaranteed VA housing loans! 

Vietnam Vets need to keep their homes, re-education, and updated work skills. The golden years aren’t so golden and we have extended responsibilities, e.g. supporting ourselves beyond 62; helping our middle-aged children stay financially afloat; and in many cases… raising our grandchildren. The retirement age has been extended, now extend VA benefits to meet current living conditions. Help reduce poverty and homelessness, don’t continue to add to it!

Homeless Veterans e-newsletters

• Get the July 2008 national Coalition for Homeless Veterans E-Newsletter
• United States Interagency Council on Homelessness E-Newsletter
• National Alliance to End Homelessness E-Newsletter

VA Announces Per Diem Awards for Homeless Assistance

• See article

Homeless Veterans COMMITTEE REPORT
May/June 2008

Commitment, Change And Inspiration

BY SANDY MILLER, CHAIR
The Bobby J Award is presented by the Homeless Veterans Committee to a formerly homeless veteran who has exemplified commitment, embraced change, and provided inspiration to brother and sister veterans.

“Bobby J” was a formerly homeless veteran in recovery, living in a transitional residence, who exhibited great courage in his battles with addiction and Agent Orange-related cancer. He never gave up the fight.

Nominees must have been homeless, as defined in the McKinney-Vento Act; completed a homeless domiciliary or transitional program; obtained and maintained housing in the community for at least one year; and be nominated by a VVA chapter, State Council, national committee or task force chair, national officer, or Board member.

Nomination packets must contain a copy of the individual’s DD-214; proof of program completion; and a written nomination letter of not more than 500 words on chapter, State Council, or VVA letterhead.

Completed nomination packets should be sent to: Sandra Miller, HVC Chair, P.O. Box 557, Douglassville, PA 19518.

Nominations will be accepted until June 15. The Homeless Veterans Committee will present VVA life memberships to honorees who are Vietnam veterans. Other honorees will receive life membership in AVVA.

Before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Regarding  Ending Homelessness for our Nation’s Veterans

April 9, 2008

Mr. Chairman, and members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, my name is Sandra A. Miller. I served as a senior enlisted woman in the U.S. Navy from 1975 until 1981 and I currently chair Vietnam Veterans of America’s (VVA) Homeless Veterans Committee.  Perhaps more importantly, I work with homeless veterans as the daily Program Coordinator of a transitional residence, one of the many programs provided by The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center.  Our transitional residence receives funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program (HGPD) and operates under a shared lease agreement on the grounds of the Coatesville VA Medical Center.  

On behalf of VVA, I thank you and your colleagues for this opportunity to submit testimony sharing our views on the status of homeless assistance programs for veterans conducted by the VA.

Homelessness continues to be a significant problem for veterans. The VA estimates about one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services. Current population estimates suggest that about 154,000 veterans (male and female) are homeless on any given night and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year.

Federal efforts regarding homeless veterans must be particularly vigorous for women veterans with minor children in their care. And those federal agencies that have responsibilities in addressing this situation, particularly the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development, must work in concert and should be held accountable for achieving clearly defined results.

[ Read testimony ]

Congress hears about homeless vets

The head of a Northampton-based veterans organization told a congressional panel yesterday that the average age of homeless veterans is becoming younger each year.

John F. Downing, the CEO of United Veterans of America Inc., which runs shelters in Pittsfield and at the VA Medical Center in Northampton, said it shelters 250 veterans every day and is at capacity every night. [ Read article ]

News

Roads to Hope
On any given night, there may be 200,000 homeless veterans on the streets of America. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction or mental illness. VA and local service providers are working to help them help themselves return to a better life. Here are three inspiring stories of patience, courage and renewal -- of formerly homeless veterans who have turned their lives around and begun their journey on the road to recovery. (Windows Media Player and Real Player formats)

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