LOS ANGELES — Teams of Department of Veterans Affairs employees, wearing reflective vests and carrying flashlights, assembled at each corner of the VA campus in West Los Angeles on Wednesday night with the mission to find and count every homeless Veteran within the 388-acre site.

Dressed in coats, gloves and hats on what was an abnormally cold night for Southern California, about 50 people trekked through wooded areas, parking lots and along stretches of grass abutting Interstate 405. The teams dodged holes left in the dirt by ground squirrels and gophers as they searched crevices between buildings and behind heating and air-conditioning units. It was their responsibility to lay eyes on every square foot of their zone, looking for tents or other makeshift dwellings where Veterans could be.

One group of seven logged nine Veterans. They were assigned to the south side of campus surrounding the main hospital, and all the Veterans in their zone were staying inside their vehicles in a “safe parking” lot, where they’re allowed to sleep overnight and are provided restrooms and security. Los Angeles County estimates roughly 15,700 people — about 25% of the area’s homeless population — sleep in their vehicles nightly. Safe Parking LA operates nine lots in the greater Los Angeles area, including one on the VA campus. About 220 people stay on their lots every night.

“By you going out in this area where there’s a lot of concentration of Veteran homelessness, it helps us to paint this picture of what we’re trying to do,” Steven Braverman, director of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, told the teams before they scattered across the campus. “It helps us to set goals, it helps us to get funding, it helps us to know where we need to go in order to ultimately eliminate Veteran homelessness.”

The effort, known as the point-in-time count, is typically held every year but was on hiatus after the coronavirus pandemic began nearly two years ago. The endeavor resumed this year, and thousands of volunteers combed the nation in January and February to count the country’s homeless population.

Information from the count will be shared with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and used as the basis for federal, state and local governments to allocate funding and other resources to fight homelessness.

Veterans experience homelessness at a disproportionately high rate compared with the rest of the population. Two years ago, the count showed 10% of all homeless Veterans in the U.S. resided in Los Angeles County.

During the past four months, VA Secretary Denis McDonough has put more focus toward housing Veterans in Los Angeles, hoping any progress there would create momentum to end Veteran homelessness nationwide.

Before scattering across the West Los Angeles VA Campus on Wednesday night, employees congregated in an administrative building, where they were assigned to zones and taught how to upload their counts into a mobile app, which would automatically be shared with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

“The secretary of the VA has made it very clear that from his perspective, we’re the center of the Veteran homelessness universe,” Braverman told the group. “We have the most homeless Veterans of any other community.... If we can succeed here, the VA can succeed anywhere.”

Los Angeles is expected to release their results in May or June, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development will issue a full report, with Veteran-specific data, this fall.

McDonough started his efforts in Los Angeles by promising to get all homeless Veterans living in the area known as “Veterans row” into housing by Nov. 1, 2021. About 40 people were living along Veterans row, a homeless encampment just outside the West Los Angeles campus, when McDonough visited the facility in October. In addition to eliminating Veterans row, he urged local VA officials to house another 500 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles in time for the holidays.

The VA surpassed those goals and got more than 700 Veterans into temporary or permanent housing by the end of 2021. Some individuals living along Veterans row moved inside VA grounds, where they now sleep in 8-by-8-foot shelters.

McDonough traveled to Los Angeles last week to see the progress and build a greater sense of urgency for homelessness efforts at the campus.

“I feel like our team is doing very important work, but that doesn’t mean there’s not work left to be done — there is,” he said. “What remains is for us to underscore that we will not tolerate the idea that there’s a homeless Veteran in this country. When we internalize that and we apply urgency … we have all the other ingredients to get it done.”

In Los Angeles County, where there were about 67,000 homeless people in 2020, the point-in-time count was a three-day effort.

McDonough joined Thursday and counted encampments in Skid Row, a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles. Within the neighborhood’s five city blocks is one of the largest communities of homeless people in the country.

McDonough was part of a group that included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. They crisscrossed through a section of Skid Row while staff of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority tallied the number of people they came across.

Some individuals in Skid Row huddled around small fires, rested against buildings or slept on flattened cardboard. In a few shelters, televisions played or music blasted. McDonough’s group, which totaled a dozen people followed by three security vehicles, drew attention from some of the people settling in there for the night. They yelled a greeting or inquired about what was happening, looking wary.

After about two hours, the group had counted about 100 tents, campervans and other makeshift shelters.

McDonough said Thursday that he didn’t want to speculate about what the count might reveal about the number of homeless Veterans in and around Los Angeles.

As of January 2020 — the time of the last complete count — 3,681 homeless Veterans were living in Los Angeles County, a slight increase from 2019.

Los Angeles didn’t conduct a full point-in-time count in 2021 because of the pandemic. However, the Department of Housing and Urban Development released results of a limited count, which logged only people living in emergency shelters or temporary lodging.

The results of that count, which were released earlier this month, showed a 10% drop in the number of Veterans in homeless shelters. On a single night in January 2021, 19,750 Veterans were staying in emergency shelters or temporary housing, down from 22,048 in 2020.

However, HUD emphasized the limited scope of last year’s count meant its findings weren’t completely reliable and didn’t reflect “the full impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of homelessness.”

The numbers could be even more unreliable for determining the scope of Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles, where 76% of the homeless Veterans counted in 2020 were living on the street.

Given the gaps in data since 2020, the information collected last week is “vital” for the VA’s policymaking, McDonough said.

“By being here on the street, carrying out these counts, we want to demonstrate that we’re very serious about this,” he said. “We take very seriously not only the challenge, but the stewardship of the resources the American people have given us to dedicate to this challenge.”

In its 2022 budget request last year, the VA asked Congress for $2.2 billion for homelessness programs, a 16% increase from 2021. Congress, however, has yet to pass a full budget for 2022 and has instead approved multiple continuing resolutions, which keep the government operating at last year’s funding amounts.

While Congress is set to reconsider a 2022 budget in March, federal agencies, including the VA, are preparing to release their 2023 priorities and funding requests.

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LUBBOCK, Texas — The Salvation Army said they had an influx of people after a winter storm on Wednesday.

Social Services Director, Erica Hitt said the Salvation Army opens it’s Cold Cot program when the temperatures hit below 32 degrees.

“We give them a warm cot for the night,” she said. “Our cold patrol vehicle also hit the streets and their objective was to target anyone who is having a hard time getting to the shelters.”

“Life is rough, especially in the cold,” said homeless Veteran Daniel Lopez.

He said he’s been at Salvation Army for a less than a week and the few months that he has been homeless have been extreme on his body.

“I thought I was going to die because of the cold,” he said. “You can’t move. You’re hurt like me – you can’t move your muscles real good. If you have bad legs like me you can’t walk real good or hardly any.”

Lopez said he’s grateful for the help he has received.

“I am alive, so I’m very thankful for that and I’m here, I’m also thankful for that,” he said.

Hitt said because of so many people coming into the shelter, they are in need of donations. She said donations include pillows, blankets, shampoo, conditioner and razors.

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Jade Britt raised $700 to make care packages for homeless Veterans

This 7-year-old girl is helping Veterans in her community.

Jade Britt, 7, from Marietta, Georgia, has raised $700 to help homeless Veterans in her area, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.

The station reported that Britt raised the money from her community to make care packages for the Veterans.

According to the station, Britt and her mom, Holly Britt, brought some of those care packages to the Marietta Veterans Center on Thursday.

FOX 5 reported that helping Veterans, in particular, is special to Britt, whose grandfather served in the Vietnam War.

Holly told FOX 5: "The Marietta Veterans Center, that’s important because it’s part of our community and we always want to help home first."

"And the people here help people," Holly added. "They really actually help. They don’t talk about helping, they help with so many resources that they have for Veterans."

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Tiny homes are an innovative, affordable and scalable solution to a humanitarian crisis

Actor Jon Cryer has a new mission — to help fix homelessness in Los Angeles by building tiny homes.

Hope Of The Valley is a California homelessness organization building tiny homes as an innovative, affordable and scalable solution to the humanitarian crisis: a bridge between the streets and permanent housing.

"It’s impossible to avoid how dire the crisis of unhoused people is in Los Angeles. It has been a state of emergency since 2015, and that was before the pandemic," Cryer told Fox News. "I love Los Angeles and I found myself really thinking through what day-to-day living must be like for folks on the street. It occurred to me that the overriding feeling would be one of terror."

The actor said that feeling comes in many forms.

"Terror for your safety, terror for the security of whatever valuables you have, terror of COVID, terror of having no idea if you’ll have anyplace to exist, and all that terror is every day," said Cryer. "The problem is so huge that it’s easy to feel helpless, but these tiny house projects are on a scale that people can wrap their heads around and make a real difference."

Unlike traditional shelter or affordable housing projects, tiny homes take a fraction of the time to assemble at a fraction of the cost. Each tiny home comes equipped with two beds, storage space, two electrical outlets, heating, air-conditioning, four windows and a locking front door.

Each resident living in a tiny home has access to a full array of social services including case management, housing navigation, mental health services, substance abuse counseling and job training and placement.

Rowan Vansleve, chief financial officer of Hope Of The Valley, told Fox News: "This allows us to help deal with the underlying issues that may have put them on the streets to begin with and connect them with resources to ensure that placement in permanent housing is a permanent solution."

But Vansleve added, the tiiny homes are not meant to be a long-term solution.

"Tiny homes are currently intended for interim housing. Within a 4-6 month period," said Vansleve, "the majority of tiny home residents will be placed into permanent housing and the unit will be filled with another deserving client seeking to end their homelessness."

The homes are manufactured and built by paletteshelter.com, and Vansleve noted that they do not take long to construct.

"When they arrive on-site they are built in less than one hour with minimal tools," said Vansleve. The homes are outfitted with beds, climate control, safety features and electricity and are all "ready for resident move-in."

The tiny homes are being built by the city of Los Angeles in communities throughout the area.

"The Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village in North Hollywood opened in February of this year. It has 39 units. Another village is underway at Alexandria Park and will be the largest tiny home village in California with over 100 units," said Vansleve. "There are currently two more under construction in Reseda and Tarzana due to open in the next six months."

The homes are rent-free, and the city and the organization are working together in unison to make the project vital.

Said Vansleve: "We have been contracted to provide client services and operate the site including maintenance and security. The maintenance of the site is part of the public-private partnership with the city. The city will be responsible for some of the aspect but the charity will also take some of this responsibility."

Hope Of The Valley has raised roughly $117,000 to help subsidize the opening and ongoing operation of the villages.

"It takes a village to build a village," said Vansleve.

The villages are a public and private partnership: funding comes from city contracts, private foundations, local individuals and businesses.

Cryer was eager to lend his celebrity name. "We’re starting with funding four tiny houses, but will be funding more shortly, as well as holding fundraising events."

The former "Two and a Half Men" star is excited to make an impact and he’s passionate about fighting homelessness.

"If we make people feel just a little bit less helpless, we’ll have succeeded. And that goes for both the folks who get housing and the folks who get the opportunity to help," he said. "…These are our neighbors. This is our community."

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The Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans recently formed a panel of Veterans who have both utilized VA services and experienced homelessness. The panel met with the committee to inform its recommendations to the VA Secretary.

There is no better source of knowledge on homelessness than those who have experienced it. The committee’s recommendations to the Secretary will assist him in helping other Veterans exit homelessness.

One of the committee’s top goals was to influence VA messaging. It wanted to ensure that all Veterans who’re experiencing homelessness, or who’re at risk of homelessness, know they can come to VA for help. This includes Veterans with families, women Veterans, disabled Veterans, and minority Veterans.

The committee meets twice a year and travels to various cities to observe the city’s systems in place. Last year, the committee met in San Francisco to observe how a high-cost market has increased homelessness there, and how markets like this are testing innovative ways to create affordable housing for Veterans.

This year, the committee met in Washington, D.C., and will meet in Minnesota later this year. There, the committee will talk to leaders who have successfully adapted measures to end Veteran homelessness. The committee will then apply the lessons learned from those interactions to states and communities across the country.

Formation and goals

The VA Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans operates under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. It was founded on March 1, 2002, following the passage of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. This committee’s primary objective is to advise the Secretary on the provision of benefits and services to Veterans experiencing homelessness. This is one of VA’s top priorities.

The current committee is a diverse group of 15 experts who are knowledgeable about homelessness, housing, and health care. Five Veterans are on the committee, two of whom have experienced homelessness themselves. Committee members can be nominated by a third party, or they can self-nominate by submitting a resume and a brief cover letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The committee reviews nominations every two years. The next recruitment cycle is in 2020, but the committee accepts nominations any time, in case an existing member resigns or leaves the board due to other circumstances. Nominees can opt to remain in consideration for the following cycle if they are not selected. Committee members can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms.

The committee will continue to advise the Secretary on how best to meet homeless Veterans’ needs. With VA’s vision, leadership, and support for evidence-based practices, it’s possible to ensure that every Veteran has a place to call home.

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With coronavirus pandemic restrictions lifting across most of America, federal officials and housing advocates are hoping their efforts in coming months can lead to a significant decline in the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness.

But they’re also already wary of the next looming challenge facing vulnerable Veterans: inflation.

“A lot of people right now are thinking about how higher prices are going to impact their clients and what services or resources they’ll have to bring to the table to close that gap,” said Kathryn Monet, chief executive officer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

“There are people out there already making hard choices. Do I pay for medicine or gas? Do I buy school supplies or pay the utilities? We’re in a difficult moment.”

Several hundred advocates are gathering in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss those problems — and potential solutions — as part of NCHV’s annual conference. This year’s event, which runs through Friday, is the first in-person gathering for the group in three years, since the pandemic upended normal operations in communities across the country.

Attendees noted that unlike other jobs that could shift operations to remote locations over the last two years, most of the outreach work done to help Veterans experiencing homelessness still had to be done in person.

That has meant long hours and extra stress for the community of helpers.

“We had to learn how to multitask even more than we did before,” said Wendy McClinton, president of Black Veterans for Social Justice, a non-profit providing a variety of housing assistance programs. “And we had to protect our staff, protect our clients, protect their families, and that meant sometimes using resources we didn’t even know we had before.”

Now, advocates are taking those lessons learned and working them into ongoing operations.

In some cases, it means continuing to deliver services over the phone or internet to clients instead of in-person because it provides faster results. In others, it means providing more single-occupancy options to Veterans looking for housing, giving them more independence and investment in their situation.

Federal agencies have also made changes in their support services.

On Wednesday, James Rodriguez, assistant secretary for Veterans’ employment and training service at the Department of Labor, announced $57 million in grants to community groups to help homeless Veterans find “meaningful employment.”

A short while later, Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman announced a goal of 200,000 new housing vouchers this year to help put Veterans in stable housing (there are about 106,000 in use currently).

Because of the new resources, combined with the “return” of advocates to pre-pandemic operations, officials said they see an opportunity to build on past efforts to reduce the number of Veterans without steady housing in the coming year.

From 2010 to 2016, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness dropped by nearly half — from about 74,000 to 39,500 — thanks in large part to a dramatic increase in federal and state funding of programs to deal with the problem.

Since then, however, the number has remained largely stagnant. In 2020 — the last year a full point-in-time count was conducted by federal officials, the estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness was about 37,200, a decrease of about 6%.

Officials saw a 10% drop in the number of Veterans using emergency shelter services from 2020 to 2021, but it is unclear how much of that is because of improvements in their housing situations or concerns about using the public facilities in the midst of coronavirus outbreaks.

It is also not clear how much rising inflation could wipe out any of those past gains.

Monet said rising rents are the most immediate threat for advocates trying to get or keep Veterans in reliable housing. But increased costs for groceries, gas and other services all play a major role in Veterans’ finances too.

She said those concerns limit her optimism for how much progress can be made quickly on the homelessness issue.

“We know that the housing market is crazy now,” she said. “So we may just be treading water. And that’s unfortunate, because we do have these big bold goals from the federal government and we’re all working hard to try and encourage all our partners.”

By getting advocates back in the room together this week, NCHV officials are hopeful that they can plan ways around those obstacles and create new momentum.

They also expect that the return of the conference can help spur new connections among all the groups involved, especially since now they can greet those partners not with a computer-screen wave but instead with a real-life handshake.

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In this guest post, Army Veteran Albert Alexander discusses working with VA to secure housing and economic stability for he and his family. The below was edited for style and clarity, but the voice is Alexander’s alone.

After leaving the Army, I was unable to find stable employment. Without steady income, my family and I were evicted from two residences and my car was repossessed. As I continued having trouble finding stable employment, we frequently moved, staying with various relatives and friends.

In 2016, I called the Veterans Crisis Line and was referred to a Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) at the Jesse Brown Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Chicago, where I secured a place at “A Safe Haven” Shelter. During that time, my wife and children remained in Indiana with a friend so our daughter could attend school there. Later, when I eventually got approved for an apartment under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, I returned to Indiana, reuniting with my family in our new home.

It was good to work with VA in finding a permanent home, because it had people who understood what I was going through as a Veteran. Once housed, I continued looking for employment but didn’t find any success. I went to the Jesse Brown VAMC to inquire about employment services for Veterans and was referred to Beatrice Smith-Redd, a community employment coordinator for Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services (HVCES).

More than a checkmark on a form

I found working with HVCES mentally and spiritually stabilizing. My employment coordinator had a way of talking to people that helped them develop and grow, sharing information in a way that was easy to understand.

Because of her, I didn’t feel like a checkmark on a form, but a person, met halfway and without judgement. I looked forward to calls from Mrs. Smith-Redd because I knew it meant I would move forward. She would not let me stagnate. She motivated me to keep going until I achieved my employment goal.

Mrs. Smith-Redd sensed my early frustration. I have dyslexia and didn’t want to create a resume. But she encouraged me to use my strength of verbally communicating information to develop my resume, limiting my writing to short periods of time. Her help inspired me to complete my part.

In November 2020, when so many people were losing their jobs due to the pandemic, I finally found a job. It took longer than I thought, but I am here. I’m a business services representative for a nonprofit organization named “Of Color.” I help homeless Veterans become job ready. I like to help people – this job empowers me, and I can do things for people that are measurable. I can help them right now. My boss values my perspective and my experience, which makes me feel great.

Achieving economic stability and empowerment to give back

I’m now able to provide for my family. We have ordered pizza twice, we’re repairing our credit, and we can now plan and make a budget. Where we once needed money to even have a budget, now it feels good not worrying about going into the negative. I don’t have to ask friends or family for money. We do things as a family now. I was able to buy items for my daughter to enter an art contest. I can buy nice things for my wife and children instead of going to the dollar store, walking miles to food pantries for food or relying on charity for essential items.

I once wore a suit and rode a pink girl’s bike looking for work, before I found out about the programs at VA. I tried to stay in a positive spirit and not despise my situation. I feel validated now.

Going forward, I’ll continue working on my own non-profit for Veterans, “A Special Place for Veterans,” and I plan to partner with government agencies to make it easier for Veterans to access the benefits and services they have earned. I would also like to write and publish, to discuss how I overcame dyslexia, homelessness and other adversities. Our society expects men to not feel, to not hurt, to not break, and to not fail. But men are human beings, too. I want other men to know that it’s okay to feel, that it’s okay to sometimes need help.

I’m grateful for the help from Jesse Brown VA, and now I’m going to give back. I’m going to help as many Veterans and their families as possible, just like they helped me.

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At Tuesday’s Amarillo City Council meeting, councilmembers were given an outline of a project with a proposal to create a pallet shelter community, which could serve to get the city’s 368 unsheltered homeless off the streets and get them into a shelter.

Jason Riddlespurger, Amarillo’s director of community development, presented his extensive plan to the city council to create this community, with access to city resources and counseling on-site and the use of these small shelters to serve as temporary housing as its tenants get help in finding long-term housing. He sees this project as a bridge to a long-term solution for the homeless.

In January, the city of Amarillo conducted a point-in-time survey count of area homeless and found that there were 539 total homeless people in the city, 368 of those were without shelter. This survey showed a great need for more areas to shelter those experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve got places for them to go, but we don’t have enough beds and the current situation at some of those shelters is not conducive for them to be there,” Riddlespurger said. “That is why you are seeing a lot of unsheltered folks throughout the city. It is not just in downtown Amarillo; it is all over the city. The big concerning issue is that we do not have enough beds.”

Currently, the city has one daytime shelter, the Guyon Saunders Resource Center, and two nighttime shelters with the Faith City Mission and Salvation Army. Capacity is limited at these locations, and none of these shelters accept pets, which is a deterrent to some homeless people coming to those shelters.

He said the solution the city is looking for is the use of prefabricated units called pallet shelters. Each shelter is equipped with electricity, heating, air conditioning and security. The shelters range in size from 64 square feet to 100 square feet and, depending on size, can accommodate from two to four occupants. These structures will have no plumbing, but community showers and bathroom facilities will be set up to service the residents. The area around the community would be fenced with cameras to provide security for the community it serves.

Drawing on examples of pallet shelter communities that are in use in some cities in California such as Los Angeles, Riddlespurger came away impressed with this type of community as a solution for area homelessness.

“This is a very dignified transitional shelter; it is not meant to be a permanent solution,” Riddlespurger added. "It will be like a gated community where they will live. It will be a good quality place where we, as Amarillo, can be proud to provide a place for people who need it."

Riddlespurger said that these shelters could be quickly put together in less than an hour. He said that each shelter has a 10-year life span and can withstand winds up to 100 mph and 25 lbs of snow load. These shelters can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees. Panels of the building are easily replaceable if they become damaged. Each panel can be replaced individually on a unit, and each unit is easy to clean and maintain.

He said that this community will be set up with an ability for people to bring their pets with them if necessary, and it will be close to the new Guyon Saunders Resource Center location.

“With this, we will be able to provide a place where these people are going to be able to stay and get the things done that they need to do so that they can move on to the next level,” Riddlespurger said. "We are going to get them connected to resources like medical and mental health, as well as addiction recovery services.”

A key component for the community Riddlespurger emphasized was the ability to have resource services be able to come to a centralized location to help give needed support. He also stated that although the city will build the facility, it is not looking to run the facility and wants to partner with local nonprofits for staffing and funding. At the council meeting, Riddlespurger stated that maintaining the facility would cost about $1 million a year, and he had multiple nonprofits lined up to work with the community.

“It is much easier to find 160 people if they are all in one place rather than having to look for them all over the city," Riddlespurger added. “This is something that we as the city would like to help in the creation of getting this built. Then we want to find the right agency that is going to partner with us. The city is not going to run this. It is going to be that agency that comes out of the works."

Currently earmarked for the creation of the shelter community is $1.1 million of American Rescue Plan funding for the purchase of pallet shelters. According to Riddlespurger, the cost of the project will likely be between $2 and $3 million. He said his department is looking for about three acres of land and purchasing about 100 shelter units. There will also be an overhead sheltered transitional area that will be used for overflow and a waiting area for units.

Riddlespurger said that his experience in training as a police officer gave him new insight into the plight of the homeless and motivated him to want to seek solutions for the homeless in the city.

“This is the time to do something monumental for your city,” Riddlespurger said. “I shared this with our leaders and others in our community that have the ability to do things. Our leadership is saying, this is the time and they cannot wait to make a change happen.”

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Smartphones keep VA & community resources easy to reach

Recently, Amazon donated smartphones to more than 1,000 homeless Veterans, keeping them connected to valuable VA and community resources.

Marine Corps Veteran Jason Maycumber, who lives in Santa Cruz, California, is one of them. Taking pictures of the ocean and surf while posting them for family and friends on social media allowed him to stay connected with family.

Leveraging the capabilities of a smart device to take photos, connect over social media, have a video conversation or a virtual doctor’s appointment might seem commonplace in this age of technology, but for some Veterans like Maycumber, this connection was only recently possible, thanks to the VHA homeless program office and a donation from Amazon.

So far, it has provided more than 1,100 cell phones to Veterans engaged in VHA’s Homeless Programs, along with a term of pre-paid service that recipients could continue if they choose.

The phones were distributed via VA Medical Centers in Battle Creek, MI; Boston, MA; Kansas City, MO; Las Vegas, NV; Palo Alto, CA; and Philadelphia, PA. Like many creative solutions, the cell phones program was born out of necessity: Veterans in community housing or other group environments were being relocated in quarantine to try to slow the spread of the pandemic, and VA providers and Veterans needed a way to stay connected.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon’s donation made it possible for Veterans engaged in homeless programs to stay connected with their caregivers and support systems, particularly in instances where social distancing and quarantine limited access to face-to-face services and telecommunication resources,” said Nicole Harelik, national coordinator, Office of Analytics and Operational Intelligence, VHA Homeless Program Office. “We’ve received so much positive feedback from frontline staff detailing how these phones have helped maintain linkages, lifted spirits, and in some cases, saved lives. The VHA National Homeless Program Office is extremely grateful for our partnership with Amazon and for their generosity to the Veterans we serve.”

Peter Voystock, a homeless program case manager in Philadelphia who works with Veterans struggling with unemployment and mental illness, found the phones to be valuable in maintaining contact. Voystock was able to remain in constant contact with the Veterans who received these phones in order to support housing services and wellness checks.

“It has been an incredible help that bridges communication barriers for some of our most vulnerable Veterans,” he said.

More than just a connection

Staying in touch with VA was certainly one of the goals of the program, but the additional impacts of being able to maintain connections during the pandemic have been immeasurable. Without access to these phones, the social connectivity provided by mobile devices and services would not be available to these Veterans in need.

A senior Veteran receiving services from the Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supporting Housing (HUD-VASH) program in Philadelphia was “very grateful” to receive his phone, according to caseworker Jill Mullin. Living on his own for the first time in many years, he was nervous about not being able to contact anyone for assistance.

“When he found out he was able to receive a free phone, he was really appreciative. He actually got a little teary-eyed when saying ‘thank you’ and assured me, ‘I’m going to take good care of this,’” Mullin said. The donated phone helped reduce his stress, feelings of isolation, and provided a way for him to stay in touch with both his caseworker and family during his move.

“I think it also helped him feel cared for,” Mullin added.

The Veteran uses his smart technology-enabled phone to call and make appointments with VA, but also to stay connected to family and friends, like his son in Iowa and a cousin who he recently called via video. “I hadn’t seen her in 30 years!” said Maycumber.

For more information about VA Homeless Programs and Services, click here.

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Valor Pointe is a new a 27-unit apartment building alongState Street that also provides services to Veterans who live there.

BOISE, Idaho — More Veterans who've experienced homelessness have a new home in Boise.

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and several partners in the Our Path Home initiative celebrated the grand opening Tuesday for Valor Pointe, a 27-unit apartment building along State Street.

Because of the coronavirus, the event was a virtual celebration.

Along with housing Veterans who've struggled with chronic homelessness, Valor Pointe offers health care, counseling, and substance abuse treatment for the people who will live there.

"What's so impressive about this facility is it's clearly built for the long-term,” said Boise City Council President Elaine Clegg. “It's going to be long term. It's not going to serve for just a few years, it's going to be part of our community, and it is built in a quality that makes that true."

Valor Pointe is a $6 million project with a variety of public and private funding sources. But the funding comes primarily from low-income housing tax credits awarded by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.

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Schwarzenegger made a $250,000 donation to Village for Vets to help build the 25 shelters

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday donated 25 tiny homes to homeless Veterans in West Los Angeles.

Schwarzenegger coordinated with Village for Vets, a nonprofit dedicated to providing food and shelter to homeless and at-risk Veterans, as well as Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and volunteer organization American Veterans (AMVETS) to build the tiny homes.

"Today, I celebrated Christmas early. The 25 homes I donated for homeless Veterans were installed here in LA," the former governor wrote in a Thursday tweet. "It was fantastic to spend some time with our heroes and welcome them into their new homes."

Village for Vets said in a Thursday tweet that Schwarzenegger's $250,000 donation to the nonprofit "made it possible" for the organization "to purchase and build the remaining 25 shelters" at the Los Angeles VA's Care Treatment Rehabilitative Services (CTRS) site.

"I've made and have this great success because of America," the former bodybuilder and actor born in Austria told Elex Michaelson, host of FOX 11 Los Angeles' show "The Issue Is." "If it isn't bodybuilding, if it isn't business, if it isn't show business, movies and politics — whatever I tackled I achieved because of America, so to me, it's always great to give something back."

Veteran Bruce Henry Cooper personally thanked Schwarzenegger in an interview with FOX 11 Los Angeles.

"It's been a life-saver for me," Cooper, who lives in one of the tiny homes, told the outlet, adding that the former governor "has not forgotten…anybody."

AMVETS member Rob Reynolds told FOX 11 that the homes are equipped with electricity, heating and air conditioning.

Donations to Village for Vets go toward the organization's tiny shelters, which "provide an elevated standard of living from tent encampments while Veterans are on their journey to find permanent housing and stability," and other programs providing essential services to homeless and at-risk Veterans, according to the nonprofit's website.

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Open for Independence Day, the 75-unit complex inSanta Ana offers subsidized housing and a host of services to people who served our country.

ickey Jones, a homeless Army Veteran, was so eager to move into the new Veterans-only housing complex being built in West Santa Ana, that he started parking his cherished blue-on-white 1993 Cadillac DeVille a few blocks away every night. Just to be nearby.

Homeless for most of the past decade, Jones, 63, had been sleeping in his car for more than a year and moved to his new parking spot in November. He says he grew so familiar to police, they would come by and knock on his window — not to roust him but to check on his well being. They knew he was waiting to move in to one of the 75 apartments at the Heroes Landing project.

Miles away, in Long Beach, Jason Bowman tracked the progress of what he expected to be a fresh start for him and two ex-servicemen buddies. They all lived in the same homeless shelter. They all wanted better lives.

A Navy Veteran who grew up in Fullerton, Bowman learned about Heroes Landing in February from the Veterans Affairs Community Resource and Referral Center in downtown Santa Ana. He and his friends quickly qualified for the vouchers issued by Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing because they served in the military and, in civilian life, have struggled with housing.

Bowman, 50, always had the same question when he spoke on the phone — daily — with the Heroes Landing on-site property manager, Eileene Humerez: “Can we move in today?”

This Independence Day weekend, that carries extra meaning.

Place for Veterans

Jones, Bowman and other struggling Veterans got keys to their apartments last month. Their one- and two-bedroom units came fully furnished, with a bonus gift of kitchen utensils and other household essentials, thanks to generous donors.

By the beginning of July, with tenants moving in gradually — they’re taking precautions because of COVID-19 — the three story, Spanish revival style building at 3312 W. First St. was about 75 percent occupied. With a gated community on one side, and a Buddhist temple on the other, the apartment site previously was an asphalt parking lot.

The $29.7 million development, a project of Jamboree Housing Corp. that once went under the name “Santa Ana Veterans Village”, was slated to open in late March. But winter rains, followed by the coronavirus crisis, pushed back opening day.

By early June, when the doors opened, Bowman and his two friends were the first tenants to arrive.

“We’re here. And we have a home,” said Bowman, who has struggled with alcohol much of his life and, like Jones, had been living out of his car for a year before he got help from the VA. He ended up at a Long Beach rehab center, where he stayed another year. That was his last stop before Heroes Landing.

The three Veterans, who each have their own one-bedroom apartments, love the place so far, even if the amenities, such as the TV lounge, gym, outdoor barbecues, and computer lab, are off limits for now to group gatherings.

“It’s wonderful,” Bowman said the other day, as he sat for an interview across from an artistic image of a large American flag that adorns one wall of the lounge, where an acoustic guitar and mandolin wait for someone to play. He wore an outfit similar to what he had on when he moved in — black baseball cap with a black Stars and Stripes logo, black polo shirt, and grey-motif camouflage pants.

“I’m just glad I’m here.”

Part of the sense of security is knowing that Humerez — their neighbor at Heroes Landing as well as the property manager — has a good understanding of how service members live and the hurdles they face after being discharged. Humerez is an Air Force Veteran who still serves in the reserves, even though she’s six months pregnant with her second child. She can relate to the tenants

“They know that I’m going through similar situations,” she said.

The rent for the Veterans at Heroes Landing is subsidized by what is known as a HUD-VASH voucher, a program of the federal Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and Veteran’s Affairs to help end chronic homelessness among Veterans. The average rent is around $270, but for some it’s as low as $200. Personal income can’t be higher than 30 percent of the area’s median income.

Jones, who joined the Army at 17 after finishing high school in Houston, expresses the same gratitude as Bowman. He has bipolar disorder and his life has been an odyssey of good times and bad times in different places around the country. Now, financially dependent on military disability pay, he is in a safe haven that provides not only an apartment but a host of supportive services provided on-site.

His move to Heroes Landing ended up being timely. His Caddy’s engine caught fire recently, so he relies on the bus that stops nearby. The location for Heroes Landing, situated between Harbor Boulevard and Fairview Avenue, was chosen for its proximity to public transportation, grocery stores and eateries. There’s also a weekly free shuttle to the VA in Long Beach.

“There’s nothing that I don’t like,” said Jones, who enjoys shooting hoops in the private courtyard at the center of the U-shaped complex.

Most importantly, he adds, “This is for Veterans.”

Support on site

Raised beds in the courtyard await a vegetable garden to be planted and tended by residents. Every apartment has a balcony or a small patio. There’s a dog run and a short, paved walking trail for contemplation. The doors to the apartments, the lobby entrance, and every amenity can only be opened by a key fob issued to each resident. Jones wears his fob on a lanyard around his neck.

Heroes Landing, a name chosen by the public, could be any modern-day, stylish complex. But a few special touches tell a visitor that Jones is right in his conclusion: It is Veteran-centric, inside and out.

Embossed paver bricks surround the flagpole in the courtyard. A fundraiser for Vets helped purchase the “Welcome Home” packages of pots and pans, linens and (a recently hard-to-get item) toilet paper. Names of the donors include major supporters of the project, such as Home Depot, whose foundation contributed a $500,000 grant, and Veterans Legal Institute, which provides pro bono legal services to Veterans.

A floor-to-ceiling mural in the lobby depicts service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps — male and female. It was created by Faces of Santa Ana artist Brian Peterson, whose nonprofit specializes in portraits of homeless people.

Supported by the city of Santa Ana in developing Heroes Landing, Jamboree pulled together a coalition of organizations to provide on-site resources: the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Goodwill of Orange County’s Tierney Center for Veterans Services, Veterans Legal Institute, and the supportive services groups Strength in Support and Step Up.

The Santa Ana project is the largest of two Veterans housing complexes opening this year in Orange County. The other, a 49-unit complex in Placentia, is planning a grand opening on July 22.

Angelica “Angie” Zamora, a Navy Veteran who works for Step Up, helps coordinate the services for the residents at Heroes Landing.

“We want to make sure if a Veteran is in need of something, we are actively providing it to them,” said Zamora, who was born in El Salvador and grew up in Bell Gardens.

No. 1 on that list is dealing with medical conditions. Too often, Zamora said, Veterans will put off for too long health visits to the VA, or are unaware of assistance available to them.

“Whatever they were not aware of, we’re making sure those resources come to them.”

One other thing Zamora wants them to know: “This is their forever home.”

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FLUSHING, Mich. - Homelessness among Veterans continues to decrease here in Michigan.

That's according to 2018 data from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

There's a group here in Flint who's hoping to curb that even more by helping homeless Veterans get back on their feet.

The group is called "Veteran Village USA."

The non-profit has only been up and running for a few months now.

On Sunday, they held a bowling fundraiser at Colonial lanes in Flushing so they can raise money for the organization.

But most importantly to give back to homeless Veterans.

“We were a homeless Veteran family, we were living out of a camper,” said Tiffany Williams; Outreach Director for Veteran Village USA.

In February 2019, Williams and her family faced a harsh reality.

“My husband got out of the army after serving 13 and a half years. We had a savings, we had everything figured out we thought. VA money just didn’t kick in the way it should,” Williams stated.

A Veteran resource program in Michigan called Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), helped Williams put things back into place.

“So, now we feel the need to pay it forward 100%,” said Williams.

Williams now works for "Veteran Village USA.”

“We are working on housing, feeding and supporting homeless and at-risk Veterans,” Williams stated.

But Williams says it's not the lack of resources, it's getting Veterans connected to them.

Those at Carriage Town Ministries, a housing facility for the homeless, agree.

“Usually Carriage Town has at least 3 to 4 Veterans a month that we serve,” said Brittany Willingham; Resource Coordinator for Carriage Town Ministries.

So, while this fundraiser is all about fun and games, it's also about spreading awareness so Veterans know where to turn for help.

“I’m very thankful for the resources and the people who have helped my family and I, but now that I get to do it back, my whole heart is in to this,” said Williams.

Williams says "Veteran Village USA" plans to open a housing facility for homeless Veterans in the future, but they're not quite to their fundraising goal yet.

In the meantime, they're giving back by paying for food, gas cards and utility bills.

If you're interested in helping the organization, click here.

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AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A company in Austin is presenting a pop-up home that can be deployed in six hours as a possible solution to Veteran homelessness in Texas.

Kiro Action gave General Land Commissioner George P. Bush a tour of the prototype, which is 200 square feet.

Bush said the amount of time it takes to build the home — and the amount of space it takes up — makes it a viable solution to try to help our 2,700 homeless Veterans across the Lone Star State.

“Once we’re able to identify the Vet themselves, present this as a temporary housing solution to then take that next step toward a permanent housing solution,” Bush said.

But the structure itself is not the only part of Kiro Action’s solution.

“It has identified service vendors to help triage the Vet, and almost treat that Vet like a patient to help find that next step,” he said.

The homes would serve as a temporary solution, that would pair with case management groups in order to get the Vets back on their feet, Kiro Action founder Sam Haytham explained.

“So they can rehabilitate those homeless, whatever that issue may be, they can take them through the process, and our goal is that they graduate from the program,” Haytham said.

The homes are adjustable, Haytham said Kiro Action is willing to work with the city on how large, or how many are produced. It’s important that the structure feels like a real home.

“This is a dignified home, this is not a tent under an underpass. You can come and leave your stuff in it, you can have electricity,” Haytham said the homes can be hooked up to the city’s utility services.

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MARSHFIELD (CBS) – From the outside, it wasn’t a devastating fire, but most of the damage was inside.

To the people about to move into their new home, it was especially devastating. The renovated building in Marshfield was about to become apartments for eight homeless Veterans.

“Veteran homelessness is so important to try and solve,” said Carin Paulette, the Marshfield Veterans agent. “For what these Vets gave to our country, they shouldn’t be on the street and without a place to live,”

It had been months in the making, turning an old school into eight apartments. Then, a fire. The fire appears to have started with an electrical problem and spread into the walls before firefighters could put a stop to it.

The property had been developed for the Veterans by a nonprofit called NeighborWorks Housing Solutions. A spokesperson said today the March 25 ribbon-cutting would be delayed, but they would finish the job.

“I think we have to look at the positives here and be grateful that this fire didn’t happen when the Veterans had moved in,” said Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares. “Otherwise, we could have had a whole different situation.”

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HMIS from Odin Intelligence helps law enforcement officers make more effective contact with homeless subjects. It includes criminal histories, personal histories, and other critical information.

When police interact with the homeless, they have limited informational resources in the field and often no background information because the contact does not have a physical address. That is now changing through technology from Odin Intelligence LLC.

Odin’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) provides police and other public safety agencies with tools to efficiently connect homeless individuals to services while also enabling officers to better deal with any criminal element within the homeless community.

Erik J. McCauley, founder and CEO of Odin Intelligence, drew on his background of more than 25 years of probation work in California to first develop a product that provides the tools needed by agencies when monitoring sex offenders. After creating Odin’s Sex Offender Management System (SOMS) about two-and-a-half years ago, McCauley found there was a need for something similar when dealing with the homeless. So, using the technology of SOMS he created HMIS.

McCauley chose the HMIS acronym because it aligns with standard terminology for reporting to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The HMIS data can be supplied directly to HUD. HMIS and the other current and future Odin products, are based not only on the expedient sharing of information but also on building a database and tracking interactions and actions.

“The outcomes on anything you’re doing—as long as you’re sharing knowledge effectively—are more positive, more productive, more efficient,” McCauley says. “We’re brand new, with the latest and greatest tech that can deal with any kind of problem, and we are 100% CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) compliant.”

In the field, police or other emergency responders can access full information about a homeless person if that individual is already entered into HMIS. If the contact is not in the database, an officer can quickly add the information using a smartphone. McCauley explains how in the past every contact with a homeless individual was basically a new encounter. With HMIS, prior interactions and even outcomes are documented. Officers have a wealth of information at their fingertips. On the flip side, HMIS can also be provided to the homeless, thereby allowing them to connect to resources and schedule appointments.

Police, firefighters, or paramedics can use HMIS’s facial recognition to identify someone even if the subject is non-communicative or impaired by drugs or alcohol. McCauley, however, points out that the facial recognition is only used for identification and not for investigation.

HMIS provides date of birth, prior contacts, and contact information for family members, therapists, social workers, probation officers, or parole officers. It also alerts officers with safety warnings such as the presence of needles or prior reports of the person being assaultive and with flagged information such as “registered sex offender,” warrant status, and arrest history. The software even gives officers information about the subject’s temporary housing history and the capability to check bed availability in local shelters and reserve a bed on the spot remotely.

“What we are doing, in a nutshell, is expediting the resources and really making the resource referral process super-efficient,” McCauley says. “Not only are we the digital infrastructure, but we allow documentation and validation of all of the efforts that everybody is doing anyway.”

McCauley also stresses that with HMIS—or any of the other Odin products—the department or agency owns the data, and they alone decide who has access.

Documentation is also important. McCauley references a recent lawsuit filed against a city by a homeless woman who alleged she was never offered any assistance from police or other agencies. With HMIS, every interaction is documented and the city can effectively dispute such claims with facts.

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A Florida police department is making sure that a homeless Veteran who served during the Vietnam War and was described as "a unique soul” will be buried Friday with the honors he deserved.

The afternoon burial for John Meade Jr. at the Jacksonville National Cemetery is being hosted by the St. Augustine Police Department with the public invited.

“John Meade Jr. was a unique soul and connected with everyone he met,” the department said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “That's why the St. Augustine Police Department's Outreach Team exhausted all resources to find information that would help them learn a little more about Meade. Unfortunately, Meade lived off the grid alone.”

The team was unable to locate Meade’s family but did discover he served in the Army from 1966 to 1968 and was honorably discharged.

"It was kind of my mission to make sure that he got what he deserved,” Officer Steven Fischer told Fox 30 Jacksonville.

It's unclear how old Meade was when he died several months ago. A cause of death wasn't revealed.

Fox 30 reported interviewing David Carni, a friend of Meade’s, who said, “He was a part of our town.”

Facebook commentators praised the police department for its efforts on Meade’s behalf.

“Every time I drove by him I would give him money,” Dan O’Connor Sr. wrote. “He never asked for it and never held a sign.”

He added, “I had seen a couple of people trying to reach out to him from time to time, but he was content where he was at. He made my day a lot of times. I only hope I did the same in return.

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LOS ANGELES — On a mild winter night in late February, two large, black Suburbans pulled into the parking lot of the Downtown Women’s Center in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles, home to one of the country’s largest homeless populations.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough got out of one SUV and was quickly surrounded by about a dozen people waiting to meet him. The group included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, as well as Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., and representatives from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and the office of Hilda Solis, a member of the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.

For the following two hours, the group crisscrossed Skid Row, tallying the number of homeless individuals for the federal government’s annual point-in-time count — a nationwide effort to calculate the country’s homeless population.

The convening in Skid Row that night was emblematic of the partnerships that are necessary to make significant progress in the fight against Veteran homelessness, McDonough said.

“We saw in action the kinds of partnerships that have allowed us to begin to make very significant progress against Veteran homelessness here in Los Angeles and beginning across the country,” he said. “Those are the types of federal, state, local, private and philanthropic organizations that we’re going to need to continue the progress we’ve begun.”

The VA has set out to prove if the agency can end Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles, which has one of the tightest housing markets in the country and more homeless Veterans than in any other city, it can be done anywhere.

McDonough on Feb. 25 announced his goals for Veteran homelessness in 2022, one of which is to get at least 1,500 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles into permanent housing. Nationally, he wants the VA to house 38,000 Veterans this year. If the department achieves those goals, it will have housed 10% more Veterans in Los Angeles and nationwide than in 2021.

The department is leaning on its partnerships, increased levels of federal funding and a heightened sense of urgency to accomplish its benchmarks in Los Angeles, and it’s tackling the issue on multiple fronts, from providing tiny, temporary shelters for Veterans living on the street to constructing permanent housing units on its massive VA campus.

However, the lack of housing stock in the area, as well as a shortage of case managers who can help Veterans stay in their homes, are challenges that confront the agency. Additionally, advocates wonder how and when the work in Los Angeles will be replicated elsewhere.

From tents to shelters

Army Veteran Michael Shea, 32, walked past rows and rows of identical, 8-by-8-foot shelters searching for the one that belonged to him.

Shea’s temporary home was one of 110 tiny shelters located on the VA campus in West Los Angeles. The shelters were placed atop pallets on new concrete in what was recently an empty lot about half the size of a football field.

Once he arrived at his shelter, which was undistinguishable from the rest, Shea opened the door, revealing a tiny room with a cot on one end and clothes hanging on the other. Shelves lined the back wall and contained all his possessions. The space came with a solitary light, an air conditioning unit, a heater and four windows.

“I have my independence, my own space,” Shea said. “A lot of people say it’s like a jail cell, but I don’t believe that. I’ve been in solitary confinement, and here, you can open the door.”

Shea spent several years bouncing between VA treatment programs, jail and halfway houses in the Midwest before he came to California last year to find his new beginning. He lived in a tent on the VA campus for a while before the department introduced the tiny shelters in October.

The shelters are part of the VA’s recent push to reduce Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles. It started with McDonough’s visit to the West Los Angles site in October, when he spoke to Veterans living in tents along San Vicente Boulevard, which abuts one end of the VA campus. The encampment, known as Veterans Row, was home to about 40 people at the time.

McDonough ordered VA staff in Los Angeles to find other temporary housing for those Veterans, and he tasked them with getting another 500 Veterans into transitional or permanent housing before the end of the 2021. Transitional housing is an intermediary step between homelessness and permanent housing and includes residential treatment facilities, as well as the tiny shelters now assembled on VA grounds.

When Veterans Row was first ordered closed, some Veterans moved inside VA gates, where the department set up rows of tents. Shea lived in one of those for a brief amount of time.

“In the tents with the wind, it would get cold. Here, it’s been awesome,” said Shea, referring to the tiny shelters. “Although, with the Porta-John and showers, you know, whatever. But there are very dedicated people, and it’s been getting better.”

The first three shelters arrived in October and more were introduced incrementally in the following four months. They were donated by various philanthropists, including former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Veterans use portable toilets and shower in a mobile shower truck. In late February, construction workers were busy building a mess hall, where Veterans would soon be able to socialize and eat three meals per day.

The VA fulfilled McDonough’s goal and housed 705 Veterans by the end of 2021. About half of those Veterans were placed in permanent housing, and the other half were in the tiny shelters or other transitional units. Kathryn Monet, president of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, said the department should make a clear distinction between the two. Her organization coordinates efforts to end Veteran homelessness and works with Congress, the White House and local, state and private agencies nationwide.

Just because Veterans are placed into transitional housing, doesn’t mean they’ll eventually graduate to a permanent home, Monet said. About 80% of individuals in transitional housing move onto something more permanent.

It’s also important to ensure Veterans aren’t languishing in the tiny shelters long-term, she said.

“I don’t want to say the shelters are terrible. They’re moving someone indoors from something that was probably terrible, and if they’re choosing that option, it’s probably an option they want. That’s a good thing,” Monet said. “But that doesn’t always mean they’re going to move onto housing. We think a lot about what kinds of services and supports are paired with it, and how are you really engaging with the Veterans who are there?”

Three large trailers were parked at the site of the tiny shelters in West Los Angeles. Inside each were a few rooms holding offices for caseworkers. Veterans at the site were enrolled into the VA’s care, treatment and rehabilitative services program, which provides access to medical care and behavioral health services, as well as help with obtaining permanent housing.

Chanin Santini, a VA social worker, oversees the site. She has a team of three social workers and two peer-support specialists who work with Veterans. Medical providers are on site every day, treating Veterans and providing coronavirus vaccinations and tests. The VA also offers amenities such as acupuncture and a storytelling group.

Santini sees the community of tiny shelters as a comfortable, temporary stop for Veterans on their way to something better.

“I think sometimes people want to think the VA is just this machine that doesn’t move,” she said. “But there’s so many cool things that happen here, like I never would’ve thought this would get turned into what it is. This will be a great place for folks to hang out, and then be able to move toward their next housing goal."

The time to get Veterans from the shelters to their next goal varies, Santini said.

“It’s all on a case-by-case basis. The case managers do a really good job of meeting the Veteran where they are and working with them,” she said. “So that’s either our HUD-VASH program, or some Veterans just want to save enough money to be able to purchase a home. It all depends on what’s going on with them.”

Challenging housing market

HUD-VASH refers to a federal program in which the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides vouchers that subsidize the cost of housing for Veterans in the private market, while the VA provides case management and clinical services designed to keep them in their homes.

The program is a key part of the VA’s “Housing First” initiative, which is designed to get Veterans into homes as quickly as possible while offering support to help them keep their housing. The initiative runs counter to programs that require Veterans to be deemed “housing ready” before they’re eligible for a home.

A study released this month by the University of California, Los Angeles, found Housing First was effective in helping homeless Veterans access housing and remain in their homes. Researchers credited the initiative with a nearly 50% reduction in homeless Veterans nationwide since 2009. That year, 73,000 Veterans were homeless, compared with 36,000 in 2020.

Efforts to sustain Housing First have continued, the researchers said, but they found strong leadership and community partnerships were necessary for it to remain effective over time.

Funding for the HUD-VASH program has continued to increase over the years. On Thursday, Congress approved a federal spending bill for 2022 that would allocate $2.2 billion for the VA’s homelessness programs. It includes $735 million for the HUD-VASH program — about $100 million more than last year. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill.

Biden’s administration is already looking toward the 2023 budget, and the VA is expected to soon release its requests for next year.

Monet testified to Congress on March 2 that the VA should get an additional $150 million in 2023 for the HUD-VASH program, including about $50 million to hire more case managers who work with Veterans to help them stay in their homes.

Case managers are in extremely high demand in the Los Angeles area, which makes it difficult for the VA to have enough, Monet said.

“What I hear from providers out in Los Angeles is that it’s a really competitive employment market,” she said. “It’s competitive for employers, so case managers can pick and choose.”

Continuing with the Housing First approach, McDonough established new goals for HUD-VASH vouchers in 2022. He ordered the staff in Los Angeles to make certain at least 75% of the vouchers allotted to Veterans in the area are used successfully to subsidize their housing. McDonough also wants to increase the number of vouchers that are used within 90 days of being issued. He asked the Los Angeles VA to help bring that rate to 50%.

Veterans often will be awarded vouchers but are unable to find rental units where the landlords permit tenants who use them. That problem is particularly stark in Los Angeles, where there are low vacancy rates, and the housing market is fast paced.

Seventy-five percent remains well below the national average for voucher utilization rates, but it would be a significant increase for the Los Angeles area, McDonough said.

“If we can get it done in the tightest housing market in the country, we can get it done anywhere,” he said.

The problem of voucher utilization is the largest obstacle to housing Veterans in Los Angeles, Monet argued.

“I think the vouchers are great, but if you don't have a lot of housing units in which to use them, it can be challenging,” she said. “Their housing stock is one of the biggest issues.”

Faced with low inventory of housing, the VA is working to create some of its own.

An abundance of space

When you exit off the busy Wilshire Boulevard and onto the VA campus in West Los Angeles, the traffic thins and the space between buildings widens.

The land was donated to the government in 1888 by a wealthy California landowner who wanted the area to be used to provide health care and homes for disabled Veterans. There are several historic structures on the campus, and most of the buildings were built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with their characteristic red-tile roofs and stucco walls.

Many of the buildings now sit vacant, some because of their states of disrepair and others because the coronavirus pandemic pushed employees out of their offices.

The campus contains a nine-hole golf course, a Japanese garden and plenty of open space. There are 388 acres in total, and exactly how to use the land has been the subject of serious debate in the past several years.

In late February, construction workers were busy restoring two large buildings on the campus into permanent housing units for Veterans. A third building in the area is already complete and contains about 50 apartments. By the end of the year, the VA expects to have 186 apartments ready for use.

“There is a ton of space out there on the West [Los Angeles] campus,” Monet said. “I'm happy to see that they're finally trying to maximize its usage to address one of the major issues that Veterans in that community are facing.”

The restorations are part of a broader plan, first established in 2016, to build 1,200 subsidized apartments for homeless Veterans on VA grounds.

Progress on the effort has been slow. In 2021, five years after it launched, only 54 units had been finished — about 11% of what was expected to be complete by that time. After an investigation last year, the VA’s Office of Inspector General blamed the delays on land-use issues, environmental impact studies, the need for infrastructure upgrades and challenges with fundraising, among other issues.

Shortly after taking office last year, McDonough promised to give his approval on a master plan for the project by the end of 2021. A 200-page plan was posted to the Federal Register in October, and it garnered more than 1,000 comments that the VA must now aggregate and consider, McDonough said. The plan called for 800 apartments to be under development at the campus by 2023.

McDonough hasn't approved a plan yet. He said in February that a revised master plan would be released to the public soon, but he didn’t offer a date.

“The American people have dedicated resources to this effort,” he said. “We’ll continue to hold ourselves to account. There will be no secrets in the master plan.”

It also remained uncertain how the plan might change based on input from the public. In Monet’s opinion, the plan should include more housing units than the 1,200 initially proposed. There isn’t much empty space left in Los Angeles for development, she argued, and the VA campus has a lot of it.

“One thing I do think a lot about is the golf course there,” Monet said. “People like to golf, and it’s therapeutic for some Veterans. But for some Veterans who are homeless, having a house is therapeutic, too. So, to some degree, I would be comfortable seeing more development on campus.”

A sense of urgency

When McDonough established his initial goals for Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles, staff met those benchmarks and brainstormed ideas such as the tiny shelters, as well as “documentation days,” events at which Veterans could submit all their paperwork to receive government identification.

When asked why the VA couldn’t eliminate Veterans Row and house 705 additional Veterans before McDonough set the goals, the secretary listed two factors: a heightened sense of urgency and additional funding from Congress.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Congress provided the VA’s homelessness programs with an additional $1.5 billion in an effort to get Veterans into safe housing where they could follow social distancing guidelines. In some cases, that included housing Veterans in hotels and motels.

In December, the VA disbursed $20 million to VA medical centers for the purpose of assisting homeless Veterans. The funds came from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill approved by Congress last spring. The VA was given the authority late last year to use the funds to address homelessness.

The $2.2 billion that Congress approved in its spending deal Thursday would mark the highest-ever budget for Veteran homelessness efforts and a 16% increase over 2021.

“Congress has been very generous with investments,” McDonough said. “The Speaker of the House [Nancy Pelosi] and [President Joe Biden] have been very clear to me, personally, that this is a major priority, and that's why they've set aside significant — even historic — levels of funding to help us to ensure that we get it done.”

During McDonough’s visit to Los Angeles, he asserted the local VA had the funding, partnerships and other tools necessary to reduce homelessness. The final element, he said, was to apply urgency.

“What remains is for us to underscore that we will not tolerate the idea that there’s a homeless Veteran in this country,” he said. “When we internalize that and apply the urgency of our activity to the intensity of that principle, then we have all the other ingredients to get this done.”

While outlining his plans for Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles last year, McDonough claimed the focus there would help spark momentum on the issue across the country. It remains unclear whether that has materialized yet.

McDonough mentioned two locations — New Orleans and Salt Lake City — where he believes improvements have been made, but advocates such as Monet would like to see a more concerted effort in places outside Los Angeles. Monet said she hoped the VA would launch something like a nationwide housing challenge to get other locations involved in addressing the issue.

“I think what’s missing from the conversation is: What is the VA doing to help people anywhere get this done?” she said. “How do we get other VA [medical centers] to do that?”

Monet said she does believe McDonough’s involvement in Los Angeles is “really positive” and creating faster movement there. As their direct supervisor, McDonough’s attention is meaningful to other VA leaders, she said.

The increased focus has resonated with Steve Braverman, director of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Braverman joined McDonough and the rest of the group in February that counted homeless individuals in Skid Row.

The night prior, Braverman spoke to about 50 VA employees who had gathered on the VA campus before setting out to count homeless Veterans throughout the grounds — an effort that was also part of the government’s annual point-in-time count.

Braverman let them know that — as far as Veteran homelessness was concerned — all eyes were on Los Angeles.

“The secretary of the VA has made it very clear that from his perspective, we’re the center of the Veteran homelessness universe,” he said.

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ELLAVILLE, Ga. (WRBL) — Following their eviction in May, the Central Georgia Hub of Hope is working toward opening their doors once again. However, two cancelled inspection appointments serve as yet another roadblock in getting residents home.

According to the City of Ellaville, code violations were the reason for the shelter’s eviction.

Almost two months later, the city sent a code inspector from the Sumter County Fire Department to assess the property. Following the assessment, Reverend James Cauley, the Director of the shelter, spent around $800 on making the necessary changes.

“Me and another guy did all the work in less than five hours,” Cauley said. “So I really feel that the people could have stayed there while we did those corrections.”

The building was supposed to be re-inspected Monday morning, but it was cancelled shortly before the appointment time. The re-inspection was then rescheduled to Friday morning, but once again, it was cancelled. Cauley says his residents want to come home, but without the inspection or the city’s approval, his hands are tied.

News 3 reached out to the Sumter County Planning and Zoning, but they said they could not give a comment on the reason for the cancellations or if Reverend Cauley will be able to reschedule the inspection. The City of Ellaville has not responded for comment.

“I’ve served my country in the United States army as a combat Veteran… honorably discharged as a Veteran,” Cauley said. “I didn’t expect to come back home to be ridiculed the way I’m being treated right now in a country, in a state, in a city that I fought for. It’s really a slap in the face for every American Veteran.”

Cauley is an Ellaville native. He opened a shelter in the place he grew up because of his own personal experience with homelessness.

“I know how it is to get up from zero,” Cauley said. “It’s hard to stand up on your feet when you ain’t got no feet. It’s hard to stand up. You have to get people motivated to change their lives.”

The shelter takes in the homeless, less fortunate and disabled to help them transition into independent living. No matter what their background, Cauley gives them a second chance.

“They’re still God’s people and they are still our family,” Cauley said.

Cash donations for the Central Georgia Hub of Hope can be deposited in the Peoples Bank or mailed to: P.O. Box 94, Ellaville, GA 31806

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A New Jersey man who made up a story about a homeless Veteran helping out his then-girlfriend and used the tale to solicit $400,000 in online donations has been sentenced to prison.

A judge in Burlington County sentenced Mark D’Amico to five years in state prison on Friday.

D’Amico admitted concocting the feel-good tale in 2017 about Johnny Bobbitt Jr. giving $20 to help Katelyn McClure when her car ran out of gas in Philadelphia.

Prosecutors say the three had met previously and cooked up the scheme.

McClure and Bobbitt also have pleaded guilty.

D’Amico also pleaded guilty to separate federal charges, and his sentences will run concurrently.

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LOVELAND, Ohio (WKRC) – A local Veteran badly injured in Afghanistan was handed the keys to a new custom home Saturday. It’s a house that will change the retired Marine Corporal’s life.

The energy was electric. American flags waved retired Marine Corporal Joshua Sust into a new chapter of his life. He walked down the new driveway with a grin from ear to ear.

“Today feels like my birthday and the greatest day of my life all rolled into one,” Sust said.

The Veteran has faced tough days in the past.

Sust was hit by an explosive device in Afghanistan 10 years ago. It left him hurt badly enough that doctors later amputated the lower half of his left leg.

“I wouldn't change anything because it made me who I am. It made me a better person in life. It makes me a better human,” he said.

Homes For Our Troops built and donated the custom home. It's specially designed to accommodate his every need. It has more than 40 special adaptations to make it easier for him to get around.

“The doorways are wider so I can actually use my wheelchair for the first time in my life. I don’t have to worry about hopping in and out of the shower. I can just roll right in,” he said.

Outside, the American flag flies over Sust’s house. It's a constant reminder of josh's love for this country and gratitude for organizations that support Veterans.

“I watched everything get built and now that it’s here, it’s mind blowing because this is mine. This is my house,” Sust said.

Sust’s first order of business is to get everything moved in. He plans to start Monday.

If you'd like to learn more about Homes for Our Troops, or help the group in its mission, you can visit its website here.

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The group is suing the Department of Veterans Affairs for failing to build affordable housing. The suit claims the VA hasn't lived up to a 2011 agreement to house Veterans.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Los Angeles County has long had the country's highest number of homeless military Veterans - nearly 4,000 by last count. And last night, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was hit with a lawsuit by a group of them who say the VA is depriving them of housing. Anna Scott from member station KCRW reports.

ANNA SCOTT, BYLINE: For as long as he can remember, Josh Petitt wanted to join the military, like his dad who served in the Marine Corps and the Army.

JOSH PETITT: When I was about 8 years old, I remember I watched him jump out of a helicopter. You know, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And yeah, it was one of the main reasons I joined the Army.

SCOTT: Was the experience what you expected once you got in?

PETITT: For the most part. War wasn't what I thought it was going to be like. That was - yeah. I don't know.

SCOTT: Petitt served as an infantry soldier in the Iraq War. He was awarded three Purple Hearts. And after returning stateside, he struggled with PTSD that led to drug addiction.

PETITT: I'd never done methamphetamines till I got back from Iraq. I wouldn't have to sleep, and no sleep means no nightmares. So I thought I found the cure.

SCOTT: We're speaking on a bench outside the homeless shelter where Petitt lives right now on what's known as the West Los Angeles VA. That's a huge medical campus, almost half the size of Central Park. Petitt believes he should be living on this campus in a real apartment, which is why he's now one of 13 disabled homeless Veterans suing VA Secretary Denis McDonough and the VA director in charge of this property.

And this lawsuit is basically a do-over of a case filed in 2011, which hinged on how the government came to own this campus that I'm standing on more than a century ago. It was donated by a wealthy widow on the condition that the property serve as a home for Veterans. The 2011 case alleged that the VA had failed in that obligation. And a few years later, the VA agreed to build 1,200 apartments here for needy Veterans. But looking around, they've only completed a tiny fraction, and this campus still looks a lot like it did seven years ago. There's a hospital, various medical facilities and lots of empty open lawns and some stuff that has nothing to do with Veterans at all, like sports facilities for nearby schools.

MARK ROSENBAUM: We trusted the government to come through, and that turned out to be a grievous error.

SCOTT: Attorney Mark Rosenbaum with Public Counsel worked on that older lawsuit and says the only recourse is to sue again. So he has. The VA couldn't give an immediate response to the lawsuit, but in interviews earlier this year, VA officials have pointed out that they are building the housing. Construction is going on; it's just behind schedule. Why so slow? One reason is money. The VA says it can't pay for the housing because it's a health care agency. Here's the VA director in charge at the West LA campus, Dr. Steven Braverman, in April.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

STEVEN BRAVERMAN: Because of the laws that we have in our country, VA is not allowed to build housing unless it is specifically tied to a treatment program.

SCOTT: So cobbling together the money for this enormous project falls to a team of private developers brought in by the VA. That takes time. But Mark Rosenbaum, the lawyer, rejects those excuses.

ROSENBAUM: That's not just inhumane, and it's not just immoral, and it's not just a set of [expletive] lies. It's also against the law.

SCOTT: The new lawsuit asks the court to force the VA to improve housing access for LA's neediest Veterans quickly because, it argues, for disabled Veterans who see doctors at the West LA VA in one of LA's highest-rent areas, not being able to live on or near the property means they don't get health care.

For NPR News, I'm Anna Scott in Los Angeles.

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Two days before the impending move and Lavon Johnson had yet to pack.

But the Iraq war Veteran didn’t seem too worried as he sat at the piano he’d rescued from the trash two blocks away. He began to play Beethoven’s “Für Elise” along San Vicente Boulevard near Brentwood. His American flag — held up on one side by a hanger attached to his tent — waved in the breeze.

Johnson planned to be the last one out of the Veterans Row encampment, where he has lived for about a year. His way of ensuring that the nearly two dozen unhoused Veterans remaining made it out safe before a scheduled cleanup on Monday.

“It never takes me long to get ready,” the 35-year-old said with a quick smile.

The encampment, adjacent to the historic Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles, has become a focal point for homelessness in the city, with mayoral candidates making visits regularly over the last year. The last census of homeless people in Los Angeles County found roughly 3,900 homeless Veterans among the county’s total of 66,000 people without housing.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, who visited the encampment in October, said last week that the about 40 Veterans from Veterans Row would be housed by November.

Already by Saturday, 14 people had moved from the sidewalk into tents on the sprawling VA campus, said Robert Reynolds, a Veteran advocate with AMVETS. Another three have registered to go in, but have not yet moved.

Reynolds credited the movement to media attention, McDonough’s visit and the two deaths tied to Veterans Row.

“It’s very frustrating that it’s taken this long,” said Reynolds, an Army Veteran. “This whole thing is a disservice to the Veterans and a disservice to the taxpaying community, because these guys are supposed to have benefits. This property is intended for them. They should be housed here. There’s no reason they should be all over the streets.”

All Johnson has known throughout his life is the military.

Born in Germany to parents in the Army, Johnson went on to enlist in the same branch in June 2004. He was stationed in Ft. Hood and deployed to Iraq in 2006 and 2007.

If you ask him when and how he got to California, he’ll tell you he doesn’t remember. But he can recall what’s happened since he’s been here. Especially the year he’s spent living in the Veterans Row encampment.

“It’s like I was sent here,” Johnson said, as he looked at the 20 remaining tents along the sidewalk.

Asked why he thought it took so long to get the Veterans help, Johnson is quick to answer: “Pride. Money. Nobody wants to admit a mistake was made.”

Around 11 a.m., Johnson rode his bike alongside the tents, popping his head in to check with some of the Veterans. He passed more than a dozen flags and a few signs notifying everyone of the scheduled cleanup.

To those along the line, Johnson is considered the protector. He often stays up at night to make sure everyone is safe. A reminder of the danger is scrawled in blue on a wall: RIP Andre.

This site was connected with two homicides within six months this year. In April, Pedro Flores, 34, was arrested on suspicion of murder and assault with a deadly weapon after he ran over a person living in the encampment, allegedly dragging the man’s body 200 yards under his vehicle. In September, the encampment was the site of a stabbing that killed an unhoused male Veteran.

Reynolds has had more than one nightmare about Veterans getting killed along the street. The Iraq war Veteran once slept in a sleeping bag along the street after not being allowed into a VA program in 2018 because of his service dog.

“I saw Veterans all over the sidewalk, no outreach coming out, police coming through and removing them every couple of weeks,” the 33-year-old said. “I grew up in a large military family and was always taught to respect Veterans. And so seeing this struck the deepest chord. I just couldn’t believe I was seeing people that went to combat sleeping on the sidewalk and dying out here.”

Outside the tents were signs posted about the plight of homeless Veterans: “We fought for you please fight for us.” Black storage bins were placed outside tents with a sheet to document inventory for the move.

Reynolds has helped set up 20 tents on the VA campus, including new cots, blankets and towels for those moving in from Veterans Row. A U-Haul will arrive Monday to help load up everyone’s belongings in order to place them in storage, if needed.

Ronald Estrada-Ortiz, a Marine Corps Veteran, got moved onto the VA campus two days ago. He was able to bring clothing and two backpacks with him.

Estrada-Ortiz enlisted when he was 18 — he graduated from high school on a Wednesday and was a Marine by that Friday — motivated by the events of 9/11.

“I bleed red, white and blue,” he said. “I love this country.”

But he expressed frustration at the length of time it took for Veterans to get help, calling it “a money issue.” He also questioned misperceptions community members might have about the unhoused.

“We just got dealt the wrong hand,” the 35-year-old said.

When ask when he’s supposed to move, Johnson said he is winging it. He doesn’t like making plans anymore.

“Everyone wants me in there,” he said, from his place at the piano. He doesn’t really want to move, but he’d go though because, as he jokes, “these guys can’t watch out for themselves.”

He only plans on taking the “bare necessities” with him. That includes the piano he rescued six months ago.

He points out an information booth on the VA campus. His piano’s new home.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Veterans in the United States experiencing homelessness dropped by 11% since 2020, the biggest decline in more than five years, the Biden administration reported Thursday.

There were 33,136 homeless Veterans in January of this year, compared with 37,252 in 2020, according to the Point-in-Time count conducted by the departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development as well as the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

“One Veteran experiencing homelessness will always be one too many, but the … count shows that we are making real progress in the fight to end Veteran homelessness,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said.

The government count is conducted to capture U.S. homeless population on a single night in January each year but was not fully completed last year due to limits on in-person surveying during the coronavirus pandemic.

The data released Thursday show significant drops each year in homelessness from 2010 to 2016, when the Obama administration made it a top priority to end Veteran homelessness, before mostly leveling off from 2016 to 2020.

Since 2010, when it stood at 76,329, the number of homeless Vets fell by more than 55%.

The Biden administration credited its efforts to reduce Veteran homelessness with help from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, which boosted the VA’s homeless programs and expanded rental aid and other support for Veterans’ families.

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More about homelessness:

Nearly half of the U.S.’s homeless people live in one state: California

‘Millions of families struggle to keep roofs over their heads’: Biden administration says it’s making progress on America’s housing shortage — but will it be enough?

‘Fighting the pandemic at Skid Row was the toughest challenge of our lifetime — we were trying to save lives while saving ourselves’

Why San Francisco’s homeless population keeps increasing

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The money will be split among the city and county of San Diego

About $3.8 million in federal dollars are being allocated to help Veterans through San Diego County find housing and services that can lead to long-term recovery from homelessness.

The funds are part of $10.5 million in grants coming to California from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, more commonly known as VASH vouchers, a collaborative effort between HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“These grants will steer funding to more than two dozen California cities in need of additional supportive housing for our homeless Veterans.” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said when announcing the allocation in late December.

“I firmly believe we must combine housing with services to make sure the Veterans we bring in from the street don’t find themselves back out there,” she said.

The money includes $2.5 million in VASH funds to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and $1.3 million to the San Diego Housing Commission.

“This grant is good news for our unsheltered Veteran population,” said David Estrella, director of HHSA’s Housing and Community Development Services. “The funds will secure a stable place to live for men and women in our community that have sacrificed so much.”

The county’s portion of the grant will assist 175 Veterans with rental assistance, ongoing VA case management and supportive services, including drug and alcohol counseling and financial education to Veterans without a stable home, according to a news release from HHSA.

According to the 2019 Point-In-Time homeless count, about 14 percent of the local homeless population has served in the military. Veterans are more likely than civilians to be homeless due to higher rates of traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Overall, the county’s VASH program has assisted more than 1,000 Veterans in finding a place to live.

Information on how to apply for these vouchers can be found online or by calling (877) 478-5478. The county is also actively seeking landlords interested in housing Veterans selected for the vouchers.

Landlords interested in participating in the rental assistance programs should call 2-1-1 San Diego or visit the organization’s website at 211sandiego.org. 2-1-1 San Diego will refer landlords to the proper jurisdiction.

Veterans Village of San Diego announced recently the appointments of Peter Seidler, Dan Shea and Tom Mulvaney to its board of directors.

Seidler is the general partner of the San Diego Padres and managing partner of Seidler Equity Partners, a private equity fund for growing companies across the United States and Australia. He helped fund and pushed for the city of San Diego’s bridge shelter program.

Shea is a partner at Paradigm Investment Group and a well-known restaurateur with ownership of Donovan’s Steak & Chop House restaurants in San Diego and Phoenix. He also has been a strong advocate for the bridge shelter program and other services for homeless people.

Mulvaney was president of Control Communications, senior vice president at Seagate Technology and Conner Peripherals. He also is known for his philanthropy supporting literacy, education and a multitude of social and civic causes.

“I am very pleased to have Peter, Dan and Tom join VVSD’s Board,” said Kim Mitchell, president and CEO of the nonprofit. “They bring a new perspective from the San Diego community and will be an amazing contribution to this group of leaders.”

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Los Angeles County, with a population of more than 66,000 people, is at the forefront of a national homelessness crisis. But LA faces an additional, urgent challenge: more than 3,900 Veterans are living on the streets, nearly 1 in 10 of all homeless Veterans nationwide.

Fortunately, Los Angeles is also home to the West Los Angeles VA Campus, a 388-acre site dedicated to serving the needs of Veterans that has enormous potential to create more supportive housing units.

The land was deeded to the federal government in 1888 and for decades thousands of Veterans lived there. Unfortunately, following damage from the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake, the VA began transitioning the land away from housing. While the VA hospital remained, much of the rest of the land was used for other, non-Veteran focused purposes.

In 2016, we joined former Senator Barbara Boxer in securing passage of the West Los Angeles Leasing Act. This law led to the end of most non-Veteran related leases on campus and helped spur the redevelopment of the property into a true home for Veterans.

The VA is now implementing a plan to build at least 1,200 new subsidized apartments, which is composed of 23 projects that range from renovating existing structures to developing and building new units.

The challenge now is to secure the funding necessary to build housing units and get Veterans off the streets as soon as possible.

That’s why we introduced the West Los Angeles VA Campus Improvement Act. The bill would allow the VA to spend revenue generated through land-use agreements on campus to help fund housing, services and infrastructure upgrades. It’s a simple but necessary fix to current law, which only allows that money to be spent on maintenance.

Both the House and Senate have now passed slightly different versions of this bill. We’re both hopeful that the recently passed Senate version of the bill will receive a final vote in the House in coming weeks and the bill can be signed into law by President Biden.

We’re also exploring other ways the VA can contribute more to the cost of retrofitting buildings to make them suitable for housing. Congress directed millions of dollars to bring historic buildings on campus up to today’s seismic standards, and we have encouraged the Biden administration to use those funds for necessary seismic retrofits.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough pledged during his confirmation process to be personally involved in solving the Veteran homelessness crisis. Following his confirmation, we called on him to put West LA VA at the top of his priorities and have asked him to visit the campus soon and lend his support.

As important as housing is to address this crisis, we know that housing alone is not enough.

As new housing units are built on the West LA VA campus, more low-barrier and wraparound support services such as job training, counseling and health care will be vital to help Veterans transition out of homelessness – whether they’re residents on the campus or elsewhere in the community.

The anchor of these services is the VA hospital at the southern part of the campus. Among the 23 planned projects for the campus are efforts to build more outpatient clinics and a research center, solidifying the campus as a center for Veteran medical care in Southern California.

Plans also include a hub for community engagement and reintegration services that are tailored to Veterans’ specific needs, including employment counseling and programs directed toward those battling PTSD, substance abuse and other mental health conditions.

Congress and the new administration can certainly do more to support these efforts by providing resources to programs that pair housing with supportive services, such as the successful HUD-VASH program. This joint program between the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides Veterans with vouchers to help them find permanent housing. HUD-VASH, which began in 2008, has helped reduce the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States by half.

With the Sylmar Earthquake now 50 years behind us, it’s long past time to restore this campus as a home and community for Veterans.

The West LA VA campus has the potential to serve as a model for the nation on how to address Veteran homelessness. We just need to push these plans over the finish line. Final passage of the West Los Angeles VA Campus Improvement Act is the next logical step.

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As Carl Davis added his signature to a simple one-bedroom apartment lease last December, he did so with a renewed sense of pride and accomplishment. Signing the lease meant that his name would be on the mailbox and the contents of the apartment would belong to him. When you’ve been largely homeless for 40 years like Davis, it’s the little things that restore pride and self-worth.

Davis served in the Army from 1973 to 1976. Upon separating from the service, he went back to school for a short time, started working and soon became victim to layoffs. Without steady work, life as Davis knew it took a different turn.

“I slept mostly in shelters,” said Davis. “I usually made it to a shelter just in time to find a bed for the night.”

Under a bridge

Davis spent many years sleeping in various shelters throughout Dallas, in addition to some nights spent sleeping under a bridge. After spending three years at one Dallas shelter, he met members from VA North Texas’ Homeless Mobile Medical and Mental Health Veterans (HMMM-V) team. Its mission is to find homeless Veterans like Davis and assist them in VA healthcare enrollment, housing screenings and access to other available resources.

“We try and develop a trusting relationship with Veterans who would not ordinally engage the VA,” said Christi Godfrey, VA North Texas social worker. “By bringing the VA to the Veterans in the community, our hope is that he or she will come around, trust the VA, and start work on their housing goals.”

Building Veteran trust is one of the challenges the HMMM-V team faces, despite a well-equipped professional team including a physician assistant, social worker, adjustment counselor and peer support specialist. It took two members, Moneeza Matin, physician assistant, and Dedrea Ollison, readjustment counselor assistant, three years to earn Davis’ trust.

“I am able to connect with a lot of the Veterans I encounter because I am a 24-year Veteran myself,” said Ollison. “They want to talk to someone who understands them and what they have been through.”

From the streets to housing

Davis eventually allowed the team in and let them help. The team set him up with a primary care physician and established care at VA North Texas’ Dallas campus. Securing an apartment lease and dependable healthcare was not the end of Davis’ relationship with the HMMM-V Team. Ollison and Matin still check on him and provide transportation for his medical appointments.

“It gives me great pleasure to see how a Veteran progress from the streets to housing,” said Ollison. “It’s my drive for getting up every morning and coming to this job knowing we are making a difference in someone’s life.”

Davis’ life has radically changed as he no longer must hunt for a bed to rest his head or figure out where and when he would get his next meal. He is living day by day with a roof over his head, food in his kitchen and a renewed sense of hope.

“I take it easy now,” said Davis. “It just feels good to have my own place.”

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Recent counts show, on any given night there are more than 650 homeless Veterans in Santa Clara County

According to the most recent counts, on any given night there are more than 650 homeless Veterans in Santa Clara County.

As a Veteran myself, it is painful to see my fellow service members face these obstacles. These brave men and women risked their lives to protect our freedoms. They deserve to be treated with dignity after they return home.

Because of the high cost of housing in San Jose, many Veterans are also struggling to pay their rent each month. They live on the brink of homelessness and are forced to choose between housing, food, or the physical and mental health care they need.

That is why I thank the San Jose City Council for placing Measure E on the March 3, 2020, ballot. It will support affordable housing for Veterans and can help us put an end to Veteran homelessness once and for all.

Tito Cortez

Founder

Veterans Supportive Service Agency

San Jose

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STANDISH (WGME) – A new report finds Maine’s homeless population is growing.

A local group, helping homeless Veterans, estimates there are hundreds of Vets living on the streets.

Cody Curato and Rebecca Levesque had been staying with friends, but when the time came to leave, they had no place to go, and when the weather turned cold, the newlyweds started living in their van.

"We were bouncing between local ponds and gas stations, and it's not very fun," Curato said.

And with no permanent address, they found it hard to get jobs.

"It's a vicious cycle,” Curato said. “If you don't have a car, most employers won't look at you. If you don't have an address, most employers won't look at you."

"And if you don't have a job, you can't get a house or a car," Levesque said.

Curato is an army Veteran, discharged when his health took a turn for the worse.

"In 2014, I got an Honorable Under Medical Condition Discharge," Curato said.

He reconnected with the VA, who helped find an apartment for the couple.

The Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance furnished the entire apartment.

"We've never asked for help from anybody,” Kevin Nicholson of the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance said. “We just get it because when people find out what we do, they want to get on board and be part of the alliance."

The young couple and their two huskies moved in Friday morning.

"Here's your new home and you're not homeless anymore," Nicholson said.

"I love it. Everything about it," Levesque said. "It's incredible. There's just all of this space and the closets are big. There's already food in the cabinets. It's amazing."

Curato already found two jobs, and now that they have a place to live, Levesque plans on applying for work, but Nicholson says more affordable apartments are needed to end Maine's homeless crisis.

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SANFORD (WGME) – Many homeless people in Sanford are now getting help from the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance.

This group started out as eight Veterans eight years ago. Now the group is down to essentially two people and a car.

The pair of volunteers, Journey and Kevin Nicholson, drive around donating food, clothing and hygiene kits to those living alone on the streets and in the woods.

One of them is Billy, who’s been without a home for three years.

“I was out here last year it was like 24 below. That was crazy,” Billy said.

Billy has severe frostbite all over his body.

“It hurts,” Billy said.

The ultimate goal for the two-person team is to get people shelter. The group has helped find housing for more than 200 people. Nicholson, a Navy Veteran, looks at homelessness like a war.

“If you’re in a trench and one of your guys gets shot, are you going let them just lay there?” Nicholson said. “No, I’m going to put him on a stretcher and have the guys take them out to a place to get them some medical attention, and in the same way I look at these homeless people as a result of a war that’s been going on in our country.”

The other volunteer, Journey, helps because she once needed help, too.

“I was living in a house, but I was having a tough time financially; I met a woman who I never knew and she bought me 100 gallons of heating oil,” Journey said. “It was really, really cold two winters ago, and I started wondering, ‘How are people managing who are outside?’”

The pair has packed several storage units full of donations with help from Sanford-area organizations, like the Harris School of Business, but right now they say the most helpful donation is cash.

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BOOTHBAY (WGME) – Edward Harmon knew there had to be a way to help homeless Veterans in Maine, so he decided to transform a cargo trailer into a temporary home.

It's a project that is just getting started.

The goal is to make the temporary space feel like home.

"Vet comes first," Harmon said.

Edward Harmon is on a mission to make a difference in the lives of Veterans in Maine.

"There are 10-15 Veterans sleeping under bridges from here down to Portland," Harmon said.

Harmon works closely with homeless Veterans to get them into permanent housing, but due to the current system, there is a 2- to 14-day delay while a Veteran is being processed.

"They kept saying there's nothing that can be done, we have to do the paperwork," Harmon said.

And that's how the "Homeless V.E.T.S. Project" got started.

Harmon and his partner Arthur Richardson have taken a "cargo trailer" and transformed it into a home, equipped with a bed, nightstand, refrigerator, a desk, chair and heat.

Here’s a look inside the trailer. He’s working with donated materials. There’s a bed, nightstand, microwave, heat, along with a desk and 3 windows.

The goal is to start off by creating a dozen of these homes.

"When we get the 12 here, we're going to turn these sideways and have four in here, so we'll work them four at a time,” Harmon said. “We'll be able to produce one every three weeks once we get going."

Eventually, they want to scatter them across the state.

Harmon says the price per trailer is about $7,800.

Making that total cost for 12 nearly $94,000.

But the labor is absolutely free.

"I don't want money,” Harmon said. “He doesn't want money. We want to save a Vet. That's what's important."

They are still working on raising money for the trailers, but have the space, and are ready to build.

Sponsors are donating the materials to make trailers comfortable, and community members are willing to pitch in to help.

"It's just, it's a nice little home," Harmon said.

It’s a temporary space that Harmon hopes feels like home.

"Any individual that gives even a penny is heartfelt, because we have to help our Veterans," Harmon said.

If you would like the make a donation, checks can be sent here:

American Legion Post 36, V.E.T.S. Projects

PO Box 260 Bootbay, Maine, 05437

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A key annual report on Veteran homelessness was never released last year, and now lawmakers want to know why the "urgent" data is missing when it may be more important than ever before.

Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development releases a "Point-in-Time" count of unhoused people, particularly Veterans. HUD conducted its annual count in January 2020, but never released its report -- a major resource for Congress in making decisions about how to legislate and allocate resources to respond to Veteran homelessness.

The leaders of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees, House Chairman Mark Takano, D-California, and ranking member Mike Bost, R-Illinois, and Senate Chairman Jon Tester, D-Montana and ranking member Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, sent a letter to Acting HUD Secretary Matt Ammon Tuesday, urging him to release the data. Not even Department of Veterans Affairs leaders have reviewed the report yet, they wrote.

In past years, the analysis of the number of Veterans homeless on a given night in America was compiled into a report in consultation with VA officials and presented to Congress by the end of the year, but no such report was shared in 2020. The HUD Press Office told Connecting Vets it expected to release a report sometime in February, but as of March 3 it had not been made public.

The lawmakers said the data in the report is critical to the work to end Veteran homelessness.

"In order to effectively address barriers to access shelter, health care, and benefits for this particularly vulnerable population, we all need to be working with the most up-to-date information available," they wrote in their letter.

The 2020 data is also key, given the increased risk to and additional resources needed for Veterans experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk during the pandemic.

"We cannot adequately serve homeless Veterans and their families and ensure that the resources and programs available are helping if this data remains unavailable," the members of Congress wrote.

HUD, like other federal agencies and organizations across the country has been working under pandemic conditions, which the lawmakers acknowledged, but the department did not communicate with Congress about the report's delay or a need for further resources, they said. And Congress cannot move forward without the information, as well as the 2021 report, which will likely be a more accurate reflection of the effects of the pandemic on Veterans experiencing homelessness.

The lawmakers asked HUD for a timeline on the 2020 report, what issues kept it from being released, how it will prevent a future delay for the 2021 report and how HUD will work with VA to address Veteran-specific challenges or findings from the 2020 and 2021 reports, according to the letter.

Last spring, advocates and experts said they expected the pandemic to result in a major spike in the number of Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, a population at greater risk for the virus.

Tens of thousands of Veterans are homeless on any given night in America, and more than 1.4 million were at risk of becoming homeless before the pandemic struck.

In recent years, advocates have praised the efforts of VA, Congress, and state, local, federal and private partners in reducing Veteran homelessness by nearly 50% from 2010 to 2019, according to VA and HUD data.

Early in the pandemic, work to shelter Veterans in permanent housing ground to a halt when they needed it most. Congress worked to provide millions in emergency funding to help house homeless Veterans in hotels and pay for testing for those who fell ill, but permanent housing was still a struggle. Other major Veterans bills that made it through Congress in 2020 also included measures to aid homeless Veterans, such as the omnibus Johnny Isakson and David P Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, which also featured landmark legislation for women Veterans.

About 11% of the American homeless population are Veterans. Women Veterans are the fastest growing group of homeless Vets. Homeless and housing insecure Veterans are also disproportionately Veterans of color. Homeless Vets are also disproportionately younger and many suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

The Biden administration's pandemic response package moving through Congress includes some funding for VA, including for programs to help homeless or housing insecure Veterans. But that massive bill will have to survive negotiations and a vote in the Senate before it can make it to the president's desk for final approval.

Veterans service organizations are expected to participate in a series of Congressional hearings this week, an annual opportunity for them to lobby the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees about their legislative priorities. This year, groups focusing on minority Veterans will also be included. One of the groups expected to present is the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

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Mark D’Amico, the South Jersey man involved in a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign that raised $400,000 purportedly to benefit a homeless Veteran as repayment for a concocted act of kindness, pleaded guilty Monday, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said.

D’Amico, 42, formerly of Bordentown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. D’Amico’s sentencing is scheduled for next March.

His two conspirators — Katelyn McClure and Johnny Bobbitt Jr. — pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, respectively, in connection with the same scheme, Honig said. They are both awaiting sentencing.

The GoFundMe campaign started with the lie that Bobbitt had come to McClure’s rescue when she ran out of gas off an exit on I-95 in Philadelphia on a cold night in the fall of 2017. They falsely claimed that Bobbitt used his last $20 to pay for her gas and posted a photo of McClure and Bobbitt in front of the Girard Avenue exit of I-95 with the title “Paying It Forward.”

Text messages show McClure and D’Amico had recently encountered Bobbitt near the SugarHouse Casino and were indeed interested in helping him. The couple decided to create the GoFundMe and set a goal of $10,000. The gas story was made up to garner sympathy.

Eventually, 14,000 donors gave $400,000, thinking they were helping the Marine Veteran get off the streets.

The three made national television appearances to share their story and the couple at one point talked about a book and movie deal.

The couple bought Bobbitt a camper, and he lived for a time on property McClure’s family owns in Florence, Burlington County. They also gave Bobbitt about $25,000, authorities said, some of which he spent on drugs.

D’Amico and McClure, then his girlfriend, spent the rest of the money on vacations to Disney World, Disneyland, and Las Vegas, a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, gambling excursions, a luxury car, and designer handbags, among other things, authorities said.

The scheme unraveled when Bobbitt, upset that the couple had not given him what he considered his fair share of the money, accused them of squandering the GoFundMe donations. Pro bono lawyers for Bobbitt went to court to get an accounting of the money, and a lawyer for McClure and D’Amico admitted it was gone.

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Two years after federal funding cuts led to reduced help for homeless Veterans, the Lehigh Valley has a new source of money.

State Sen. Pat Browne and local officials on Monday announced the creation of a Lehigh Valley Homeless Veteran Fund, which is launching with $200,000 in state grant funding.

“When our country called upon them, these men and women committed themselves to service in our armed forces,” Browne said at a news conference at the Lehigh County Government Center. “Now it is our turn to answer their call and provide assistance when they need it most.”

Cuts to federal funding in 2017 led to a dearth of resources to address homelessness among Veterans in the Lehigh Valley, with many community partners forced to suspend or end their services and outreach programs, according to Thomas Applebach, director of the Lehigh County Office of Veterans Affairs.

An estimated 574 homeless Veterans live in the Lehigh Valley, according to a recent “Point in Time” count, which tracks the homeless population at the local, state and national level one night each year. Of that number, 37 were identified as unsheltered Veterans, which includes those living in vehicles and outdoor encampments.

The goal of the fund is to pool smaller donations that can be used to help larger services or assistance programs — sustainable housing, job placement, substance abuse treatment and mental health services — that serve homeless Veterans in the Lehigh Valley, Applebach said.

“This is an effort to overcome the current and possible future funding cuts to VA services,” Applebach said.

Catholic Charities of Allentown will continue to play a critical role in administering those programs and services. The nonprofit agency spent roughly $85,000 — about $1,800 per Veteran — to help homeless Veterans through its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program in 2019.

Regardless of funding cuts, Browne said it is the collective responsibility of community stakeholders to ensure that resources are available to those “whose sacrifices have helped define our community.”

The fund, managed by the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, will be overseen by a five-member committee that will evaluate applications and recommend grant awards.

Alisa Baratta, executive director of the Third Street Alliance and co-chairwoman of the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless Advisory Board, said the fund presents an opportunity for civic groups and individuals to help end the vicious cycle of homelessness.

“If you or anyone you know is experiencing homelessness, know that there are hundreds of people across the Lehigh Valley waiting to help you,” Baratta said.

While the creation of the fund was largely the culmination of government cooperation, county Executive Phillips Armstrong hopes it will attract investment from the private sector.

“We were hit with a problem two years ago, and we could have just said, ‘That’s it,’ ” Armstrong said. “Instead, we did something about it.”

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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Roughly 20% of the homeless population in the country is Veterans. Those leading the charge to end Veteran homelessness in Omaha hope a new community housing complex will help put a dent in that statistic.

Victory II Apartments recently opened its doors. The building, formerly home to part of Grace University, was renovated into 60 studio and one-bedroom apartments for homeless and at-risk Veterans. There is also a community gathering area, laundry facilities, a gymnasium and a fitness center. Victory II sits right next to Victory Apartments which houses 90 units. A third such complex is in Lincoln and has 70 units.

“It’s a great time to get many of our Veterans who wore the uniform out of the shelter or another program and into a place they can call home,” said Tom York, the property manager.

He says Veterans who live in these complexes not only have a roof over their heads, but they also have access to on-site services like counseling, health and wellness, and job training.

“Their tour of duty is over, and getting them housed and allowing for them to work with social workers and case managers and people with the VA, who help find them jobs, is critical,” said York.

He says there’s a big push to end Veteran homelessness and a big need for these housing projects. The first Omaha Victory Apartments filled up fast and he’s expecting Victory II will, too.

“After we get this occupied, I know we’re going to have a waiting list for Veterans that are still needing to be housed somewhere,” he said.

The VA, along with the Omaha Housing Authority, process and approve applications, and the rent is based on the Veteran’s income.

York says it’s always a special day when they can say “welcome home” to their new residents.

“We bring them in here and we show them an apartment and they are just wowed over the fact that ‘this is all for me?’ I’ve seen a few of them get very emotional and have to take a moment to gather themselves. It’s very touching and does so much for them.”

York said several organizations and businesses stepped up to help with the project, including PenFed Credit Union which bought about $40,000 worth of furniture for the apartments.

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Tommy Pasquale, 24, is raising money for America's homeless Vets — 'not too much to ask' that 'they have a good place to live'

A New Jersey man is walking across the country for a very good cause.

Tommy Pasquale of Randolph, New Jersey, is on a mission to trek all the way to Venice Beach, California, from New Jersey to raise money for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

The 24-year-old left Brielle Road Beach in Manasquan, New Jersey, on Sept. 19, 2022, with the goal of reaching the Pacific Ocean by April 2023.

Pasquale said that the 38,000 Veterans who go to sleep homeless across the United States is an "unacceptable" number — especially in a country "as great as the United States."

"I think it’s not too much to ask that when they get home, they have a good place to live and rest their hat at the end of the day," he said.

Pasquale revealed to Fox News Digital that his mission is a journey "from sea to shining sea" in true American fashion.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was forced into lockdown, Pasquale said that it's been a dream of his to "do something crazy" such as walk across the country.

"I decided if there’s ever a point where I’m going to do it, the time is now when I’m young, I’m strong and I’m healthy," he said.

"So, I went for it and I’m glad I did, although it’s definitely a little crazy."

Pasquale quit his job — he worked in software sales in New York City. He also sold his car, using the money he’d saved to take the trip.

"It should last me until I get there," he said. "But currently, I have no income."

Pasquale decided to pair the cross-country walk with the "good cause" of fighting Veteran homelessness. He has several Veterans and active-duty military in his own circle.

"I’ve always been passionate about helping out Veterans in any way I can because they’ve given so much to us," he said.

Pasquale is calling the journey "Tommy Walks America" — and he's been keeping his followers in the loop through social media.

Before the trip, Pasquale trained by walking every day. Although he was fit enough for the job, he realized the journey would be physically and mentally tough.

"I knew it was going to be challenging," he said. "I’m not quite sure if I realized how challenging it was going to be until I got out here."

"I was definitely nervous. I was excited, cautiously optimistic — but until you go out there and take the first step and start doing it, it’s all unknown."

He added, "Sometimes you just got to send it."

Pasquale said he walks at least 20 miles each day, following county highways and small back roads, while pushing a shopping cart full of essentials such as clothes, non-perishable food, toiletries, water, a journal, books and chargers.

The traveler spends most nights in a tent with a sleeping bag that he’s brought along with him.

But he’s been able to bunk with friends, too — and even people he’s met along the way — who live en route.

Since traveling about 925 miles to Nashville, Pasquale revealed that his trusty pairs of New Balance and HOKA sneakers are just about spent.

"They have served their purpose," he said. "Definitely need some new sneakers now."

Pasquale has received "a lot of support" so far from people he knows, as well as from strangers, he said — including country music star Parker McCollum, who offered Pasquale tickets to the Country Music Awards while he was in Music City on Nov. 9.

"Any time I get to stop and see something cool or stop in a cool city like Nashville, I definitely want to take my time and enjoy it," he said.

While Pasquale is a third of the way through his journey as of right now, he revealed that he’s learned a lot about himself and the world around him, especially in a nation that seems so divided.

"There are so many good people that are out there still — like, genuine, good people," he said.

"At the end of the day, most Americans just want to help out their fellow Americans any way they can, and I think it’s a pretty special thing."

He also said, "Different parts of this country are so different, but people are genuine wherever you go."

Pasquale’s goal is to raise $100,000 for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, but he believes he’ll be able to raise much more.

"I don’t think it’s out of the question to think that we could raise $1 million," he said.

He added, "Any time you get the chance to meet a Veteran, make sure you shake their hand and give them a hardy ‘thank you’ for what they do for this country."

Pasquale said that 100% of all donations he receives will go to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Pasquale added that he plans to fly back home to New Jersey once he makes it to his final destination in California.

"When I get home, I might park it on the couch and not take any steps for about a month," he said, laughing.

Donations can be made at GoFundMe and the Tommy Walks America info page at linktr.ee/tommy_pasquale.

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As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to end Veteran homelessness, Secretary Denis McDonough last month released Master Plan 2022 detailing plans to aid homeless and other at-risk Veterans and their families at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

Master Plan 2022, released April 22, also maps the progress to date at the West LA VA campus.

“Progress on Master Plan 2022 continues to be a top VA priority, as is our commitment to eliminate Veteran homelessness across the nation,” McDonough said. “Ready access to health care is critical to meeting the mental and physical health needs of those experiencing homelessness. The West LA campus supports one of the largest, most complex medical centers in the VA system and provides Veterans with access to a full continuum of health care services.”

Los Angeles has the largest homeless Veteran population in the country with almost 10 percent of all homeless Veterans across the U.S. located there.

Implementation of Master Plan 2022 for VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System includes: enabling the West LA campus to provide supportive housing and a set of resources tailored to the needs of vulnerable Veteran populations and their families. The plan calls for over 1,000 housing units for homeless Veterans to be under construction within the next five years. 220 additional units will also be built within 10 years, and the VA will add 350 more units sometime after that.

In addition, the plan allows for interconnecting campus operations in real-time with available off-site resources including VA community-based facilities/services; state, county, city and neighborhood systems; Veteran Service Organizations and non-profit organizations.

VA officials said last month that there would be more action on the plan following years of delays.The project was created in 2016, and only 55 units have been completed so far – around 8 percent of what was anticipated to be completed so far.

The VA’s Office of Inspector General has blamed the delays an array of factors, including on land-use problems, environmental impact studies, issues with fundraising.

When the plan was rolled out, the VA assumed existing infrastructure on the campus could handle the development’s utility needs. It turned out this wasn’t the case, forcing the VA to secure $110.1 million in federal funds for utility and infrastructure improvements.

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A new VA subsidy will help low-income and formerly homeless Veterans afford housing in high-rent communities.

The Shallow Subsidy initiative provides low-income Veterans a fixed rental subsidy for up to two years. The subsidy is available to Veterans who are enrolled in the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program and live in communities characterized by high rates of homelessness and low availability of affordable housing. To encourage long-term self-sufficiency through employment, renters receive the subsidy for up two years, regardless of any increases in their household income.

Through a competitive application process, VA awards SSVF grants to private, non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives to provide eligible Veteran families with outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other mainstream benefits that promote housing stability and community integration. SSVF has recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program to co-enroll Shallow Subsidy participants in employment and training programs to help them become economically self-sufficient by the end of their two-year subsidy.

The Shallow Subsidy initiative represents the benefits of VA’s ongoing use of data to adjust programs based on evidence to promote the best possible outcomes for Veterans. VA created the Shallow Subsidy Initiative after several analyses of SSVF data revealed that intermediate-term rental subsidies would remove a key barrier to long term housing stability among homeless Veterans. For the life of the Shallow Subsidy Initiative, VA will collect and evaluate data on outcomes to ensure the initiative is producing the intended results.

“With the Shallow Subsidy initiative, we’re able to increase the likelihood of long-term housing stability among Veterans who were previously homeless or at risk of homelessness in communities with challenging rental markets,” said SSVF National Director John Kuhn. “The resources made available to eligible Veterans under this initiative enable them to afford rent and other household expenses while they secure job training, employment or other income and benefit resources before the shallow subsidy ends.”

Since 2011, SSVF has served over 800,000 people, including over 170,000 dependent children. Of those who exited the SSVF program to date, 84% found permanent housing; another 10% found safe, temporary housing.

SSVF was established in 2011 as the first VA-administered homeless prevention and rapid rehousing program to serve Veterans and their family members. In addition to the recurring SSVF grants already awarded, VA has also committed $50 million in nonrecurring awards to support shallow subsidies in the following communities:

• California: Alameda (including Oakland), Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara
• District of Columbia: Washington
• Hawaii: Honolulu
• Illinois: Cook County
• New York: New York City and Bronx, Queens, Kings and Richmond counties
• Washington: Seattle

Veterans who live in any of the targeted communities who wish to be considered for the program should visit the Homeless Programs Office at their local VA medical center or contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

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The newVeterans Village inPlacentia gives homeless Vets housing, financial, and health assistance plus a community to lean on.

PLACENTIA (KABC) -- There is a new place for Veterans to call home in Orange County. The Veterans Village in Placentia is a 50-unit apartment development that gives homeless Vets a roof over their head, financial and health assistance and a community to lean on.

"You can provide high quality amenities, high quality building, craftsman style building for our Veterans. And it's not what people would think when they think when they think of serving homeless Veterans," said Damien Arrula, Placentia City Administrator

"If you look at this building, I don't think you'd think to yourself - oh this is actually funded with government funding. It's a real combination of the private and public sector coming together to make a nice product," said Adam Kroshus of Mercy Housing.

It's a partnership with Mercy Housing, a non-profit focused on permanent supportive housing for Veterans, seniors and families.

"These are apartments. All of the residents will have a lease, they'll make rent payments just like any other tenant would, there will be a lot of supportive services here, but the model really is about stability and longevity in housing," Ed Holder of Mercy Housing.

"Each tenant who moves in is required to do an individual service plan with a service provider. They determine what their needs are to actually help them get back on their feet," said Kroshus.

The City of Placentia worked with the county on the project, which is funded mostly by low-income housing tax credits.

"Here's individuals who have provided for and served their country, our country and made this what it is today. This is very deserving of them, this is what we need to do for them," said Placentia Mayor Ward Smith.

To live here, residents will pay no more than 30% of whatever type of income they're on. The other portion is subsidized through a Veteran's affairs program.

"We can solve homelessness if we do this. At least for Veterans, which is something to be said if we can do that in our lifetime," said Arrula.

The grand opening of Veterans Village is the end of July. Veterans could start moving in as soon as the first week of August.

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Claims that homeless Veterans were pushed out of a Newburgh, New York, hotel to make room for migrants are false, according to two homeless men who told CNN they were part of a group of 15 who were offered money to pose as Veterans.

The men allege they were offered as much as $200 to sell the ruse to a local chamber of commerce, which did not believe that Veterans were pushed out for migrants, the men said.

The situation made tensions between the area and New York City worse, as earlier this week a New York state Supreme Court judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking New York City Mayor Eric Adams from sending asylum seekers to Orange County, where Newburgh is located.

“We were scammed,” Douglas Terry, 55, said about Sharon Toney-Finch, a nonprofit leader who houses the homeless. Terry and others identified Toney-Finch as the person who allegedly offered money and never paid up. “It’s messed up how can they do that to us. They scammed us.”

Another man who only gave his first name, William, said the group was allegedly told to say they were military Veterans who were pushed out of their hotel rooms. If they were uncomfortable saying that, William said, they were told they should say they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“They dangled a carrot in front of an animal and they led us. Now they took the carrot away and we’re angry,” William said.

Toney-Finch denied the allegations to CNN, saying she never offered money to homeless men to say they had to leave the Crossroads Hotel in the Town of Newburgh.

“I never promised to pay anybody,” Toney-Finch said, adding that she only told State Assemblyman Brian Maher that she had homeless Veterans who were displaced, not that it was because of asylum seekers.

Maher, a Republican lawmaker who is also a volunteer spokesperson for the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, which helps Veterans in need of living assistance, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He previously told CNN that some Veterans who were staying at the Crossroads Hotel were told on May 7 they had to leave the hotel on short notice.

“They basically told the vets they had one day to leave,” Maher said on Monday.

“No one blames the asylum seekers for what’s happening,” Maher told CNN at the time.

Terry and William told CNN that associates of Toney-Finch allegedly went to a homeless shelter trying to round up volunteers to go with her to Connecticut to speak with a local politician.

She found 15 volunteers and took them to a nearby diner where she bought them all the food and alcohol they wanted, they added.

When the meal was over, Toney-Finch allegedly rounded them up in the parking lot and told them they were instead going to meet with a local member of the chamber of commerce, with instructions that they were to say they were Veterans and they were being displaced to make room for asylum seekers. If they weren’t comfortable speaking, Toney-Finch told them to say they suffered from PTSD and couldn’t speak, the two men said.

Toney-Finch allegedly took them back to the shelter once the meeting was done and told some that she was going to come back on Friday with the money, the men said. The men allege she never paid them.

“I never said that and I never did that,” Toney-Finch told CNN.

The office of Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus referred CNN to the county district attorney’s office and the New York State attorney general’s office.

Orange County Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Borek told CNN his office doesn’t normally comment on the existence or non-existence of investigations.

In part, Borek said, “The District Attorney’s Office will ensure that all matters involving allegations of fraud related to Veterans are thoroughly investigated.”

New York AG reviewing details of the case

A spokeswoman for New York State Attorney General Letitia James told CNN the office is reviewing details of the incident to determine whether they will open a formal investigation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams said he supported a probe of the incident.

“New York City has cared for more than 65k migrants and we’re asking other places in the state to do their part. Instead of stepping up, we’re seeing hateful language and outright lies. I agree there should be an investigation into this fraudulent claim,” Adams tweeted about the allegation.

Andrew O’Grady, CEO for Mental Health of America of Dutchess County, said he fielded phone calls from some homeless men who said they were part of this scam.

“It was a weird day for them,” O’Grady said. “Many were frankly upset that they didn’t get paid and they were upset they were being duped into doing something.”

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'Shelters don't provide the safe and caring environment that our warriors deserve'

A New Jersey high schooler – who one day wants to serve in the U.S. military – raised $12,000 in order to get homeless Veterans off the street.

In September 2020, Michael Ferrara caught wind of a social media challenge raising awareness about Veteran suicide. The Houses for Warriors, a Colorado-based nonprofit that helps get homeless and at-risk warriors off the streets, started a push-up challenge.

Ferrara told Fox News that he was taken aback after realizing that people who fought for this nation were living on the streets.

"I think that's absolutely unacceptable," Ferrara said.

At the time, Ferrara was training for the Marine Corps Marathon. He decided to dedicate the race to the Houses for Warriors charity and reached out to friends and family on Facebook for help.

"I felt like I was earning my donations rather than just asking for money," he said.

As a result, Ferrara raised $10,315. At school, through various fundraising events, he garnered an additional $1,164.

With $12,000 in hand, Ferrara was able to help the Houses for Warriors open its first group home for homeless Veterans in Colorado.

"I decided to raise money for a Colorado nonprofit living in New Jersey because a homeless Veteran is a homeless Veteran," he said. "Our Veterans have fought for all 50 states, not just one. So, I feel it would be wrong of me to not raise money for homeless Veterans just because they happen to live in a different state."

The home, funded largely by Ferrara's donation, will get up to nine homeless Veterans off the streets.

"I've always looked up to our Veterans, the people that have served our country, because they're out there every single day, they're going to put their lives on the line," Ferrara said. "I have a great respect for the people who are willing to and have sacrificed everything to serve our country and to keep America free. "

Prior to Ferrara's efforts, Houses for Warriors helped get Veterans off the by finding them a bed at local shelters.

"With this house, they were able to eliminate the shelter process," he said.

For Houses for Warriors CEO Andrew Canales, it was a blessing.

"Shelters don't provide the safe and caring environment that our warriors deserve to get back on their feet," Canales told Fox News.

Canales stressed that shelters are a "very triggering place for Veterans" due to the "constant open drug use, higher encounters with violent and aggressive individuals with severe mental health issues, the constant risk of theft and their personal property being stolen."

This is on top of the fact that many of their "warriors are experiencing PTSD themselves," he added.

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Orange County executive awaits judge decision on restraining order to halt migrant transportation

As dozens of migrants check in to Orange County, New York hotels, the county’s executive has sued to stop the immigration surge after watching Veterans get kicked out for migrant vacancies.

"We're waiting, hopefully, today to get a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court. We're in front of a judge right now, we're waiting for her to make a decision which would help us, but we are really on our own," Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said on "Varney & Co." Monday.

"But it is a tough situation," he continued, "and unfortunately, we're seeing people like our Veterans kicked out of the hotels in exchange for homeless migrants in New York City."

According to the Orange County official, state police and the sheriff’s office have continued to uphold the migrants’ emergency declaration, but ordered them to "run to hotels." In response, Neuhaus filed a restraining order directed at New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ migrant transportation plan and the hotels housing them.

The community’s greatest concern, he argued, is the lack of information and transparency from the mayor’s office.

"We have no information [on] who these people are. Do they have IDs? Have they been Vetted? My community is up in arms about this," Neuhaus said. "And really, we're getting zero answers from New York City."

"They give us no information. And [from] the emergency management side of the house, it is completely disturbing and it's very frustrating," the executive added. "We expect that relief coming from the judge, hopefully, in the next day."

Earlier Monday on "Fox & Friends First," New York State Assemblyman Brian Maher, R., slammed the Biden administration and New York officials for allowing Veterans to get booted from hotels.

"So the Biden administration, Governor Hochul, and the city of New York, they all have a part in this, and it's a total embarrassment," Maher told co-host Joey Jones. "It's a slap in the face to Veterans, to citizens of New York in this country, who are really being cast aside to allow for asylum seekers to come here."

"At the end of the day, when it comes to this particular situation, you had combat Veterans who were homeless, who were told to get out of their hotel," Maher also said. "After one day, Sharon and her team scrambled to find them locations, and right now, what we've tried to do is let those Veterans know we appreciate them. We're embarrassed by what's happened to them, but we have their backs."

New York City taxpayers are allegedly footing the bill for the migrants’ hotel stays, Neuhaus claimed.

"The governor passed $1 billion in spending for this immigration crisis. So I think that's why this all started: as soon as that passed, New York City started booking rooms upstate New York," the executive said. "So I think they're going to try to get part of that money and use that to reimburse it."

There were reportedly 20 Veterans who were told they would no longer receive temporary housing at the hotels – 15 of those former service members were at the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, Orange County.

This is the same hotel migrants arrived at last week in what was New York City Mayor Eric Adams' attempt to alleviate the impact of the southern border surge on the Big Apple's already-strained resources.

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JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County — Onslow Community Outreach celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday by introducing a new program to support homeless Veterans.

The organization will be implementing VETS (Veterans Emerging Towards Stability), a regional program assisting Veterans and military dependents and families in southeastern North Carolina.

“Extended stays, we will have office space, so community agencies for Veterans such as the Veterans Association can come into our location and provide services," says Executive Director Theo McClammy. "We will also provide transportation assistance."

The future building will be located at the former Piggly Wiggly 1210 Hargett St. The new building will be home to the soup kitchen, homeless shelter and housing program and management support services. McClammy says it will also serve as the distribution site for Christmas Cheer and help with neighborhood improvement activities in the New River District.

Onslow Community Outreach purchased the building in 2015 and planned to pay off the debt in five years. However, McClammy says the organization exceeded its goal by paying off the mortgage note in four years with the help of core supporters and donors.

Work has already started in the facility, and the organization hopes it will be completed by this summer.

McClammy says the organization plans to sell its current location when the new facility opens.

“Our intentions are to sell that property and because of its location, return it to retail or commercial use in the downtownJacksonville area," he explains.

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Allegedly Recruited and Paid Homeless Individuals in Washington, D.C. to Attend Appointments in Order to Bill Medicaid for Mental Health Services Not Provided to Patients

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Julius Bakari and his wife Mboutchock Kabiwa a/k/a Eugenie Bakari, both age 43, of Silver Spring, Maryland, with health care kickbacks and conspiracy to receive unlawful kickbacks, in connection with their company Holy Health Care Services, LLC (“Holy Health”). Dominic Forka, age 56, of Lanham, Maryland, a Community Support Worker (CSW) employed by Holy Health, is charged with health care kickbacks, conspiracy to receive unlawful kickbacks, and health care fraud.

The criminal complaint was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS OIG); and Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas, District of Columbia, Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Bakari owns and operates Holy Health and is the company’s Chief Executive Officer and President. Kabiwa is the Vice President of Holy Health. Dominic Forka was a Community Support Worker (“CSW”) for Holy Health. Holy Health entered into Medicaid Provider Agreements with the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance (“DHCF”), which permit Holy Health to provide healthcare services to D.C. Medicaid recipients. Holy Health is also certified by the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health (“DBH”) to perform mental health services. After services are performed, Holy Health documents notes for these services utilizing an electronic health record (“EHR”) system for DBH providers. Holy Health then submits batches of notes in invoices for those services to DHCF, which processes the invoices and pays Holy Health. Holy Health was authorized to provide services from two separate locations in Washington, D.C. (Premises 1 and Premises 2).

The affidavit alleges that beginning in at least April 2017, Holy Health paid homeless people to physically go to Premises 1 and sign in as patients, then fraudulently billed the Medicaid plans of those homeless individuals for mental health treatment services that Holy Health did not provide. According to witnesses, Holy Health allegedly operated a van service to transport the homeless individuals from a park near the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. to Premises 1. According to witnesses, after signing in, on some occasions, the witnesses saw a doctor who asked general questions about the witness’s health. On other occasions, the witnesses did not meet with a doctor or any other healthcare provider, and instead received payment for signing in on a Holy Health sign-in sheet. Patients allegedly received $25 for attending three appointments during each week. Specifically, they received $10 for each of the first two days and $5 for the third day. The affidavit alleges that Holy Health did not provide mental health services to the homeless individuals and continued to bill Medicaid for mental health services even after the individuals stopped attending appointments.

As detailed in the affidavit, from March 2019 to November 2019, two confidential sources conducted undercover, recorded appointments inside Holy Health at Premises 1. The affidavit alleges that Confidential Source 1 (“CS1”) attended nine appointments at Premises 1 as part of the investigation and each time, Holy Health billed CS1’s Medicaid Plan for unrendered services. In addition, Holy Health allegedly used CS1’s personal identifying information (“PII”) to bill Medicaid for an additional 25 appointments that CS1 never attended. Between September 19 and November 22, 2019, CS2 allegedly conducted 11 appointments at Premises 1 and on several occasions saw an individual who informed CS2 that he was CS2’s caseworker. According to the affidavit, after each of CS2’s visits, Holy Health billed CS2’s Medicaid plan for unrendered services. As was allegedly the case with CS1, Holy Health billed CS2’s Medicaid plan for approximately 60-minute treatment sessions, when the video and audio recordings show that the sessions in fact lasted only minutes. According to the affidavit, Holy Health has used CS2’s PII to bill Medicaid for an additional 32 appointments that CS2 never attended. According to the affidavit, the electronic health records show that Forka accessed Holy Health’s EHR system to input the 32 appointments that CS2 never attended, all for services purportedly rendered by Forka. As detailed in the affidavit, Holy Health also issued two prescriptions to CS2 that were filled at a pharmacy in Hyattsville, Maryland. CS2 did not request or fill the prescriptions.

Finally, the affidavit alleges that Bakari and Kabiwa utilized funds from a non-profit organization to provide kickback payments to patients, which Bakari and Kabiwa referred to as “stipends.” As detailed in the affidavit, Kabiwa founded and ran the Agatha Foundation, a non-profit organization, which listed Bakari as Vice President. According to its website, Agatha is “a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Africa that provides various key activities in the U.S. … in order to bring positive changes to the lives of at-risk groups in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and in Africa.” Agatha is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland and operates at Premises 1. Kabiwa allegedly transferred money from Agatha’s bank account to Holy Health employees to provide kickback payments to Holy Health patients.

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy to receive unlawful kickbacks, and a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for health care kickbacks. Forka also faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for health care fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendants had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina L. Simms in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt today. The defendants were released pending trial.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the HHS OIG, and the District of Columbia OIG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine K. Dick and Erin B. Pulice, who are prosecuting the case.

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Police body camera footage showing the controversial October 2021 arrest of a homeless Veteran in Gastonia, N.C., was released July 27, detailing the moments before the Veteran was arrested and his service animal tased, ultimately leading to the dog’s death by a car.

Joshua Graham Rohrer, a Kentucky Army National Guard Veteran who deployed to Kuwait and Iraq between 2004 and 2005, was with his 2-year-old Belgian Malinois service dog Sunshine Rae on Oct. 13 when he was approached by police officers responding to a 911 call regarding his panhandling, which is a crime in North Carolina.

What followed next was an arrest that the attorney who helped Rohrer fight for the release of the footage, Andrew LaBreche, called, “far worse than what Mr. Rohrer was able to hear and see on the scene.”

“It is rare for a client’s claims that initially appear so sensational to be entirely accurate. After I was finally able to review the body camera footage, however, Mr. Rohrer’s statements were all correct, but what was reflected in recordings were, in fact, far worse than what Mr. Rohrer was able to hear and see on the scene,” LaBreche said in an email to Military Times.

LaBreche also stated that he believes the video proves responding officers were not truthful regarding their handling of Rohrer’s arrest, and hopes that the release of the bodycam footage will force the Gastonia Police Department to take accountability for the incident.

While there is a North Carolina statute that affords people with disabilities the right to keep their service dogs with them in all public and government spaces where the public are allowed to go, Rohrer said he was denied this option.

Sunshine was hit and killed by a car while Rohrer waited for release in jail, a situation Rohrer said never should have happened.

In the bodycam footage, shown from both the vantage points of responding Officers Maurice Taylor III and Cierra Brooks, Rohrer and Sunshine can be seen on the median of a busy street in downtown Gastonia.

After a few minutes of arguing between Rohrer and law enforcement about Rohrer’s activities, Rohrer is grabbed and told by the officers that he will be arrested after not presenting his state ID. Over the course of the argument, Sunshine can be seen sitting, laying and standing next to her owner.

During the arrest, Rohrer is pushed up against the hood of the car and calls out, “what are you doing?” in a panicked voice. Officer Taylor is then heard on video saying that the dog bit him, though the dog is outside the footage’s frame of view.

In the following moments, Rohrer is thrown to the ground while Sunshine jumps on the hood of the police car, wagging her tail. Taylor then tased the dog in the back after she tried to get closer to Rohrer on the ground.

The footage then showed Rohrer distraught on the ground and calling out for help.

Bystanders then approached the police officers, the footage shows, saying that Rohrer has “been out here for months, [and] his dog has never attacked anybody.”

The remainder of the footage shows other officers arriving and discussing the situation while Rohrer repeatedly asks for his dog. Officer Taylor claims that the dog looked like it was going to bite his partner, so he “did the logical thing” and used his taser.

Days prior to the release of the footage, panhandling and resisting arrest charges against Rohrer were dropped. Rohrer pleaded guilty to a separate charge from an unrelated event involving driving without a license.

“The release of the body camera footage involving myself and Sunshine, has been a long arduous journey,” Rohrer said in a statement to Military Times. “The release of the video is as traumatic as the event itself. I hope now that it has been released I can begin to grieve my friend, my confidant, my world. I thank those who have believed in me and supported me for the past nine months.”

Rohrer said the video shows Sunshine “just doing her job.”

“Sunshine was not acting erratically, in fact she performed 3 separate trained tasks in the video,” Rohrer said. “Her attempt to get to my face to perform grounding techniques, her attempt to become a passive barrier between myself and Officer Brooks; and passively blocking between myself and Officer Taylor.”

Rohrer hopes the incident will ultimately have a positive impact on Veteran and homeless communities.

“I hope to continue to fight for better crisis intervention training, protections for service animals and their handlers, and justice for what was done to Sunshine,” he said. “In addition, this case highlights the need for reform of North Carolina’s Body Camera Laws. No citizen should have to fight so hard and for so long as we have for the truth.”

The Gastonia Police Department did not respond to request for comment by the time of publication.

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101 housing units in modern apartment community

While the halls of Old Main have rung hollow for more than 30 years, they are now weeks away from filling with life.

The former Milwaukee Soldiers Home (pictured above) and other nearby buildings are being transformed into housing for homeless Veterans. An effort to find Veterans to live there is underway.

“This is a great opportunity to build a community for Veterans and provide easy access to medical and mental health care,” said Amy Mauel, assistant program manager for homeless prevention programs at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. “It’s very exciting.”

On March 1, Veterans will move into the buildings that have been under renovation since fall 2019. From then on, Old Main, the Administration Building, and nearby houses will be akin to a modern apartment community with a variety of residences and a myriad of amenities:

• 101 housing units, ranging from single-room occupancies with shared living spaces and kitchens to one- and two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom duplexes and one four-bedroom house.
• Fitness room, business center and various lounge areas.
• A separate wing for female Veterans.
• Complimentary internet and basic cable television.
• On-site support services, ranging from counseling, sobriety maintenance and mental health care to recreational activities and employment assistance.

Targeted to homeless or at-risk-of-becoming-homeless Veterans

Mauel, her staff and VA partners have been working to connect with Veterans eligible to live in the new complex. It specifically targets Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

“All Veterans living in the Soldiers Home have to come through the HUD-VASH program,” Mauel said. “HUD-VASH is the front door for Veterans looking to secure housing.”

HUD-VASH – Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing – specifically helps Veterans secure permanent housing.

“It’s a clinical treatment program with housing as a benefit. Veterans in the program receive supportive services from a social worker or registered nurse.

“We’re here to help any Veterans at risk for homelessness if they want to live in the Soldiers Home or the community,” Mauel said.

Veterans who qualify to live in the Soldiers Home will pay about 30% of their income in rent. The rents are set by the Housing Authority and are variable based on the type of unit.

Soldiers Home not a domiciliary or transitional housing

“This is permanent, supportive housing. A multidisciplinary team of HUD-VASH staff members will be available to provide supportive services, based on Veteran need,” Mauel added.

A doctor, nurse or social worker can help Veterans with the HUD-VASH connection. Or they can call the National Homeless Hotline at 877-424-3838.

Thirty Veterans have started application process

So far, more than 30 Veterans have initiated the application process through the property management company.

“As we get closer to opening the facility, I think we’ll have even more interest,” Mauel said. “We’re trying to spread the word to Veterans who are interested in taking advantage of this incredible opportunity.”

Dustin Koonce, real estate portfolio manager in the VA Office of Asset Enterprise Management, agreed.

“I feel good about this project,” he said. “Once the doors open, you’ll hear a lot more from Veterans. We’re really excited about this program.”

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Topsham — The American Legion Post 202 is hosting their 6th annual winter classic softball charity event in Topsham.

Organizers of the fundraiser say 5 different teams from across the state showed up to support the cause hoping to encourage people who are watching to donate money towards fighting the Veteran homeless problem.

"To get people involved to get people excited and to actually come out and get out of your comfort zone and to get off your couch and to come outside in the winter and be part of something bigger than yourself, be part of the solution, let's do this. We can get Veterans off the streets," says Nicolas Hamlin, former commander of the American Legion Post 202.

The event had raised nearly $4,000 in donations so far. This year the money will to go "Maine Veterans in Need" which offers resources to Vets during an emergency.

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When Veterans move into stable housing after years of homelessness, many lack the resources to also purchase basic household items that they’ll need in their new homes. To address this need, schools and student councils across the country competed in the annual End Veteran Homelessness Challenge. The End Veteran Homelessness Challenge raises money and collects household essential items for Veterans who are exiting homelessness. VA’s Homeless Programs Office, in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the American Student Council Association (ASCA), organized the challenge.

The challenge asked student councils in five states to help homeless Veterans by collecting clothing, everyday household goods and money for security deposits. The combined value of cash and goods collected by the five participating schools exceeded $5,000.

VA and its partners congratulate Kaʻōhao School in Hawaii for winning the challenge. Kaʻōhao students collected items valued at more than $3,000. Most of the donations they received were personal hygiene items, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo — the personal care essentials that many people take for granted. Other items collected included toilet paper, laundry detergent, socks, pants, backpacks, sweaters, and ponchos.

“We are extremely proud of our Kaʻōhao School and student council for leading the charge to help homeless Veteran here in Hawaii and across the nation,” said Dr. Winston Sakurai, Kaʻōhao School Director. “Kaʻōhao School is located in a community with a large military population and this is our opportunity to give back and bring awareness by supporting our outstanding Veterans.”

Five schools participated in the challenge and helped make a difference for Veterans seeking safe, stable housing:

• Carrollwood Day School in Tampa, Fla.
• Eastman Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Kaʻōhao School in Kailua, Hawaii
• Oliver McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Ill.
• Rocky River Elementary School in Concord, N.C.

“I think it is important to help [Veterans] because they have served our county. A lot of people in our school are really excited and passionate about helping end homelessness,” said Gemma Canevari, sixth grader and Kaʻōhao School student body president. “Our student council made announcements, counted the items and issued a challenge to see which classes could collect every item on the list and who could collect the most items.”

Other highlights of the challenge included Rocky River Elementary School, which raised $500 and mailed more than 700 holiday cards to current service members. Additionally, Oliver McCracken Middle School raised $106 to purchase restaurant gift cards for Veterans.

“Teaching our students empathy is foundational because we all have feelings, are human and need to care for one another,” said Espie Chapman, Kaʻōhao School Student Council Advisor. “The Homeless Veterans Challenge was an honor to be a part of to help those who made our lives better today.”

Since 2010, more than 800,000 Veterans and their family members have avoided homelessness or moved into permanent housing with help from VA programs and targeted housing vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The End Veteran Homelessness Challenge is an example of how individuals of all ages can support the important work underway by VA and its partners to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans.

More Information

• Check out naesp.org to learn more about the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the American Student Council Association.
• Visit VA’s website to learn about employment initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
• Refer Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless to their local VA medical center or urge them to call 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

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Though it has vast resources and land to do it, the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs refuses to help the area’s homeless military Vets—many of them disabled—so Judicial Watch launched a program offering temporary housing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may not be a long-term solution, but at least those who served their country will have shelter during the health crisis, which has deeply impacted the city’s enormous homeless population. Several large tents are being erected adjacent to the VA’s lush West L.A. grounds, creating a “Veterans Row” donated by Judicial Watch and other heartbroken Americans who believe Vets deserve better. “The VA ignores and abuses them while the massive land deeded to them on the other side of the fence is used for non-Veteran things,” said Robert Rosebrock, a 78-year-old U.S. Army Vet and activist who leads a troop called the Old Veterans Guard. For more than a decade the group has conducted peaceful demonstrations to protest the VA’s failure to make full use of the property to benefit Veterans, particularly those who are homeless.

A few weeks ago, Judicial Watch reported the VA’s laughable move of providing a few Vets small pup tents in the parking lot of its healthcare system campus, excluding thousands of others who sleep on the sidewalk surrounding the lush 338-acre property. The sprawling parcel was deeded to the federal government over a century ago for the specific purpose of caring for disabled Veterans, yet the grounds are used for many unrelated causes while needy Vets are neglected. Among them is a stadium for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) baseball team, an athletic complex for a nearby private high school, laundry facilities for a local hotel, storage and maintenance of production sets for 20th Century Fox Television, the Brentwood Theatre, soccer practice and match fields for a private girls’ soccer club, a dog park and a farmer’s market. “There shouldn’t be one homeless Vet in L.A.,” Rosebrock said. “That’s what this facility is for; to help them.”

The scattered pup tents in the parking lot are a joke because they only accommodate around 25 Vets, said Rosebrock, who visits the site regularly. Furthermore, the tents are too small—around three feet high and three feet wide—and older Vets as well as those with physical disabilities have tremendous difficulty crawling around in them. The VA would not accept donations of larger, more sensible and practical 14 by 10-foot tents. Instead, the bigger and more comfortable tents will line “Veterans Row” on the other side of the black iron fence that barricades the VA grounds. A wheelchair sits outside one of the first big tents to be raised on the sidewalk outside the VA property. It belongs to a disabled Vet who never would have been able to drag his ailing body into a pup tent. The new “Veterans Row” tent is also draped in the American Flag and a U.S. Marine Flag is affixed on the fence next to it. “These are war-injured Veterans,” said Rosebrock, who has made it his mission to help the area’s needy Vets.

Since 2008 Rosebrock’s group has assembled at the “Great Lawn Gate” that marks the entrance to the Los Angeles National Veterans Park to protest the VA’s failure to make full use of the property to benefit Veterans. The elderly Vets have been a thorn in the agency’s side and federal authorities have retaliated against them for denouncing the fraudulent use of the facility, including a scam involving a VA official who took bribes from a vender that defrauded the agency out of millions. VA police harass and intimidate the senior Vets at their weekly rallies and Rosebrock got criminally charged for posting a pair of four-by-six-inch American Flags on the outside fence on Memorial Day in 2016. Judicial Watch represented Rosebrock in the federal case and a judge eventually ruled that Rosebrock was not guilty of violating federal law for displaying the flags above the VA fence. In the meantime, the VA illegally rents its grounds to institutions that don’t serve Veterans and evicts groups dedicated to helping them.

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As Veterans Day in America approaches, the U.S. will be commemorating all of the American Veterans who have served for their country — living and deceased. As these celebrations carry on across the country, there is another important issue surrounding Veterans that often gets pushed to the side: homelessness. Displacement and homelessness have always been issues for those who've formerly served in the American armed forces. In fact, the problem dates back to the American Revolution (via California State University, Northridge). Of course, recent wars such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan have also led to heartbreaking levels of homelessness, per the Department of Veterans Affairs. Despite there being more collective awareness regarding the number of homeless Vets — including federal and other special programs to help combat their displacement — the numbers just keep increasing. Per Military Times, the COVID-19 pandemic didn't help. Instead, it further magnified the problem, and homelessness among Veterans worsened last year. 

Today, there are currently some 40,000 homeless Veterans in the U.S., per Policy Advice. While the numbers have seen some changes over a 10-year period, the lack of economic stability caused by the pandemic spotlighted just how susceptible Veterans are to a downturn.

Homelessness Among Veterans

While the problem of homeless Veterans traces back to the 18th century, the biggest impact a conflict had in displacing Veterans was from the Civil War. During the Reconstruction era, there was a massive increase in displaced soldiers who were survivors or wounded Veterans of the war. And yes, even back then, there were federal and municipal efforts to address the rising problem, per California State University, Northridge.

Still, each war that the U.S. has sent soldiers to fight in has resulted in more Veterans returning to unstable housing situations. Veterans make up less than 10% of the U.S. population (via Pew Research) but 11% of all homeless Americans, per Policy Advice. According to Policy Advice, public awareness of the problem ticked up following the Vietnam War. Soldiers who served in the controversial war didn't exactly come home to a welcome mat. Veterans faced ostracization (via Solutions for Change) and Black Veterans, in particular, faced a distinct kind of snub — returning home only to be brushed off by Veterans Affairs, offered menial jobs, and seeing the interracial camaraderie they may have experienced during the war all but disappearing, says Time Magazine.

Currently, the rates of homeless Veterans vary per state, but the West Coast has the highest rates of homelessness among Veterans — with California topping the chart for the highest percentage of unhoused Veterans, shows a Military Times graphic.

A documentary titled "American Veteran" sheds light on the subject and will begin airing on PBS on October 26.

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The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness increased in 2020 even before the effects of the coronavirus pandemic damaged employment prospects and financial resources for the community, according to a new report released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday.

The increase is a concerning backslide from improvements in the last decade, since then President Barack Obama announced a federal effort to address the issue.

From 2010 to 2019, the number of Veterans without stable housing decreased by more than 50 percent. However, the figure increased slightly in 2020, rising to 37,252 in HUD’s annual point-in-time estimate, up by a few hundred individuals.

The totals mean that of every 10,000 Veterans in the United States, 21 were experiencing homelessness at the start of last year. Veterans make up about 6 percent of the population of the United States but 8 percent of the country’s homeless population.

The estimate released Thursday is based on surveys conducted in January 2020, about two months before business closures and other financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic began.

In a statement, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge called the results “very troubling, even before you consider what COVID-19 has done to make the homelessness crisis worse.”

Officials won’t know the full impact of the pandemic on the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness until later this year, when the results of the January 2021 point-in-time count are released. The 2020 numbers were scheduled to be unveiled last fall, but were kept hidden for months by President Donald Trump’s administration for unspecified reasons.

In a statement, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said the newly-released numbers indicate that more needs to be done to help Veterans facing crisis that could lead to homelessness.

“Even a slight pre-pandemic uptick in Veteran homelessness after significant declines since 2010 is extremely concerning,” he said. “The Biden Administration’s recommitment to Housing First — a proven strategy and dignified way to help Veterans and others achieve stable, permanent housing — will help accelerate progress in preventing and eliminating Veteran homelessness.”

Across all groups, the number of Americans experiencing homelessness increased about 2.2 percent from 2019 to 2020. HUD estimates about 580,000 individuals were without stable housing as of January 2020.

More than 90 percent of Veterans experiencing homelessness were men, according to the HUD survey. Black Veterans made up about one-third of all Veterans dealing with unstable housing, even though they make up just 12 percent of the total Veterans population in America.

California alone accounted for nearly one-third of all of the Veterans experiencing homelessness in America, with 11,401. California, Florida, Texas and Washington — four states with the highest total number of Veterans among their residents — together had about 70 percent of all of the homeless Veterans in American.

The HUD report notes that 28 states actually saw decreases in their total number of Veterans experiencing homelessness, a positive trend. North Carolina, Oregon and Utah all saw double-digit percentage decreases in their homeless Veterans population.

Officials from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans said that any increase in Veteran homelessness should be “unacceptable.”

“People across the country are suffering due to (the pandemic’s) economic fallout, making it much more critical to work diligently to ensure Veterans can access housing as we continue our mission to end Veteran homelessness,” they said in a statement. “We are also hopeful that having new national leadership in place that has prioritized ending homelessness and focusing on racial equity and building a system of care that works for all Veterans will also have a positive effect.

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Tuscaloosa VA Compensated Work Therapy-Transitional Residences

“Beyond dreams!” That is how Marine Corps Veteran Rickey Ginn described his newly renovated transitional residence apartment at the Tuscaloosa VA.

Ginn completed the inpatient residential treatment program (RRTP) but wasn’t quite ready to live independently in the community. The Compensated Work Therapy-Transitional Residence Program (CWT-TR) was the perfect next step for him in his recovery.

The CWT-TR program in Tuscaloosa is a 12-bed residential program designed to provide a safe, supportive, therapeutic environment for Veterans living with substance abuse disorders, psychiatric problems, homelessness or vocational deficits.

Individual plan helps prepare for independent living

Veterans develop an individualized treatment plan in conjunction with their case manager, typically staying in CWT-TR for 6-9 months while working, saving money and preparing for more independent living.

The 12 beds were previously located in two historic homes on the campus dating back to 1932 when the main facility was constructed. As with any older structure, repairs and updates were a constant concern, along with maintaining a safe and healthy environment for the Veterans.

“COVID presented the perfect opportunity for us to renovate the unused space in one of our attached buildings,” said Dr. Andrew Oakland, RRTP manager. “We had already moved Veterans who were living in the old TR houses into the medical center due to COVID precautions. We thought ‘What better time than now?’ to take time to complete the renovation.”

“It’s the freedom that matters.”

The new apartments now offer a truer representation of that “next step” of reintegration into the community. They have spacious rooms, well-equipped kitchens, and a fresh, modern aesthetic.

Ginn is one of the first Veterans to move into the new apartments. He is overwhelmed by the quality that has gone into making them feel like home. “I rate them a 5-star or A+! But more than that, it’s the freedom that matters. It’s the little things you don’t realize you miss, like being able to cook a burger when I want one or not stand in line to wash my laundry. I also can’t say enough about the CWT-TR staff and how helpful they have been in my recovery.”

The CWT-TR staff at Tuscaloosa will begin admitting two to three Veterans a week until the apartments are filled. The ultimate goal is helping Veterans transition to full-independence so that they can live productively in their local communities.

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it recently awarded $1.3 million in grants to 11 regional homelessness nonprofit organizations to bolster suicide prevention services for Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

VA’s combined public health approach to preventing suicide and addressing homelessness aims to improve the identification of Veterans in need within the community, increase Veteran and community awareness of suicide risk and protective factors, and increase Veterans’ connectedness to community and care resources.

“Our data shows Veterans are at particular risk for suicide within 30 days of an eviction or the onset of homelessness, especially when it is paired with other risk factors, such as financial instability and difficulty meeting basic needs,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “In response, VA is working hard during this challenging time to ensure Veterans who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness have the support they need.”

The funds awarded will be managed and disbursed by VA’s Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program (SSVF) which offers an array of services to secure housing for Veterans facing homelessness. Additionally, SSVF will provide supportive services, including rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention support to Veterans identified as being at elevated risk of suicide — as well as Veterans facing extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased unemployment and unstable finances.

Grantees operate in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. They were selected from a group of the highest-ranked applicants for the SSVF program in fiscal year 2020.

View the full list of the grantees and learn more how VA is working to protect Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I was one of the lucky ones.”

This is the story of a Veteran who found help at a transitional facility for homeless Veterans.

Seven days after walking across the stage for his high school graduation, Robert Wooding was on a plane to Army basic training in Fort Bliss, Texas. “I was a very rebellious teenager and an only child. I said, ‘You know what? No college, I’m out of here!’” Wooding said.

After basic training, Wooding headed to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he worked as a wireman, connecting phones to make sure important messages could be relayed. Next he was stationed in Germany, where he spent 18 months as the base commander’s driver.

“I would try just about any job headquarters would ask of me,” Wooding said, laughing.

After transitioning back to civilian life, Wooding got a steady job working for a large telecommunications company. It was the perfect place for someone who had honed his wireman skills in the Army. He worked for the company for more than 14 years before receiving devastating news about someone very important to him, news that would alter his life path.

From communications to caretaking

When Wooding learned his mother was diagnosed with lymphoma, he stepped away from his career and stepped up to become her full-time caretaker. “I didn’t have to think twice about who would be caring for my mother. I knew I would be there for her 100%. My mom was my best friend,” he said.

When Wooding’s mother died in 2018, he wasn’t in a position to buy her house. For the first time, at age 55, he found himself experiencing something he never imagined: homelessness.

Reaching out to VA

Wooding moved to Boston with only $200 in his pocket. He stayed in a hotel where he previously worked while he looked at shelters that might be able to help him.

He reached out to his local VA where a caseworker directed him to Mass Bay Veterans Center, a 22-bed transitional facility for homeless Veterans which has case management services to help Veterans find permanent and affordable housing.

Wooding was originally told it could take weeks or months to get a bed, so he was surprised when he was able to move in that same day. He couldn’t believe how everything was falling into place. “I was one of the lucky ones.”

Wooding spent nine months at the facility. During that time, he worked with a social worker at the VA Boston Healthcare System to secure a HUD-VASH voucher and found permanent housing in an apartment facility with units specifically for vulnerable Boston-area Veterans.

He was relieved to learn that participating in the HUD-VASH program didn’t interfere with his sense of independence.

Plotting a new path

Once he found stable housing, Wooding was ready to find something else: employment.

In 2022, he met Tyler Harmon, a VA community employment coordinator, and expressed interest in putting his unique background and service to use working for VA.

They built a strong resume for Wooding, and he began applying to federal job announcements that piqued his interest. His hard work paid off: Wooding got a job as a program support clerk at the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center, just minutes away from where he was born.

In June, Wooding will have one year working for VA under his belt, giving back to the institution that helped him exit homelessness and find a job that inspires him. He says his hopes for the future include 10 more years on the job, but that he has a whole lot more life to live and care to give.

“I still want to keep going. Volunteering would be the next step for me after this, but I definitely want to stay in the VA family,” he said.

Wooding’s work ethic and love for his VA family have not gone unnoticed. In April, he was honored with a VA Secretary’s Honor Award for I CARE, a prestigious recognition from VA Secretary Denis McDonough. The award recognizes employees who have gone above and beyond to care for and serve Veterans, their families, caregivers, survivors or fellow employees.

Harmon is thrilled for Wooding’s continued success and acknowledges all his hard work. She finds his story inspiring and, with his permission, often shares Wooding’s tale with other Veterans.

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The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has decreased by 11% since January 2020 and by more than 55% since 2010, according to the VA.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday that it surpassed its 2022 goals for housing Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough set a goal of housing 38,000 Veterans by the end of last year. The agency said 40,401 Veterans were permanently housed, exceeding the goal by 6.3%.

McDonough said ending Veteran homelessness was a top priority. “We at VA will not rest until the phrase ‘homeless Veteran’ is a thing of the past,” he said in a news release.

The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has decreased by 11% since January 2020 and by more than 55% since 2010, according to the VA.

In a call with reporters, Monica Diaz, the executive director of the Veterans Health Administration Homeless Programs Office, attributed the agency’s success to efficient use of subsidies and what she called an evidence-based, housing-first approach to ending homelessness. The method prioritizes getting Veterans into housing, then providing support services, including health care and job training, as well as any needed mental health or substance dependency interventions to help Veterans stay in housing.

Diaz also said her office has implemented a robust homelessness prevention program that seeks out Veterans who may be at risk of falling into homelessness and offers support services to help them avoid it.

In an interview ahead of Veterans Day last year, McDonough touted the approach and credited the American people’s generosity as a key factor in meeting his housing goals and keeping Veterans housed.

“We have the resources to begin to address those challenges with wraparound services,” McDonough said. “So the reason the Vet was homeless in the first place gets addressed. Using that, I am confident we will get to zero.”

Diaz told reporters her office is also tracking the Veterans who have been helped into housing to ensure they stay in their new homes. She said the VA is working on establishing new goals to house even more Veterans in the future.

Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness can call the National Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

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WASHINGTON – Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Friday signed an updated plan for a long-delayed housing development in Los Angeles that’s intended to help solve the Veteran homelessness crisis.

The 656-page plan, titled Master Plan 2022, contains details for a major construction project on the VA campus in West Los Angeles, where acres owned by the department are going unused. At last count in 2020, about 10% of all homeless Veterans lived in Los Angeles.

The updated plan calls for more than 1,000 housing units for homeless Veterans to be under construction within the next one to five years. The plan states 220 additional units will be built within six to 10 years, and the VA will add 350 more units sometime after that.

VA officials promised Friday that there would be more action on the plan following years of delays.

“While the original plan was aspirational, Master Plan 2022 is more operational in nature,” said Keith Harris, the VA’s senior executive homelessness agent for Greater Los Angeles.

The project was first established in 2016, and only 55 units have been finished in the past six years – about 8% of what was expected to be completed by this point. Harris said work on the development was “stymied by a variety of obstacles.”

After an investigation last year, the VA’s Office of Inspector General blamed the delays on land-use issues, environmental impact studies, the need for infrastructure upgrades and challenges with fundraising, among other issues.

When the plan was first created, the agency assumed the existing infrastructure on the VA campus could handle the utility requirements for the development, said Steve Braverman, director of the Greater Los Angeles Health Care System. It was later discovered that wasn’t the case. To prepare for the development, the agency secured $75.5 million for utility and infrastructure improvements from 2020 to 2022, and another $34.6 million is allocated for 2023.

Shortly after taking office last year, McDonough said he would give his approval on a revised master plan for the project, promising action and transparency.

“The original draft master plan laid out a plan for development that the VA has not met,” Harris said. “In fact, we’re well behind. It called for 700 units to be built by now. We know this deeply frustrates Veterans and advocates. It frustrates us, too.”

The VA campus in West Los Angeles is 388 acres in total. The land was donated to the government in 1888 by a wealthy California landowner who wanted the area to be used to provide health care and homes for disabled Veterans. There are several historic structures on the campus, and most of the buildings were built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with their characteristic red-tile roofs and stucco walls.

The campus contains a nine-hole golf course, a Japanese garden and plenty of open space. Many of the buildings now sit vacant, some because of their states of disrepair and others because the coronavirus pandemic pushed employees out of their offices.

In one part of the campus, construction workers are restoring two large buildings into permanent housing units. By the end of the year, the VA expects to have 186 apartments ready for use.

While it’s much fewer than the 700 originally planned for 2022, Harris is hoping that finishing some units this year will help the VA regain credibility that it lost among Veterans.

“I want to note, talk is cheap. Watch our actions,” he said. “We have upwards of 180 new units schedule to come online this year. If we can bring those about this year on time, I think that’ll be an important step in rebuilding credibility.”

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WASHINGTON – Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough vowed Wednesday to get all homeless Veterans living in the area known as “Veterans row” in Los Angeles into housing by Nov. 1.

About 40 people live along Veterans row, a homeless encampment just outside the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. McDonough visited the facility two weeks ago and spoke to Veterans living there.

“I think this is a question of rolling up our sleeves and getting to work and getting it done,” he said. “That’s what I pledged to the Veterans I spoke with on Veterans row that day and what the country expects us to do.”

The VA assigned a social worker and an employee who specializes in homelessness resources to speak with the Veterans and help get them into housing, McDonough said. The goal is to find them temporary housing by November – less than two weeks away.

When McDonough was asked why the resources weren’t previously expended toward Veterans row, he said: “I can’t comment as to why it didn’t happen before.”

Veterans experience homelessness at a disproportionately high rate compared to the rest of the U.S. population, and there are more homeless Veterans in Los Angeles County than anywhere else in the country.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 37,252 Veterans were experiencing homelessness in January 2020. Of those Veterans, 3,681, or about 10%, lived in Los Angeles.

Veteran homelessness increased slightly from 2019, stoking concerns among advocates that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic could add to an already regressive trend. Veteran homelessness increased in 19 states and Washington, D.C., between 2019 and 2020, with the biggest increases in California, Nevada and Delaware. California accounted for 31% of all homeless Veterans in the country.

In addition to the goal of eliminating the Veterans row encampment by November, McDonough announced Wednesday that the VA would house another 500 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles by the end of 2021.

“Our efforts are continuing all across the country, but there are more homeless Veterans in Los Angeles than anywhere in America,” he said. “As we solve the problem there, it will give momentum to our efforts across the country.”

Several democratic lawmakers from California applauded McDonough’s goals Wednesday.

“What the secretary is announcing today is ambitious, but the exact kind of leadership needed to get folks in homes,” said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. “Addressing this crisis cannot wait.”

Earlier this year, McDonough promised he would renew the department’s focus on a major project to house homeless Veterans in Los Angeles. For about five years, the VA has been working on a plan to build 1,200 subsidized apartments for homeless Veterans on the campus of the West Los Angeles VA hospital. As of June, only 54 units had been finished.

McDonough vowed during the summer to give his approval on a master plan for the project by the end of the year. A new draft plan was posted to the Federal Register on Monday. Members of the public have until Dec. 17 to provide feedback on the plan, which is more than 200 pages.

The plan states 800 units are expected to be under development at the campus by 2023. The full plan can be viewed at westladraftmasterplan.org.

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it will begin awarding more than $400 million in grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF) to 266 non-profit organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Oct. 1 of this year.

SSVF funding provides thousands of low-income Veteran families around the nation with access to case management and other assistance to rapidly re-house Veterans who become homeless or prevent Veterans from becoming homeless.

“Helping Veterans exit homelessness and remain in stable housing is more important now than ever,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program remains a vital resource to ensure that every Veteran has a safe and stable place to call home, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In fiscal year (FY) 2019, SSVF served 105,156 individuals, including 70,524 Veterans and 20,608 children. As a result of these and other efforts, Veteran homelessness has been cut in half since 2010’s launch of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Since then, VA’s homelessness programs and targeted housing vouchers provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development have placed hundreds of thousands of Veterans and their family members into permanent housing or helped to prevent them from being homeless.

This year’s grant recipients competed for funding under a Notice of Fund Availability published Dec. 5, 2019. The funding will support SSVF services in fiscal year 2021 which begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2021.

Visit VA homeless SSVF to view the list of 2020 grantees and to learn more about the program.

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it will award more than 425 grants to community organizations totaling approximately $279 million under the Grant Per Diem (GPD) program.

The GPD program provides funding to community organizations that provide transitional housing and supportive services for homeless Veterans, with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income and obtain greater self-determination.

“The GPD program is one component of VA’s multifaceted continuum of services and resources to help Veterans exit homelessness,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “No Veteran should ever have to worry whether they will have stable housing, and these grants put us one step closer to ensuring all Veterans are living in a safe and supportive environment.”

The award period begins Oct. 1 to support three different types of grants to address the unique needs of Veterans who are homeless:

• Veterans experiencing homelessness. These grants provide funding in the form of per diem payments to reimburse grantees for the cost of care provided to Veterans during the award period. A total of 369 grants to organizations will be awarded to provide 12,138 beds and 18 service centers totaling approximately $221 million.
• Special Need grants provide funding to organizations that incur additional operational costs to help Veterans with special needs who are experiencing homelessness, including women, individuals with chronic mental illnesses and Veterans who care for minor dependents. A total of 11 grants to organizations will be awarded totaling approximately $2.4 million.
• Transition in Place grants provide funding to community agencies that place Veterans experiencing homelessness in transitional housing while providing them with supportive services. These services are designed to help Veterans become more stable and independent, with the ultimate goal of Veterans assuming full responsibility for the lease or other housing agreement. When that goal has been achieved, the transitional residence becomes the Veteran’s permanent residence, and supportive services come to an end. A total of 46 grants to organizations will be awarded to provide 723 beds totaling $55.3 million.

The GPD program has provided Veterans who are homeless with community-based transitional housing and supportive services since 1994. The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has declined by 50% since 2010 — resulting from the GPD program and other VA efforts.

Visit the GPD program and list of grantees for more information.

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The number of homeless Veterans living on the street or in temporary shelters and cheap hotels is expected to skyrocket after the end of this month as the federal moratorium on evictions for back rent expires, top government officials said Wednesday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs "is deeply concerned about possible dramatic increases in homelessness when eviction moratoria are lifted," Keith Harris, national director of clinical operations for the VA's Homeless Programs Office, said at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.

As they brace for the moratorium's June 30 end, the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development were planning to increase funding for rental assistance and boost the number of HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers by 70,000, said Richard Cho, senior adviser for housing and services at HUD.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended the eviction moratorium several times, most recently in March to June 30, and advocacy groups called for another extension at the hearing.

Lifting the moratorium at this time "could result in an unprecedented wave of Veteran homelessness," said Kathryn Monet, chief executive officer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

In her written testimony, Monet urged the subcommittee members to consider a range of factors that will come into play as the nation emerges from the pandemic and emergency relief assistance is eased or lifted.

"There will be a deepening economic crisis when unemployment benefits sunset. Similarly, the housing crisis will deepen when the eviction moratorium sunsets," she said.

Monet warned that "nearly 15 million Americans have accrued over $50 billion in missed rental payments, and Veterans are among them. They will immediately be added to the 'at-risk' category of homelessness if unable to access enough emergency rent assistance or other homelessness prevention funding."

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said "the moratorium probably saved a lot of Veterans from being evicted, and once you're homeless it's nearly impossible to get out of homelessness and it's very expensive to do it."

Monet agreed.

"One of the things we all know about homelessness is that prior experience of homelessness increases your likelihood of being homeless again," she said. She called for an extension of the moratorium "not forever but for a little while longer until we can get everyone back on their feet."

Harris responded to the issues raised by Monet and other homeless advocates by stating, "We're as concerned as anyone else in this hearing today about the possible impact of lifting the eviction moratorium."

He said the VA planned to push "significant funding" to Supportive Services for Veteran Families, the VA program that provides grants to private, nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives for assistance to Veteran families. He also noted that the VA and HUD no longer bar Veterans with other than honorable discharges from receiving HUD-VASH vouchers and said that unemployed Veterans who fall behind on their rent would not be barred from rental assistance once they gain a job.

"If they become employed, that will not be held against them," Harris said.

A Failed Campaign to End Veteran Homelessness

Without directly criticizing the Trump administration, Harris and Cho said that the vaunted effort begun in 2010 to end Veteran homelessness effectively had stalled from 2016-2020, with the number of Veterans in shelters or on the street consistently estimated in the range of 37,000, among a general U.S. homeless population of about 580,000.

The most recent HUD one-night estimate, in January 2020, put the number of homeless Veterans at 37,252.

"This number does not account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has added to the nation's housing challenges, including for Veterans," Harris said.

About one-third of the communities who normally participate in the survey opted out this year because of pandemic restrictions. HUD has no reliable estimate on how many Veterans have been homeless in 2021. Cho said HUD did not expect to do another homeless Veteran survey until 2022.

Harris said one of the main problems in getting homeless Veterans off the streets was the nationwide lack of affordable housing since the height of the pandemic.

To address the housing crisis, Harris said in his written testimony that the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Joe Biden in March, included more than $10 billion in funding for individuals who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

He also said Biden's proposed American Jobs Plan would invest nearly $150 billion in grants and programs, "providing HUD with the tools and resources it needs to build and modernize millions of affordable and sustainable places to live and revitalize communities nationwide."

The HUD and VA outlines to renew the drive to end Veteran homelessness received pushback from Reps. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., who both questioned whether VA and HUD were overspending.

By his estimate, VA and HUD would be spending $41,963 apiece for each of the 37,252 homeless Veterans in HUD's 2020 survey, Moore said. "This is an extraordinary amount of money."

Harris said Moore failed to consider the turnover in the Veteran homeless population, noting that VA and HUD served about three times the 37,252 number during the course of a year. He also said VA and HUD had programs serving about 300,000 Veterans that aimed to keep them in their homes and out of shelters and off the streets.

Cawthorn said he was outraged that homeless Veterans were not taking advantage of the expanding jobs market. "I cannot reject what I just heard more strongly," he said of the calls by homeless advocates for an extension of the eviction moratorium and expanded rental assistance.

The moratorium was put in place "because people were not able to go out and get a job because of COVID-19," but currently about nine million jobs are available, he said. The jobs were not being taken "because the federal government is literally sending people paychecks to sit at home," an apparent reference to expanded unemployment benefits, Cawthorn said.

"It's absolutely ridiculous. The moratorium on rent has got to end," Cawthorn said. "It's absolutely insane. It's destroying so many of these landlords' lives, because so many people are unwilling to go out and get a job. It's disgusting, and it's un-American."

Harris and Cho did not respond to Cawthorn's charges, but Cho added perspective on the Veteran homelessness issue in his written testimony.

"When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the United States and Americans across the country were told to stay safe by staying home, there were more than half a million Americans who could not do so because they had no home to stay in," Cho said.

"That includes over 37,000 Veterans who, after serving and sacrificing in our nation's military, were sleeping either in congregate shelters with beds spaced not six feet, but inches apart, or forced to sleep outside, face the elements, and be without access to hygiene and other facilities."

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it is collecting laptop and mobile phone donations through an established partner non-profit organization, America’s Adopt A Soldier, to help Veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness stay connected to their health care providers, case managers and loved ones.

Through these donations, Veterans can access treatment plans, medical support, social networks and more while also following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safe distancing guidelines.

“As VA continues to help provide secure, safe and stable housing for all Veterans, we’re also helping them stay connected to needed services, family and friends,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “This partnership makes those valuable connections possible for Veterans who might not otherwise have access to mobile phones or computers.”

Hundreds of smartphones and laptops have been collected through public and corporate donations. These donations have been shipped to Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 21, which includes VA Health Care Systems for San Francisco, Palo Alto, Northern California, and Southern Nevada. The laptops and smartphones will go to Veterans enrolled in one of three VA programs: Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing, Grant and Per Diem transitional housing and Health Care for Homeless Veterans Contract Residential Services. As additional donations arrive, America’s Adopt A Soldier will work with VA to identify additional VISNs in need.

“While America’s Adopt A Soldier has had a long-standing partnership with VA to help Veterans at risk of homelessness in other ways, this project allows for the organizations to meet the urgent needs of Veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mary Keeser, founder and chair of America’s Adopt a Soldier and former U.S. Army Officer. “The success of this project will also ensure we are able to better plan for and respond to future or long-term requirements.”

Learn more about how VA is working to protect Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic at homeless coronavirus.

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Jon McLane says other lawsuits he's filed are not red flags

DENVER -- A former homeless Veteran is defending a $50 million lawsuit he filed against the City of Denver after the case was dismissed following his arrest last May.

Jon McLane, a homeless activist and ordained pastor from Arizona, spent five years on the streets after serving eight years in the Army. He said he's still serving his country — now helping fight for homeless Vets. But the lawsuit he filed in Denver is raising red flags for some, as this isn't the first time he's been involved with the courts.

McLane, along with his group and church, the Veteran Rescue Mission, drove from Arizona to Denver to set up a five-day camp in an area adjacent to the Denver Public Library, just across from Lincoln State Park, which was recently closed due to what city officials called a "major rat infestation," that also forced the removal of a homeless camp that set up in the area.

"We as a community, whether a Veteran community or a church community, have set up to provide something (so) these people don't die on the streets," McLane said.

He argued Denver's camping ban criminalizes people for being homeless, but doesn't propose any solutions.

District 10 City Councilmember Chris Hinds told Denver7 he can't comment on the city's lawsuit, but said he feels for McLane, despite his methods to raise awareness of the issue.

"The majority of Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless," said Hinds. "I certainly empathize with the fellow, but suing the city is not he answer."

This isn't the first time McLane has sued a city, and Denver7 inquired about those previous lawsuits.

In 2017, for example, McLane and another homeless advocate filed a lawsuit in federal court against the City of Tucson, Ariz., "seeking millions in damages for harassment from city officials" over a shuttered homeless encampment called Safe Park, according to a news article from Tucson.com. At the time, the website reported the city settled with McLane and the other homeless activist, awarding each of them $20,000 with no admission of fault from the city.

A year later, in 2018, KVOA.com reported McLane had filed a lawsuit against Pima County, Ariz., after his nonprofit, the non-denominational Christian church, Veteran Rescue Mission, received a letter from the Pima County Attorney stating that, "due to zoning issues, their church cannot operate on the property." It's unclear whether he received a settlement from that lawsuit.

Denver7 also found out McLane has made stops in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

When asked what he has to say to critics who argue the group is going from city to city profiting from homelessness, McLane rebutted the accusations.

"Any money we get – any money we have gotten, has gone directly into helping the people," McLane told Denver. "I know God knows. That's what's most important to me."

But as Denverite's Donna Bryson reports, not everyone is convinced. In an interview with Bryson, a social worker who runs a tiny home project in Tucson for the homeless said McLane, "has a knack for drawing attention to the issue of homelessness, but also to himself," further stating she worked with him years ago but has since severed ties with the activist and pastor. Bryson also reported on a comment McLane made to a Tucson newspaper columnist, which appeared to indicate he was seeking personal gain from the lawsuit.

The activist-turned-pastor remains undeterred, however, and told Denver7 that when it comes to homelessness, the time for talk is over.

"Certainly trying to hide it or shun it isn't going to be the answer. Vets commit suicide every day. If I can chip at that in any way, I've done my part," he said.

McLane said the total sum of $40,000 he and the other homeless advocate were awarded in Tucson went to building a tiny home village for homeless Vets. Denver7 could not independently confirm that statement with Tucson, Ariz., officials, but found this article from KOLD News 13 dated May 9, 2018 – a little more than a year following the settlement with the City of Tucson – which reported on the efforts of a group of volunteers helping the Veteran Rescue Mission in building a tiny home village in that city. The following year, however, on July 18, 2019, an article from KVOA News 4 Tucson reported that tiny home village was violating a local zoning ordinance. Denver7 was not able to corroborate if that tiny home village remains open.

McLane told Denver7 he has submitted a similar plan to the Denver City Council to help the homeless here in Denver, saying any money from the Denver lawsuit or anywhere else will go directly to helping the homeless.

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The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has brought hardships to citizens with mortgage or rent payments, along with citizens that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manages federal programs designed to help Americans with their housing needs. HUD provides resources to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination.

Where can I find resources for homelessness assistance?

Many citizens are experiencing homelessness or at serious risk of homelessness. HUD provides resources outlining help available and infection control guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. In shelters, citizens should use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as often as possible and cover their coughs and sneezes. For assistance with homelessness, contact a designated person in your community by visiting HUD’s resource page with information for each state.

A HUD-approved housing counselor can also be a valuable resource to use during this time. Housing counselors provide advice on buying a house, renting, defaults, foreclosures, and credit matters. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides a comprehensive list of nationwide HUD-approved counseling agencies or you can call 1-800-569-4287.

How can I find affordable rental housing near me?

HUD helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. Search for affordable housing by using the HUD resource locator tool. HUD’s Public Housing Program provides low-income families with safe rental housing. To check if you and your family may be eligible and apply for this benefit, visit the Public Housing Program benefit page. Another benefit that provides affordable housing to low-income families is the housing choice voucher program. Housing can include single-family homes, townhouses and apartments and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and are used to subsidize rent. To check for eligibility and apply, visit the Housing Choice Voucher Program benefit page.

For additional affordable rental housing information, visit the HUD rental assistance resource page.

I am at risk of foreclosure, what resources are available?

During this unprecedented time, many Americans are struggling to pay their next mortgage payment. If you are at risk of missing a payment, you should contact your lender immediately. This will allow you the opportunity to explain why you are unable to make the payment and provide details about your current income and expenses. Your lender will explain any plans set up to keep your home. For more information on programs that can best assist you, visit HUD’s Avoiding Foreclosure page.

To explore housing loan programs, please explore the Housing Loans category or take our Benefit Finder questionnaire to find additional government benefits that you may be eligible for and learn how to apply.

What resources are available during the coronavirus crisis to help low-income Americans with housing?

The HUD allocated additional funds specifically for coronavirus relief to help low-income Americans residing in public housing. The funding made available by the CARES Act legislation will be awarded to PHAs across the nation.

To learn more about available assistance during the coronavirus, check out our article: Finding the Right Help During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Outbreak.

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In 2019, a 94-year-old man checked himself into the Buffalo City Mission with nothing but a cellphone, the clothes on his back and his red walker, which he called his “red corVette.” Two years later, WWII Navy Veteran Hobart Balaton has a place to call his own, thanks to VA – in particular, the caring staff at the VA Western New York Healthcare System and the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

Balaton, a former professional trombone player, was greatly influenced by his time in the service and always searched for ways he could give back.

“I was a different person when I went into the Navy,” said Balaton. “When I left the service and connected with Veteran organizations, it brought a whole new perspective to my life. I wish I could go back [to the service] now.”

When he arrived at the mission, Balaton had been living in his Buffalo, New York, apartment for over 10 years, working as a custodian and spending his free time as a volunteer food pantry truck driver. But due to ongoing conflicts with his landlord, Balaton no longer felt safe living there. He found his way to the city mission, where he was quickly connected with Kristen Weese, a program manager for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program. Eventually, he met his HUD-VASH case manager, Kevin Quiambao, who picked him up every week to run errands and search for a new apartment.

“He didn’t come across as discouraged, down on his luck, or needy,” said Quiambao. “He didn’t ask me for anything, and he definitely didn’t seem 94-years old. He was energetic, motivated, and either carefree or oblivious to any obstacles in his path. He pushed forward, and I was the one who had to keep up.”

HUD-VASH vouchers give Hobart a new home

After a month at the city mission, Balaton used a HUD-VASH voucher to move into an apartment for senior residents and was assigned a new HUD-VASH case manager, Craig Voigt. Balaton was adamant about collecting his belongings from his previous apartment and cleaning the place up for the landlord. So, at 94, Balaton rented a U-Haul truck and moved everything on his own.

“Every case worker should be so lucky as to have a Mr. Balaton on their case load,” said Voigt. “He is an inspiration, and his perseverance, kind heart, and never-give-up attitude are infectious.”

Accompanied by Voigt, Balaton recently visited his local VA medical center to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in what he described as a “very smooth process.”

“I am thankful for all of the staff at VA – they are all truly wonderful,” said Balaton. “Once you leave the military, take the time to find your purpose in life.”

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