How Have You Struggled With Housing?

2024-05-07T12:31:23-04:00

VA is committed to ending homelessness among Veterans and their families because it is our nation’s duty to ensure all Veterans have a place to call home. We want to hear about times when you or your family has been unhoused.

What challenges contributed to your unstable housing or even being unhoused?

What resources did you use to improve your situation?

Was it just you or was your family unhoused as well?

From your experience, what can VA do to achieve its goal of ending housing instability and homelessness for Veterans and their families?

We expect to learn from you and will try to help you where we can. We also believe Veterans, families, and caregivers sharing their struggles in forums like RallyPoint can make it easier for others to share and get help.

You can also help us out by completing the project CHALENG Survey https://rly.pt/CHALENGSurvey2024. Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) unites homeless service providers, advocates, Veterans and concerned citizens toward the goal of meeting the evolving needs of Veterans who are homeless. This process describes the needs of homeless Veterans, identifies the barriers they face in obtaining permanent housing and works to resolve them through planning and cooperative action. Learn more here: https://rly.pt/ProjectCHALENG.

If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255. 

If you are a Veteran who is experiencing unstable housing or homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET [login to see] ). Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness. Visit https://rly.pt/VAHomeless to learn more.

If you are not yet receiving benefits or care for VA and want to see if you qualify:
Visit https://rly.pt/VAHealthCareEligibility or call [login to see] (TTY: 711) to learn more.

CHALENG 2024

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Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2024 4:47 AM

2024-05-09T04:47:32-04:00

Long ago and far away, my own story is a crazy one for sure.

Response by SrA Ronald Moore made May 12 at 2024 8:00 AM

2024-05-12T08:00:50-04:00

Got into trouble after Discharge from the Military and For that,I have to suffer not being able to get Any help from the VA on housing,even when I saw it was Goung to be a homeless situation where I could not pay my rent and all my bills cause of scammers,- whom.Was said to be In the military
in Damascus, Syria ,At AL-Tariff Garrison and, my rent going up March '2023,and again March '24 : from $545.00 to $875.00 To $890.00 and the rent people -Urban Housing Solutions will not give me any slack to pay my mounting bills of like $5,000 in credit,And United Way told me to not pay my bills but focus On the rent,Car note which is a contractual agree that I got a job as long I got a cad and come to a work, And I have got emergency Rent from th VA ONCE ,and On c e by a Charities organization, but it's a monthly thing,Never ever catching up my bills,beside The Mental Health Dept of the VA said, I have to be totally back slide Un t o On the Ground sleeping Alcoholic again,before they will help,

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made May 13 at 2024 9:25 PM

2024-05-13T21:25:09-04:00

Good evening. Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this on RP. :-]

Response by CPO Patrick Foster made May 15 at 2024 6:56 PM

2024-05-15T18:56:26-04:00

Ten years living in garages & sheds. I'm finally in my own place with my girlfriend. We work for Goodwill Gulf Coast & have a car & are in therapy. I'm in trouble with IRS, but I will face it with help. Plant medicine saved my life. I can't even get a PCM, due to transfer & leaving. God is good. The VA has not been very helpful. If not for some kind nurses who ran down doctors I would not get my meds. I got rid of most pharmaceuticals. No comment. God bless America. My brother & my son both helped me & I now have my dignity again. Thanks

Response by PO1 Christine Wilds made May 15 at 2024 7:07 PM

2024-05-15T19:07:49-04:00

I have been close to homelessness before, but was able to lean on family until I could figure things out again.
A month or two before I got out of the Service, my command sent me to a series of classes with members from all branches who were close to discharge. They taught us all kinds of things about how to get a job on the outside—from making a resume to how to shake hands with a job interviewer.

If the military is no longer doing this, I think the VA should pick up that slack, and even if it still is being done, there’s plenty of slack the VA could still pick up. For instance, automatically evaluating every exiting service member for PTSD, depression and alcoholism. The military goes with alcohol like water goes with wet. The military taught me how to drink, and I was never deployed. We all get out at some point. I think the military/VA should spend just as much time, money and effort turning us into productive civilians as they do turning us into Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen/women and Coast Guardsmen/women

Response by PFC Brook Lyn made May 15 at 2024 7:08 PM

2024-05-15T19:08:06-04:00

It would be wonderful if The Veteran Administration for housing built more affordable efficiency apartments for Veterans based on 30% of their income.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2024 7:20 PM

2024-05-15T19:20:09-04:00

My finances were tied up and supporting family members who are in poverty; this resulted in debt over $10,000. I had no confidence that I would be able to afford an apartment in a safe environment where I lived.

A friend of mine worked for an agency that would approve me for transitional housing, allow me to address other needs to include mental and physical health as well as financial health.

What the VA did for me is provide me with a liaison who would help me and encourage me to submit a claim which led me to 100% disability rating.

What would help other veterans is the help that I needed to include neurological assessment where it was confirmed that I have ADHD/autism. It is important for me to have this diagnosis as being medicated would be necessary in order for me to get the most benefit out of therapy sessions.

Although the VA suggested a recommended financial readiness program, what helped me was a different agency, recommended by another homeless vet. My financial counselor spoke with me and on my behalf, while talking with the collection agencies who supported my needs, agreeing to a settlement.

What I would also like to see is help assessing diagnosing people who have a learning disability.

Response by SPC C Van made May 15 at 2024 7:57 PM

2024-05-15T19:57:00-04:00

I struggled with homelessness from May 1921 till August 2021. I Lived in a tent at Mehaer State Park for the summer. Worked as a camp in order to get my tent spot for free. Eventually saved up enough money to get a camper, then saved up enough money to get a house. Never asked the VA for anything. I can’t get seen at the hospital because in order to have an enrollment appointment you have to sit by the phone and wait for them to call you. I work I don’t have time to sit by the phone because Im usually on it talking to guest. I work in the vacation rental industry, which is currently booking a third of what our usual rate is. So if things keep going this way, I might be homeless again. If I can’t get an appointment, my request for disability reeval is open and shut with them never even requesting my medical records Or I need to hire somebody to help me through the system how the heck does the VA expect me to call them when I’m in need. How do you do one thing is how you do everything or in our civilian mindedness did we forget that?

Response by SPC Tabitha Maultsby made May 15 at 2024 8:41 PM

2024-05-15T20:41:37-04:00

What challenges contributed to my unstable housing?
I was medically discharged from the military mainly due to Grand Mal Seizure disorder. I was having 4 to 5 seizures a month and was given 10%. Having that many seizures a month qualified me for 100% but it wasn't given. As a whole with my other disabilities I was given 40%. No job would hire me at the time because I explained to them the reason I was discharged from the military. They did not want to be held liable for an individual that had a seizure disorder. I received $6 dollars a month for 2 years from the military. When I became homeless with my children I received no help from the va. I waited on a project housing list for a year before I was called. I fought all the way until 2018 to get 100% and I feel they still owe me back pay they haven't paid. I had accured a massive amount of debt and have had to struggle to support my children over the years. Every single time I seek the assistance of va I can never get any help. I have had to sell my body, sleep in a vehicle at rest stops with my children, go hungry etc all not to get any help from the va.
Resources used to improve situation.
I contacted the local va, crisis hot line, government resources and still couldn't get help
Was it just me or family unhoused?
Myself and my children were unhoused.
To be honest. No one who has fought for their country should be homeless, hungry, or lacking resources. As a soldier the military failed me and as a veteran the va has failed me.

Response by SSG Kim Gilster made May 15 at 2024 9:38 PM

2024-05-15T21:38:23-04:00

I got into trouble back in 2011 due to the economy. I got on the VASH program in 2013. It took a lot to find housing using my voucher in Los Angeles.
I’m currently on VASH and at 90%. I’m hanging on and use VA services when possible. The issue is that when I get my 100% I will no longer receiver any other kind of help. Even at my current rate I only qualify for $23 to help with food but no other programs.
All I need is for one or two rough things to happen and I will not be doing well at all.
I have a plethora of health problems so I cannot become homeless. If I do I will literally die because I’m barely hanging on now.
I’m not the only veteran I know in similar circumstances.
One of the ideas I have to help prevent this is to make it so we don’t get kicked off when we get 100% and still can only afford 1200 a month rent I can’t even get a roommate situation around here for that. I’m talking the whole of Los Angeles County and if I go too far I am way too far from all the vital medical services I need to stay alive and deal with my pain.
It took me years to get most of the things I need and I’m still advocating for some.
Don’t even get me started with the issues with community care.
Also; here in Los Angeles they are building low income housing on the hospital campus which is great. What’s not so great is that homeless veterans that are getting 100% don’t qualify for that housing. Some of them are currently staying in tiny shacks on VA property and will lose those once the low income housing comes around.
We really need to do something that alllows us to keep our housing vouchers until we get to low income not the very low income mark.

Response by PVT K Fields made May 15 at 2024 10:13 PM

2024-05-15T22:13:57-04:00

Was homeless for decades without VA healthcare or any benefits since being a target and receiving a bogus discharge in 1996 by a white nationalist commander who was responsible for creating a toxic work environment in an air cavalry unit and purposefully targeting specific lower enlisted members of his unit that led one ex-soldier to commit the Taco Bell murders in Clarksville, TN early 1994. It wasn't easy adjusting to civilian life especially after becoming hemiplegic needing a powerchair and couldn't work after having a stroke in March 2020, right when COVID hit and lockdown was instituted. Several white nationalist veteran scammers came out of the woodwork to keep my caregiver husband and I homeless when they attempted to procure benefits that hadn't been awarded to me due to said white nationalist commander vowing to block all efforts on my part to qualify yet the veterans scamming me to run their fake fundraiser managed to use my personal info from a corrupt VSO in Allentown and opened a bank account that I never authorized.

We relocated to another state halfway across the nation after struggling for a few years to get and maintain a domicile before getting evicted for me needing a wheelchair, Medicaid for a couple months since VA healthcare wasn't available to me until after my stroke when I had to spend thousands out of pocket to get physicians' IMO's for mental health conditions I was already diagnosed with that are listed in my service treatment records but I was denied continued care by the VA for decades, costly Nexus letters just to be able to file disability claims on my own in the VA system since no assistance in filing is available without a hefty price tag, lived in our truck, a cheap tent, dispersed camping in a national forest, and occasional hotels for showers and extreme weather when we could afford it. Survived long enough trying to get reestablished while still evading white nationalists that continued to stalk us and issue death threats due to my mixed race and refusal to cooperate in their exploitative schemes. Despite running into the same racist and gender discriminatory treatment and lack of assistance from the local VA clinic in Durango, we still manage to survive but at least I can receive some community care on occasion and my husband manages to drive me 4 .5 to 5 hours one way for some appointments at the Albuquerque VA before driving me back hoping to be able to stay awake so that we don’t have to spend a lot of money just to stay a night in a hotel for a short appointment.

Response by Sgt Bob Barr made May 15 at 2024 10:39 PM

2024-05-15T22:39:36-04:00

Instead of the US government sending money to foreign countries how about we use the money for veterans?

Response by PFC Stephen Johnson made May 15 at 2024 10:55 PM

2024-05-15T22:55:50-04:00

Due to a crack habit, I ended up homeless for over 25 years. I endured 3 prison terms in California and Arizona. Thanks to the Tucson VA SARRTP, I got the help I needed to stop using. After the residential program, I was enrolled in the HUD/VASH program and got an apartment. I was also enrolled in the CWT Program where I worked on the VA grounds while I sought permanent employment. Today, through the VA home loan program, I own a house. I am an over-the-road truck driver. And have been with my wife for over 8 years.

Response by MSgt William R. McLain made May 15 at 2024 11:14 PM

2024-05-15T23:14:12-04:00

We have know several veterans that have had homes and lost them because they could not afford the property taxes on their homes. Make veterans with even 10% or more in disabilities main property tax free. Many can barely afford their upkeep.

Response by CPL S Smith made May 16 at 2024 4:14 AM

2024-05-16T04:14:42-04:00

My personal issues stemmed from gang stalking by personnel previously stationed with me, mostly from Fort Polk, LA. There is a lot more to include in this but not enough space. I said something and filled paperwork out through the VA but never actually received assistance. So military people caused the problem. VA pretended they were going to help, then did nothing but make stats.

Response by Bonnie Pollard Allen made May 16 at 2024 5:42 AM

2024-05-16T05:42:15-04:00

https://www.vermontveteransplace.org/
Is where I am a Case Manager. Message me if you need help in New England/ Eastern NY

The Veterans' Place I Central Vermont

The Veterans' Place is a structured transitional home for homeless veterans to recover and rehabilitate. We provide housing, meals, and hands-on assistance to help veterans overcomemedical and administrative issues.

Response by CPO Tim Yorty made May 16 at 2024 6:12 AM

2024-05-16T06:12:51-04:00

I am not blaming the VA, but if the statement "VA is committed to ending homelessness among Veterans and their families because it is our nation’s duty to ensure all Veterans have a place to call home." is true, how can it be that when the US government can send BILLIONS of dollars, multiple times to foreign counties to help fight wars, that there is even one (1) homeless US military veteran in this country? What excuse is there? Absolutely none.

Response by CPO Tim Yorty made May 16 at 2024 6:21 AM

2024-05-16T06:21:38-04:00

I retired from the Navy with some service connected disabilities and worked part-time & temp jobs for quite a while, came close to being homeless but never was. I moved to a different state for a real job and haven't looked back. House is paid for, vehicle is paid for and savings acct is good - but I put the military and it's associated life-style problems behind me.

Response by PO2 Jim Flanagan made May 16 at 2024 7:02 AM

2024-05-16T07:02:23-04:00

The government is giving all these illegal immigrants free housing, free food, and an allowance. This should be given to our homeless veterans FIRST. With the extreme weather we are facing now, these heroes need to be treated with the utmost respect and compassion they earned.

Response by Sharon Gemmell made May 16 at 2024 8:31 AM

2024-05-16T08:31:36-04:00

My brother, who is disabled, has struggled to find housing within our little hick town. Veterans in the United States have struggles in every area. It hurts me to say that; however, it is the truth. Our country and counties within our country does nothing to honor and support those who gave it ALL to make sure that we have our FREEDOM. What hurts me most is that the Veterans always get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to housing, health care, services, etc. and in my opinion they should be at the top. All Veterans should get FREE health care (including eye, dental (this includes dentures, etc.) hearing, etc.) even if you did not have it included during your time limit in the military. I feel that if you served you deserve that benefit regardless, definitely if you have been declared disabled regardless of what percentage of disability. I think that it is such a slap in the face to AMERICANS and VETERANS to give illegal aliens from another country the best free housing and services while our own AMERICAN, VETERAN CITIZENS lay on concrete sidewalks and park benches. So, you tell me what is wrong with that picture.

Response by Sgt Lenuel Ferguson made May 16 at 2024 9:38 AM

2024-05-16T09:38:16-04:00

I am homeless and tried the VA which gives you phone numbers to call and most are not in business. They gave me one solider on and a lady came and I gave her all the paper work and she told me if I find something to tell her first gave her four places and never heard anything. Go on line and add says how they will help click on add first thing they want a donation. Why do you think veteran's are killing them self or are homeless places get grants and donations and could care less. It is a shame for anybody but thats the way it is then say homeless people are mentally ill. Most of the places that say they will help is just for the money.

Response by FA Andrew Goslin made May 16 at 2024 9:39 AM

2024-05-16T09:39:02-04:00

From Airbnb, ( VA you guys should "partner" with Airbnb!!!) to hotels to building a shack near fresh water source, what are our Veterans to do when your organization takes 4- 5 months to even begin to process the n necessary and proper paperwork? Maybee even work with Army core of engineers and the Navy seebeas, 3d print houses on the Texas/Mexico boarder and install modern electronics to keep track of progress?

Response by SPC Ellis Smith made May 16 at 2024 9:51 AM

2024-05-16T09:51:13-04:00

How about lowering the condition of what the home is in so it opens up home ownership opportunities? So what if half the house doesn’t have flooring or drywall. If they get a great price then let them get the house. Because a fully finished house could be out of their price range. But distressed properties or foreclosures can be a bargain.

Also make another category for small business. Like micro businesses. I jumped through all these hoops to be able to bid on gov contracts but I can’t afford commercial auto insurance or survive a net 30. After project expenses and paying the guys.

Response by PO3 Dn King made May 16 at 2024 9:51 AM

2024-05-16T09:51:18-04:00

Working my way through college, I didn't have the resources to attend classes, pay college expenses, and cover rent despite working three jobs. I ended up homeless, living in an extended cab Tacoma with by German shepherd. Fortunately, after a couple of months, I woke to a crazed hippie banging on my window calling me a fool. It was my dad, and he made me move back home. By this time, I was pretty ill, but thanks to 1-800 Pet Meds (pre-Obama Care insurance for my fellow poors) and a warm bed, homecooked meals... My scant cash kept me in school.

I made it through, and it's just a bad memory, now. But I am angry. I served under the mistaken idea that it would help me pay for my education. My GI Bill didn't cover a single semester. I was lied to, and the lie still goes on. My nephew got a better deal when he wrapped up his enlistment, but if his fiance wasn't financially comfortable enough to cover his living expenses, he'd be out of luck. His fiance is AMAZING! Shout out to the partners of service members!

I know high school kids who want to join so they can go to college and lift themselves up. My advice to all of them is to join only if serving is reason enough, because they may end up in worse financial and educational shape if they believe the recruitment propaganda. I'm not anti-military. I served, my sister served, her husband served and her son served. Both my parents served. Both my grandfathers served. 3 of my great grandfathers served. 5 of my 7 uncles served. I'm proud of all this. I'm just not proud of the way the US neglects the promises to the kids that make one of the most selfless offers they can to a country that seems not to care.

Response by SA David Spring made May 16 at 2024 12:27 PM

2024-05-16T12:27:31-04:00

Injured my back working in Dementia Care. Doc at the VA put me on Vicodin. Social worker at the VRC convinced my family to abandon me when I was slated to die a few months later. VRC wharehoused me with other homeless vets and essentially tortured us until we either left on our own or found other resources. Had to move all the way to a friend's house in New Orleans to quit the Vics and heal.
Came back to homelessness in Reno 6 months later to be close to my kids.
VRC wharehoused me again and tried to blame all of their issues on us, the homeless veterans at their mercy. It was my rep at the HCHV that managed to get me HUDVASH just as the VRC was kicking me out for complaining about the abuse. I watched them commit no less than a half dozen crimes against homeless veterans without even blinking an eye. FYI, they are now called, ironically, "Nations Finest". They have never apologized for destroying my family unit. The social worker who gaslit me is still out there destroying more veteran's lives.
I still face possible homelessness at least twice a year, usually related to my utility bill. In the HUD housing, if your utilities get cut off you get evicted. I am literally too poor to afford poverty and the VA is still jerking me around with my false discharge. I am supposed to be receiving benefits for a traumatic brain injury in the Navy. Instead they "lost the records" so I only get 30% for hearing loss.
Until I get justice for either offense, I am an unstable liability to my community.

Response by SrA Ken Herrington made May 16 at 2024 2:33 PM

2024-05-16T14:33:42-04:00

Why not secure the boarder, and stop housing all the people who came here illegally? Use the money for OUR heros

Response by Sgt Matthew Landis made May 16 at 2024 4:23 PM

2024-05-16T16:23:18-04:00

In 2015 I began a 2 year battle with homelessness that started with addiction and undiagnosed service connected mental health issues. I sought help through the Atlanta VA and was accepted into a shelter program that was overflowing with other Veterans and understaffed. I wound up being kicked out and told I needed a long term rehab so Wyoming accepted me and I began another 3 year battle to diagnose at treat my conditions. To be honest with you if I did not advocate my ass off and even contact my congresswoman I would have fell through the cracks and wound up another deceased Veteran. I've lost countless friends along the way and still struggle with mental health but am 3 years sober now and have a service dog and in school for photography. I'd love to share my story more and be part of helping not just a survey taker so please contact me. I want to help save lives.

Response by PO1 Michael Bostian made May 16 at 2024 4:39 PM

2024-05-16T16:39:23-04:00

Instead of subsidizing foreign wars to no apparent end, try investing that money into a VA partnership with every city in the united states. Kinda like what is done with education system. Better yet stop pushing homosexuals on the children and have the trans people work with veterans in every community.

Response by CPL Emily Pike made May 16 at 2024 8:01 PM

2024-05-16T20:01:54-04:00

The problem I have is that I meet income requirements but have bad credit and am considered a bad risk due to that even though I have always paid my rent on time. None of the programs offered fit my situation at all. I don't need income assistance or vouchers, I need help finding a landlord willing to rent to me is all.

Response by Sgt Howard Welch made May 17 at 2024 4:58 AM

2024-05-17T04:58:50-04:00

I am a drug addict & alcoholic who was in relapse for many years--but stable in my housing/job situation, which just contributed to the denial of there even BEING a problem. But my roommate's DUI (he was a class A truck driver) quickly led to no longer being able to afford the rent in the overpriced San Francisco Bay Area market. But through the VA's HUD-VASH program, I got all the help I needed to become permanently housed on a brand-new one bedroom apartment--where I have been for the past 5 years. Sure, it took moving into a shelter for a few months, but even THAT was a better experience than it would have been, since I was in a bed reserved for veterans, in a nicer, more respectful, cleaner and drug-free area of the shelter. It also took some help from my Church and 12 step programs to get and stay clean, but I am ever grateful for the many aspects of help I received from a variety of resources--once I was ready to accept it. The VA staff was almost magical in how quickly they got things moving, once I asked for help. And I am forever grateful to God and all those he used to help me get to where I am today!

Response by Maj John Bell made May 17 at 2024 1:43 PM

2024-05-17T13:43:55-04:00

I haven't. But the way the question was asked is typical of government assumptions about the masses, and veterans in particular. We the public have become addicted to entitlements and subsidies, and the bureaucrats search for "victims." I love my country, I'm not very fond of my government.

There are people who need help. There are veterans who have had a particularly rough row to hoe, but let's not be condescending assume that is the starting place for all veteran's. And I much rather get help from a veteran than from a bureaucrat.

Response by Lt Col K Kennedy made May 17 at 2024 9:32 PM

2024-05-17T21:32:08-04:00

I've been working with unhoused individual on a weekly basis for almost the last decade. I think a major challenge is the homeless vets are aware of what resources are available. I also think there's general lack of knowledge, among support agencies, about how they can partner to help our vets I worry that far too many people and agencies rush to get a person off the street without engaging in the situation that put that person on the street in first place, Because we give a person a place to live, doesn't mean they're not still homeless. Unhoused folks are a monolith, they end up on the street one person at a time; and it takes individual solutions/case management to bring them home.

Response by SSgt David Cavan made May 18 at 2024 9:19 AM

2024-05-18T09:19:34-04:00

In 1996, I was a highly-decorated, 12+ years USAF E-5/SSgt with no prior UCMJ issues stationed at Holloman AFB NM when an unplanned incident occurred that involved myself with a multi-million dollar, international cannabis smuggler that, due to it's sheer magnitude, I self identified to Security Police/OSI the very next day after the incident happened. Upon describing in explicit detail the unplanned events that had happened the day prior, my participation in the incident earned me a General Court martial that in turn, awarded me a reduction to E-1/AB, forfeiture of all pay/allowances, one year in military confinement, a Bad Conduct discharge unable to be upgraded, and branded me a felon for life. Relocating to Las Vegas Nevada with my wife and 2 kids after I served my confinement sentence, it was very difficult for me to find permanent employment, so I was forced to use temp agencies on and off for jobs over the next 10 years, during which time I was hired by several of the companies that I worked as a temp for. My wife and I added another child to our family in 2000, and, together with her income as a cocktail waitress, we eventually bought a house in Las Vegas. Things were going great until 2007, when, after 17 years of marriage and 3 beautiful children, plus making my Philippine wife a U.S. citizen (with no legal assistance from an immigration attorney), my wife wanted a divorce which was shocking/took me by surprise, especially after everything we'd been through together in the past and how we had overcome those issues to be where we were at that time. On Father's Day, Sunday, June 17, 2007, my wife watched me fire an arrow from a pistol grip crossbow into the wall of our garage, and although I had never pointed at her or threatened her or my kids, she called the police, who arrested me and charged me initially with attempted murder, but that was reduced to assualt with a deadly weapon. No bail was ever possible, and a one year restarining order was issued at a famity court hearing I was brought to 6 days after my arrest, while I was still confined at the Clark County Detention Center. Even though there had never been any physical or sexual abuse ever in the 17 years of our marriage, the false criminal charge that I was charged with (but not convicted of) apparently weighed heavily on the Family Court judge's decision to err on the side of caution, so the temporary restraining order issued upon my arrest was made permanent for 1 year. Returned to CCDC after the family court hearing, I wanted to prove my innocence as soon as possible, so I exercised my right for a "speedy trial". I was released from CCDC after my 90th day there due to my being found "not guilty" by a jury at my trial, but sadly, that finding of not guilty had no effect on the one year restraining order that prevented me from contacting my wife and children, or returning to my home. I had nowhere else to go in Las Vegas, so I relocated to Phoenix Arizona temporarily to stay with my mom while I figured out what to do next. After trying but failing to remove the one year restaining order through the family court (why, especially after being found not guilty of the charges that caused the restaraining order to be issued to begin with, nor had there ever been any incidents of abuse ever in our 17+ year marriage?), I truthfully had no other choice but to go to my house in the Philippines that my wife and I had purchased in 1995, (while we were stationed at Yokota AB Japan before PCSing to Holloman). At least there in the P.I., I was outside of the jurisdiction of the U.S., and could call my family without violating the restraining order, which sadly, in the end, it didn't matter. Somehow, my wife got our divorce she had filed in Las Vegas finalized, even though I had never seen it, agreed to it or signed it. My wife knew where I was (at our house in the Philippines), so this wasn't a case of my abandoning my family or not knowing where I was. The finalized divorce gave my wife our house, cars, possessions and full custody of our children. I received limited visitattion rights with my children and a monthly child support requirement of $900.00 a month ($300 per child), payable until my children are age 18 unless they remained in school/college, which could be up through age 22. I received a copy of our final divorce decree in August of 2009, about 8 months after it had been finalized in December of 2008. It was mailed to me to my house in the Philippines by mom back in Phoenix, and put me $7,200 behind (in arears) for child support by the time I received it. Knowing this and that, due to my BCD, it'd be impossible for me to find a job to support myself and pay $900.00 monthly for child suport, plus being garnished for the child support I already owed. I vowed at my house that day in the Philippines to never work and/or pay U.S. taxes ever again, and cost society as much as I could whenever possible if/when I ever returned to the U.S.. Why should I support by my paying taxes any court and/or government that granted a divorce that I never, agreed to or signed, and in turn, left me with nothing but a huge and fastly growing debt, especially when I had done nothing legally wrong to justify my being forced out of my home in Las Vegas and away from my family to begin with? Sadly, due to the death of my mom in December of 2009, I was forced to return to the U.S., and after staightening out the legalities involved with her passing, I became homeless until May of 2013. My mom had willed to me $50K, but I paid all of that $ directly to my ex for the back child support I owed her and for future child support payments. I didn't pay the $50K through the family court, simply because I know they would have somehow taken their "share" from it via their ("administrative costs" or fees or penalties etc.) before ever paying my ex anything she was owed, and then keep the remaining leftover amount from the $50K (possibly earning interest on it?) until it was delpleted/gone after paying her the $900 child support every month I owed. Although I could have used my 50K inheritance to prevent my homelessness, I'd still have to find a job to support myself (eventually), and in turn, have my paycheck garnished by the Las Vegas District Attoorney for all of the back child support I owed, and regardless of whereever I worked in the U.S.. Since it was never a question for me wanting to support my children (only a question of how), I really didn't have any other viable choices or alternatives that I could think of. As for my being homeless in Las Vegas from April of 2010 through May of 2013, it was never easy, but it taught me a lot of lessons. Since I had vowed in the Philippines to cost society as much $ as I could, I accomplished that first by pretending I was suicidal, which sent me as an inpatient to the Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital (aka Las Vegas Mental Health) which proivided me with a roof over my head in a climate controlled environment, 3 meals a day, and pretty nurses to look at (hehe). Eventually, after 4-5 months, they had a Board Certified psychiatrist determine I was perfectly sane, so I was discharged (as well as my being banned for life from ever returning there for treatment ever again). The final bill for it (which I'll never pay) was about $70,000 -$80,000 that I cost society. But I was homeless again, so my next way to cost society was through State of Nevada social services, where I was given $200 a month in food stamps (EBT), and occasionally rent vouchers ($400 per month), or placed in one their halfway houses they used. In May of 2011, in order to receive another $400.00 rent voucher, my social worker gave me the option of going to the VA to apply for a pension or going to 30 places to apply for a job (recording what business, their address, who I spoke to, phone # etc.). Personally, I thought it was a waste of time to go to the VA and apply for a pension, because I had already been denied (due to my Bad Conduct Discharge) for VA medical care/benefits when I had shown my DD Form 214 at a branch VA clinic. But, since it was easier than doing 30 job searches, I went to a VA office and applied for a pension. I used my exwife's address of her new home where she and my family now lived for any corresponce from the VA. The VA had 2 years to make a determination on whether or not to approve my pension. Since there were no other documents or evidence I could use to support my claim of having tinnitus that was caused by the .38 pistol I used to qualify with for finance courier duties (my career field was 6F052, Accounting & Finance), I was simply going to let the merits of my having continuous honorable service from 25 May 1984 thru 30 March 1994, as well as having earned/awarded 2 Commendation Medals, 2 Achievement medals, 3 Good Conduct Medals, ribbons for Joint Meritorious Unit, Overseas Long and Short Tours, National Defence for Desert Storm/Shield, NCO/Leadership School (PME) Graduate, Longevity, plus was my Accounting & Finance Squadron's (or higher Resource Advisor level) Airman of the Month 5 times, Airman of the Quarter 3 times, Airman of the Year (1987), a Distinguished Graduate of NCO Prepatory School, Outstanding Performer at 374 AW/CPTS Yokota AB Japan (twice), as reasons to approve my pension. Having completed the Nevada Social Workers requirement to file for a VA pension, I got my rent voucher and had a place to stay for another month. But once I had reached my limit of rent vouchers, I was back outside and homeless. In the summer months in Las Vegas, it was no problem sleeping outside at night, typically a few feet away from the railroad tracks in overgrown vegetation to hide my presence on a piece of cardboard, that was close to the "Sally" (Salvation Army), where I'd use my food stamps to buy a breakfast, lunch or dinner meal. Also near the Sally was St Vincent's Catholic Chari'ties that had a free daily lunch meal. In the colder months, I would stay at either the Sally or "St. Vinny's", but although it was free, both places had long waiting times to enter the facility, typical overcrowding, and bedbugs (yikes) to deal with. The Sally's dayroom was where I found a few homeless friends, and we all enjoyed some fiercely competitive games of spades, cribbage or eucher to pass the time each day. On the few occassions that VA reps would come to the Sally looking for veterans to help, I always showed them my DD Form 214, which they would at first admire due to all the awards/ribbons I had earned, but then retracted their offers of any/all help they could give to me due to the Bad Conduct Discharge I had received. So, after experiencing all of the ups and downs that being homeless had to offer me from April of 2010 until May of 2013, my exwife called me (on my government issued free phone) and told me I had received a U.S. Treasury check for $38K+ in the mail, and also some paperwork from the VA. Apparently, the VA had approved my pension, but not for any of the reasons I had submitted. They approved my pension because it was determined that I was unable to secure work or steady employment to enable me to support myself, since according to all records available (IRS records?), I had not reported or earned any income or paid any taxes for being self employed during the entire 2 year period my VA pension was being evaluated. (hehe) Imagine that! My refusal to work/pay taxes ended up getting me a VA pension! Needless to say, that newly approved VA pension that started in May of 2013 allowed me to put a roof over head and support myself, and continues to do so as I write this long statement about my homelessness and it's causes. As for the $38K check, I gave that to my ex for child support, which pays me up in full for all 3 of my children through age 22 based on $300 per month per child. And no, I never paid one damn cent to the family court that ordered the $900 per month child support in that damn divorce decree that I never agreed to or signed (or one cent to the District Attorney's office that processes garnishments for child support in arrears).

Response by SGT Olivia Chandler made May 19 at 2024 4:02 PM

2024-05-19T16:02:03-04:00

Desperately, sought help from the VA after losing my home due to my service-connected disability causing me to go on a medical leave of absence from my job. Sadly, there were no "beds" for woman at the shelter and I was left to fend on my own once again. The lack of support for female veterans is absurd. The only good thing is I know I can't depend on these programs, so I have become "stronger", despite ending up in a worse state, once again.