How can I help a homeless Veteran? Where are the resources? How can I get heir files accessed for the VA?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:26:58 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 6:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:30:24 -0500

I appreciate it LT Scott

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 6:32 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:32:37 -0500

You would have to gather some info from the homeless vet first and then there are a few options you can do.

1) Get her full name and SSN if she is willing to share and you can do a FOIA search for service records. Here are the steps posted on thisainthell.us http://thisainthell.us/blog/?page_id=39605

2) Get her name and ssn and put in a request at US Army HRC.

3) The American Legion might be able to assist.

These are just a few steps that can be done.

Military Records

I get questions all of the time about getting military records. If you're trying to find the records of a deceased family member or your own records, you can us

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 29 at 2015 6:32 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:32:45 -0500

Google DD Form 180. It's easy to fill out and submit. However, if you really want to help, contact a VFW or American Legion Service Officer (check for your nearest post that has one - not all of them do) and get expert help. In fact, you may want to become a Service Officer if you want to help more than one.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 6:33 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:33:27 -0500

Homeless veterans can present to the Emergency Department at a VA hospital for placement to a homeless facility. They may have to hang out in the ED for a few days, but they will get help. If there are other factors leading to homelessness, such as addiction issues, those can also be addressed. Best of luck!

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Dec 29 at 2015 6:37 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:37:17 -0500

I applaud your efforts. Resources are scarce in every city, so it depends on where you are at. In San Diego, for example, there are clothing, food, shelter, and medical resources. At the last convention I attended, the social workers were in the streets with the street people. They tried their damnedest to get them whatever they could. There are other websites that I have encountered that make a backpack full of things the homeless may need such as fresh socks, underwear, toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Additionally, they put in long john underwear.
http://samuel-warde.com/2014/01/easy-way-prepare-20-less-homeless-backpack-care-kit-video/

http://www.momadvice.com/post/how-to-make-a-homeless-care-package-free-printable-supplies-list

Easy Way To Prepare A $20 (Or Less) Homeless Backpack Care Kit (Video)

With winter less than a month away, this is an easy and inexpensive way to help the less fortunate - the homeless.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Dec 29 at 2015 6:38 PM

SFC Wade W. — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:38:42 -0500

US Vets work with the VA to help the homeless veteran. Most communities have a US Vet representative.
http://www.usvetsinc.org

Home

When you support U.S.VETS, you support the individuals who stood up when our country needed them.Your contribution makes it possible for U.S.VETS to continue offering these necessary services.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Dec 29 at 2015 6:47 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:47:27 -0500

To get files, see your local county Veterans Service officer, most counties have a person who does this. They know the system. As for Paperwork, the Veteran will need to fill out a FROM 1010EZ which is fairly simple. Normally they would need a previous years tax return, and a DD214. You can contact the local VA claims and eligibility folks who can tell you more.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 7:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 19:07:25 -0500

I've done this before. Contact your local Vet Center rep. VA hospital will have some resources but a Vet Center rep will/should know more about what's available in the local area, including getting the homeless veteran under a roof that evening. My wife works with a community outreach program for low income elderly and she tells me that when somebody is homeless, it's a very complex situation and often a choice they have made. They also have to want to be helped as sometimes it's as simple as they don't know what resources are out there for them, but start with your local Vet Center rep.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Dec 29 at 2015 7:56 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 19:56:15 -0500

Great idea!

Response by SPC Makissa Lewis made Dec 29 at 2015 8:40 PM

SPC Makissa Lewis — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 20:40:21 -0500

They are many ways but I recommend with the link below

http://www.va.gov/homeless

I hope that information helps.

Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Office of Public Affairs Homless Office

Response by 1SG Todd Sullivan made Dec 29 at 2015 10:26 PM

1SG Todd Sullivan — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 22:26:31 -0500

So I have been and still am involved with several veterans organizations, BLUF... It varies from city to city, and state to state. A lot of places have homeless veteran programs and once you get them involved they access their history themselves, here where I live we have a homeless veterans association, they actually put these folks in an apartment, with furniture, hygiene products, food and some clothes, only catch they have to go through some training at the VA, and a couple of other places that are involved, they go through job training and job search, they even get any needed medical care, PTSD counseling, anger management, drug and alcohol addiction classes. Gonna go out on a limb and say there very well be something similar in your area.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 12:06 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 00:06:14 -0500

Where are you from?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 12:11 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 00:11:47 -0500

I have responded before in one of my posts... VA does not account for homeless vets. PM one the way they track it.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Dec 30 at 2015 8:09 AM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:09:10 -0500

Refer Veteran to County VA rep, or go to DAV rep for assistance

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 8:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:31:04 -0500

If you want to help, get with your local VA. They are usually well apprised of local initiatives. For example, Tucson (AZ) is having a homeless stand down event the 7-10 of Jan with free hotel stay, job fair, medical and vetranairy

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2016 1:43 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 13:43:35 -0500

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL or COL Mikel J. Burroughs Might be able to help answer that. Also it would help if you let us know where.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2016 4:16 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 16:16:36 -0500

Excellent question SFC Private RallyPoint Member First, the VA can help (in many cases), VFWs and you can even help via Craigslist. Another avenue is going out and friends helping to find them places to go.

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Jan 2 at 2016 2:11 PM

Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 14:11:46 -0500

It became necessary for me to utilize the VA health care system in late 2014 after a job loss, cancer diagnosis and the loss of my husband in 2013. When visiting the clinic and hospital I became aware of the large number of veterans in my area (Gulf Coast). If you are vigilant you can find organizations helping Veterans in your area. Start with a Google search on Veterans and you will find many. My Church hosts a Homeless Veterans Stand Down each year. We work with the Rescue Mission, Job Placement Center, local colleges and Social Service Agencies just to name a few. Call the local Rescue Mission and see where you can volunteer, they need Mentors for the Vets (Men and Women). The answer is in your hands, make a call and do some research. Let's be boots on the ground in our own communities...

Response by SSG Terrence Griffin made Jan 7 at 2016 6:28 PM

SSG Terrence Griffin — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 18:28:45 -0500

Your local VA. An get the Veteran jumpstarted by signing up for the Domicillary and once in there are Housing and other programs from medical to Na and AA and if the Vet is suffering from any service related issues he or she will also have acess to file for VA compensation .

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 5:11 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 17:11:12 -0500

Contact HUD. They have resources to put vets in homes, even if they are off the market, they still provide warmth and shelter for them.

Response by SSG Don Maggart made Jan 28 at 2016 12:45 PM

SSG Don Maggart — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:45:05 -0500

Contact the Office of the DAV Rep or other Organizations if you don't know how to Contact RCPAC in St Louis Mo. then Please hand them off to someone who does...MillitantCrip

Response by MSG Valerie Randle made Jan 31 at 2016 11:51 PM

MSG Valerie Randle — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 23:51:29 -0500

I know that you don't know me, yet just know what I am telling you is the honest God's truth. Not only am I a veteran, I have been homeless and that inspired me to open a non-profit (47-5312462) Veteran Connection. The website for this foundation is http://www.vetconnectnow.org and I am furious and outraged, at the assumption that Wounded Warrior Project would exploit my peers in such a horrible manner. I'm not surprised and just like in all areas, there are some shady characters in the military and the government, period. There are currently a lot of programs who focus solely on Afghanistan and Iraq, post 911 wounded warriors. How many wounded warriors are there, I wonder if their foundations, sponsors, and coherts even checked? I know quite a few such organizations such as Homes for Heroes, Wounded Warrior Project, and Building Homes for Heroes. This is quite an assortment of the same services, and the reason why I came to know about them is because I requested assistance from them and they turned me down, so far. I suffer from PTSD as a result of MST from the military. Truthfully, even though I'm not "quote on quote" a wounded warrior, I still tried to get help from them out of desperation. I have tried to get help from many other veteran service organizations in Miami and Homestead Florida, where I live only to be turned down and discriminated against. I am 70% service compensated unemployability status, honorably discharged veteran who can't get any help either personally or for Veteran Connection to operate. The current systems have corruption and they have unfair gaps in their systems. Earlier this week, I attended a community subcommittee meeting on homelessness. In attendance was homeless trust and advocate program representatives and actually appeared unsatisfied and one of them was complaining because their budget was only 50 million dollars. Really, can you believe that one of these directors had the audacity to complain about having a budget of 50 million dollars? On the other hand, I haven't received not $1 donated to Veterans Connection. I am being transparent and I am being completely honest with you, like I told you, the board members, none of the staff has been paid not one penny. As a matter of fact, we have used all our money, we have exhausted all funds and I am trying to get a parcel of land donated to build tiny houses for homeless veterans with some materials and labor donated by the University of Miami. I am respectfully reaching out to you. I need help getting the word out about what I do at Veteran Connection to get positively exposed. Would you please help me to somehow get my story told? It's not about my programs, it's about the homeless veterans living on the streets in our nation. Please email me at [login to see] or you can call me at [login to see] . Thanks for listening and sorry this email is so long.
Valerie Allen
President
Veteran Connection

Veteran Support Organization | Homestead, FL - Veteran Connection

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