How We Can Protect Our Country's Homeless Veteran Population During the Threat of COVID-19?

2020-04-17T09:25:02-04:00

In the weeks leading up to the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, I overheard several individuals mention that they were not overly concerned about our country’s homeless population in the face of the pandemic. As they put it, the homeless were “not as likely to get the virus,” based on the inaccurate notion that their living situation was already conducive to social distancing.

This was before we knew that the exact opposite is true: individuals who are homeless remain especially vulnerable to COVID-19.

As the co-founder and chairman of the national nonprofit SoldierStrong, an organization dedicated to helping veterans take their next steps forward into life after service through the donation of revolutionary medical technologies, I am especially concerned for veterans during this time, including those veterans who are currently homeless.

Not only do our homeless veterans remain at a high risk for contracting the virus, but donations of basic necessities to homeless shelters and food pantries have slowed down, fundraising efforts for local homeless veterans in many communities have discontinued, a number of walk-in clinics have scaled back their physical health services, and counseling – from mental health to employment- has been postponed for the time being. For the over 40,000 homeless veterans in the United States, these vital resources that they rely on to help get them back on their feet are now in jeopardy.

Furthermore, our homeless veterans often lack the supplies necessary to maintain good hygiene that are especially critical at this time. This includes soap, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Though even if many homeless veterans did have access to these supplies, with the closure of most community centers and public spaces around the country it remains difficult for them to access running water in order to wash their hands properly.

Despite this, we must get creative in how we continue to provide critical physical and mental health services to homeless veterans during this time when many may need it most.

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has already begun distributing what they call Mobile Vet Centers to a handful of deeply affected cities across the country. These mobile resources are intended to make it easier to provide mental health counseling, outreach and care coordination to veterans throughout the duration of COVID-19’s spread.

Not only is this a valid step in reaching a large number of veterans in a safe manner to provide much-needed services, but the VA could consider using the Mobile Vet Centers to reach our homeless veteran population as well. Using mobile centers now could have the potential to set a precedent for how the VA reaches homeless veterans long after the effects of the pandemic have subsided.

Additionally, as our country’s leadership continues to ease regulations and cut red tape around telehealth services, perhaps there are ways to make these incredible resources more accessible to homeless veterans. We have seen many cities use vacant buildings and public spaces as shelters for the homeless since the onset of the pandemic. Hospitals and communities could work together to find ways to bring telehealth services to homeless veterans who are currently residing at such buildings, specifically to those buildings that already have access to Wi-Fi and computers that can be readily used to help facilitate the process.

We know that many homeless veterans suffer from mental health conditions, particularly post-traumatic stress, and would likely benefit from telehealth services now more than ever before.

I acknowledge that executing these ideas likely would take time and money that may not be readily available today. But I believe with our fighting American spirit and cunning creativity, we will find ways to continue to invest in our homeless veteran population. That process begins with opening an ongoing and honest dialogue, as well as not being afraid to bring forth any and all ideas that may make a difference.

In the meantime, I encourage those who can to find out how to safely donate to your local homeless shelter or food pantry today, especially supplies such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Any steps we can take today have the potential to make all the difference for homeless veterans tomorrow.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Apr 17 at 2020 9:26 AM

2020-04-17T09:26:52-04:00

This is something that should have been dealt with before the current pandemic.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Apr 17 at 2020 6:34 PM

2020-04-17T18:34:19-04:00

How many of you are familiar with NYC’s Hart Island Cemetary?

Response by Jack Powell made Apr 17 at 2020 7:53 PM

2020-04-17T19:53:59-04:00

madeintheusabyveterans.com will become the largest manufacturer, but first we need 1 Veteran partner.

Response by Jack Powell made Apr 18 at 2020 1:35 PM

2020-04-18T13:35:11-04:00

By becoming a partner with madeintheusabyveterans.com who plans on providing thousands of jobs while become the largest furniture manufacturer in the USA and also having facilities for the Veterans to live in which will include many programs to help with their circumstances. So who is that one Veteran that is going to take a small step that will become the largest footprint stepping forward for the Veterans and America? Bedtime story... my dad told me about 50 years ago that he had a chance to invest $2,000 into a white haired 65 year old man calling himself the 'Colonel" who was pushing for people to invest in his startup "Chicken Recipe" ???? and unfortunately he didn't, so hopefully someday you want be telling the same missed opportunity to your kids............... OOOOOOOORA

Response by SGT Bleddyn Wilson made Apr 20 at 2020 1:43 AM

2020-04-20T01:43:24-04:00

Create veterans colonies ... the Romans did... nothing wrong with imperialism

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Apr 21 at 2020 12:44 PM

2020-04-21T12:44:12-04:00

Crazy idea - put em up in all the abandoned property we have.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2020 6:14 PM

2020-04-21T18:14:55-04:00

I got the land if they bring the band. Both pastures could hold a BN each with ease, if some don't mind being in the woods. Be glad to help, but leave it up to experts.

Response by SFC Herve Abrams made Apr 24 at 2020 10:25 AM

2020-04-24T10:25:38-04:00

Maybe give them homes.

Response by 1SG Tommy McGee made Apr 26 at 2020 3:37 PM

2020-04-26T15:37:25-04:00

We can start by giving all of the money that is given to illegals to our veterans that put their lives on the line for our country.

Response by PO3 Julie Whipple made May 1 at 2020 7:51 AM

2020-05-01T07:51:49-04:00

I was a homeless Veteran for 2 years (2016-2018) due to a few disasters I didn't see coming - Exhusband was the catalyst. I was lucky to be able to be in the Philadelphia area and lived at Veteran's Haven South in Hammonton, NJ. Good program when I was there, not so good now with their current administration, but it did provide me with the resources and time to get my 100%. My fiance also spent those 2 years with me there. I would be happy to help in anyway I can to help my brothers and sisters who are on the street.

Response by PO2 Charles Tweddell made May 10 at 2020 9:42 PM

2020-05-10T21:42:04-04:00

How as human beings can we disregard the plight of any individual. We need to care about all people who are struggling and find ways to lift them up! Most of all it upsets me to see so many Veterans that are homeless and not being cared for, they cared enough to put their live on the line to protect us, we all need to go the extra mile for them!

Response by Robert Harris made May 24 at 2020 8:09 PM

2020-05-24T20:09:38-04:00

Ginger tea with half a lemon & honey adjusted to taste, then add a minced fresh clove of garlic is what I have been taking, plus the Spanish part of NYC. Been also chewing on Ginger Chews for arthritis problems.

Response by SN Herman Lee made May 31 at 2020 10:07 PM

2020-05-31T22:07:21-04:00

Real question is Why does the U.S. have any homelessness at all?

Response by SSG Michael Doolittle made Jun 1 at 2020 3:36 PM

2020-06-01T15:36:43-04:00

This is a major problem that is dealt with on the Macro Level and yet on the Micro Level has many holes in the system.... We recently had a homeless encampment on our 'senior housing site' and it became a real health hazard (garbage etc), and we tried to get them help... One was a Vietnam Veteran @ 70's in age, and we could not find this many help due to the Covid-19 pandemic... Evicting them was easy, and yet when we wanted to remove a few trees from the site, we were told we could not because the endangered "Hoary bay" just 'may' nest in those trees... Evicting a few homeless people is easy, but the Hoary bat has more rights, and if this homeless Veteran could fly we would build him a castle.... Tired of the Umbrella Lip Service to our Veterans Homeless Problem... They claimed the problem is being solved and the homeless numbers are down, let me ask this question " are the numbers down...? when we consider that 7400 or more veterans die due to suicide each year, that is 37,000 in 5 years, is that why the homeless veteran numbers are down...? "

Response by SP6 Peter Kreutzfeldt made Jun 12 at 2020 12:04 PM

2020-06-12T12:04:11-04:00

Just do not count on the VA to help you with anything medically.

Response by Cpl Henry Busby made Jun 15 at 2020 10:47 AM

2020-06-15T10:47:33-04:00

I am proud to say that I have been working with and for the Homeless Veteran population since 1998. The main problem we have is Affordable Housing. The VA has been granting many more HUD VASH vouchers, which is a huge help, but locating housing which fit within the benefits guidelines is a challenge.

As a member of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, we had the annual conference dealing with the issue of "Not In My Backyard". I have seen suggestions within this thread speaking of Veteran Colonies which is a great idea, but it ran into roadblocks because the local residents push back with the "Not In My Backyard" argument. There is enough open, vacant land and abandoned buildings, including closed military bases that can be reconstructed for housing, but again we run up against the NIMB argument.

A group of successful veterans who are in the real estate development business bought rundown motels and hotels and turned them into very nice Studio apartments and Single Room Occupancy units and this has worked very well in the area in which they live. We need much more of this kind of charitable activism. They used their money and donations, with a bit of assistance from the VA for a positive outcome to this daunting issue. We cannot wait for the government to fix veteran issues such as this and need to look at more developments such as the aforementioned.

No matter what though, we who work with the Homeless Veterans demographic will continue doing what we do as we house one veteran at a time. Look at the organizations in your area, research them thoroughly and donate where applicable. As a Life Member of VFW Post 370 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, we use donations for our Emergency Housing Fund. This can only provide short term stays in motels until SSVFs and Veterans' Services can try to locate permanent housing. It is a challenging job but I would not want to be doing anything else with my life.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2020 4:47 PM

2020-08-23T16:47:23-04:00

For starters, a safe location that provides general sanitation assistance might be useful. Somewhere they can come and shower and clean their clothes and bedding. They could also receive masks and hand sanitizer. Beyond that things become more challenging.

Rampant illness among the long term homeless is nothing new and requires a shift in society with regard to how we treat homelessness as a whole and measure success. Many long term homeless have underlying mental or social challenges which prevent them from reintegrating with "functional" society. Consequently, success cannot be expected to look like these members returning to self sufficiency in any short time frame.