...Ending Homelessness among Veterans through Housing Programs Services Mary R. Flores Southeastern University Introduction Homeless veterans have consistently existed in the United States. However, just after the Afghanistan and Iraq war, the issue has become more noticeable in the news. The National Health Care for Homeless Council defines homelessness as the absence of a normal and adequate night-time place of residence. According to the ‘National Alliance to End Homelessness’ program, 49,933 of veterans and their families are currently living without having their basic needs met (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2015). To know whether veterans participating in the Housing First program with the Housing and Urban Department-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) receive housing services more rapidly and keep up long term housing stability, it must be compared to the Veterans in Treatment As Usual (TAU) approach to HUD-VASH. Connection to housing service programs is critical to veteran’s successful re-integration to society after deployment. This is exemplified by the success of Housing First (HF) and the different outcome of veterans who use similar program such as Treatment As Usual (TAU). The HUD-VASH program first started in 1992 as a teamwork effort between the Veterans Affair (VA) and the HUD. HUD provides housing to homeless veterans through a resident-based program named ‘Section 8 vouchers’, while the VA provides supportive services. ‘Section...
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...I cannot help but to look at my life in two halves—“before Iraq” and “after Iraq”. I wouldn’t call it two separate chapters. It is two completely different books. Not every war cliché is true. Too many accounts of war varnish it with a dark romanticism that does not align with reality for most combat veterans. But my time in Iraq did teach me raw truths about myself and the world, which made it impossible to emerge from the experience as the same person. In some ways, it was difficult to reconcile the new version of myself with the old. In others, it has been a defining episode for me, setting the stage for a very different future. I never would have been able to afford college if it weren’t for the GI Bill. So when I returned from combat in Iraq in 2004, I immediately enrolled in the Sociology program at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. In retrospect, I believe that I thought that college would give me a fresh start. I hoped it would be the jolt back to normalcy that would help shake loose so much of the horrors I saw in active combat. Unfortunately, my plan did not work. Instead of focusing on school work, I ached to get back to the Marines and finish the mission in Iraq. Finishing my degree was the only thing standing between me and that mission, so I hurried through it, trampling on my GPA during the transition. I eventually did another tour and then spent five years in Iraq and Afghanistan working as a private contractor. It wasn’t until many years later...
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...Prevalence of Homelessness Among United States Veterans Martha Clark Adventist University of Health Sciences Abstract The purpose of this paper is to critique the article “Homelessness among a national representative sample of US veterans: prevalence, service utilization, and correlates,” which is a case study on the topic of homeless veterans in the United States. This article finds that low income, younger age, and poor mental and physical health had significant impact on whether a veteran would spend time homeless. The conclusions found in this article will be examined and compared with other related articles and data. This article shows that there is a correlation between veterans of foreign wars and periods of homelessness....
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...Positioning and Differentiation Strategies The VA (Veteran Affair) and HUD (Housing and Urban Development) offer benefits and services to veterans but not all veterans have equal benefits. Veterans who have served in the military for a longer duration receive better benefits than those who served for a shorter duration. The difference between United Way and other organizations is the services offered to most homeless and near homelessness veterans no matter the duration served in the military. Military veterans should not be on the streets of the country they protected. The organizations services are “important” and “distinctive” (Armstrong & Kotler, 2011, p. 197) because it caters to the needs of all homeless veterans, including those who served shorter terms and fewer benefits from the government. Pre-existing services such as continuing education for adults, educational assistance for children, and more is an expansion to what is already offered. The new services, such as housing and health assistance, especially separate accommodation for female veterans, are a competitive advantage over other organizations who do not offer these services to many veterans. The focus of the organization is providing communities with resources to “achieve their human potential through education, income stability, and healthy lives” (About United Way Worldwide, 2012). United Way established and functioned for 125 years and continues to provide “quality service.” Communication, importance...
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...Homeless Veterans In April 1997 Venessa Turner joined the U.S Army and advanced to the rank of sergeant. Venessa was deployed to a camp 20 miles west of Baghdad, when one day she collapsed in 130 degree heat. This put Turner into a coma and she nearly died of heath failure. In 2003 Venessa was released with a pending medical discharge from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C, after her release, her story turned for the worst. The military did end up discharging Venessa Turner, with no place to live or ongoing health care. The result of this lead to Venessa having to move place to place, sleeping on friend and families couches and it was just her alone she also had a daughter. With no help from the VA or military housing Venessa and her daughter was left homeless. (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans) “One of every three...
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... Veterans and Homelessness: What programs are being put in place to help. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought renewed attention to the needs of veterans, including the needs of homeless veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported that in FY2008 it assessed more than 1,500 veterans who served in the Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom theater of operations for participation in its Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program. Both male and female veterans have been over represented in the homeless population, and as the number of veterans increases due to these conflicts, there is concern that the number of homeless veterans could rise commensurately. The current economic downturn also has raised concerns that homelessness could increase among all groups, including veterans. Congress has created numerous programs that serve homeless veterans specifically, almost all of which are funded through the Veterans Health Administration. These programs provide health care and rehabilitation services for homeless veterans (the Health Care for Homeless Veterans and Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans programs), employment assistance (Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and Compensated Work Therapy program), transitional housing (Grant and Per Diem program) as well as other supportive services. The VA also works with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide permanent supportive housing to homeless veterans through...
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... This paper is an overview of homeless veterans in the United States. I will discuss how this issue fits into the field of sociology while determining which sociological theories from our text apply. Next, I will explain what is known and unknown about America’s homeless veterans. Then, I will discuss the value of sociological research into this issue. Finally, I will determine if there are practical implications of sociological inquiry. There is a serious homeless problem that plagues many Americans, including those Americans that fought for our country. Although we tend to hold servicemen in high regard, many people are very insensitive to those veterans that become homeless. Most people believe that homelessness is due to controllable factors such as laziness or refusal to work. Nothing can be further from the truth. Veterans not only make up a disproportionate percentage of the homeless population, but also stay homeless for longer. In fact, veterans are at a greater risk of becoming homeless due to a number of factors including unique military skills not needed in the civilian sector, combat-related health issues, minimal income due to unemployment, and a shortage of safe, affordable housing. Prior to becoming homeless, many veterans at risk of homelessness have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or have acquired addictions during their military service. “At least 45 percent of homeless veterans suffer from mental illness, while over 50 percent...
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...shelter for male veterans the center is in need of a new product launch that will increase awareness about the homeless veterans in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. Team E has created a plan outlining the services that Raven’s Outreach Center currently offers along with the new services that can be implemented within the business. The plan below also discusses the challenges that Ravens currently faces and the ways to mitigate challenges into opportunities of growth for the organization. Raven’s Outreach Center is a large nonprofit homeless shelter for homeless male veterans in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Raven’s Outreach Center has provided over 10 years of compassionate and empowering support to homeless male veterans in the capital area through outreach and advocacy services. Ravens serve veterans from areas across the world. Each race, including white, black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic men. There is a major correlation between homeless and personal economic instability. Drugs have been identified as a primary cause of homeless veterans. Economic dependence often keeps men trapped in environments not meant for habitation. There is a high-demand on the market for the services Ravens Outreach Center provides because of high homeless rate within the male veterans. Ravens are a homeless shelter center certified to present a safe and sound environment with a maximum of 52 beds. According to Dorothy White, CEO of the organization Ravens receives calls from veterans in search for shelter...
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...My vulnerable population is war veterans. Veterans have many issues after coming home from war that makes them vulnerable. Some have difficulty adjusting to civilian life. My paper will discuss the risk factors that make them vulnerable. Risk factors 1) War 2) Drugs/Alcohol 3) Combat zone 4) Depression 5) PTSD 6 ) sexual assault 7) Traumatic Brain Injury 8) low-income 9) Mental Illness 10)Combat injury 11) Chronic Illness 12) Lack of Family Support Questions to ask Marcie Platt regarding Homeless Veterans 1) The CDC has veterans listed under vulnerable populations? Do you agree and Why? 2) What do you think is the single most risk factor associated with homeless veterans? 3) Have you seen any type of pattern in homelessness based on what branch of service they were in? 4) Can you tell me some contributing factors to homelessness? 5) What kind of services does the VA offer? 6) How many veterans do you see are homeless? 7) Do they want help? 8) Are homeless veterans addicted to drugs? 9) I read that veterans are 3x more likely to become homeless if they live in poverty or minority? Do you agree? And why? 10) What are some of the things you do for homeless veterans? Questions to ask veteran? 1) What branch of service where you in? 2) Did you enlist or get drafted? If enlisted, why did you choose that branch? 3) Did you serve in a war? Which one? 4) What was your job? 5) Did you see combat? 6) Did you get injured? 7) Did anyone in your unit get injured...
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...Homelessness: America’s Invisible Numbers As each decade passes there comes to light a new or growing national problem that faces our country. Our nation’s history is blanketed with social problems the American people have encountered, such as civil rights, recessions, political struggles, warfare, and increasing unemployment. Each of these issues has received media attention for the problems, complications, and obstacles they provide for the population. Each of these issues in their own right is important and needs to be addressed because it affects every person in the country. However, there is another problem that poses a challenge to the American people that does not receive the attention it so desperately needs. The issue is American homelessness, a segment of the population that continues to grow with each passing year. Homelessness is caused by a number of factors that differ for each person. The most significant causes of homelessness are the lack of affordable housing coupled with a national increase in poverty, mental illness and addiction disorders. According to the McKinney-Vento Act of 1987, a homeless person is defined as any person who lacks housing. This includes individuals whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility that provides temporary accommodations or an individual who is a resident in transitional housing. This means an individual who lacks fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and an individual...
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...Homelessness in America Tonight, across America, as many as 3.5 million people will not have a safe place to go to sleep. The homeless will be sleeping out in the cold, on a park bench or in the gutter. The lucky ones may be sleeping in a shelter tonight. These so called shelters are sometimes even more dangerous because they are frequently over-crowded and understaffed. But the real question is, in the land of opportunity, where the typical family has more televisions than family members and an average of two cars, why are there so many citizens on the street, struggling to survive from day to day? How are so many people, fellow human beings, sleeping on sidewalks, begging for spare change, and digging through garbage cans just to find food to eat? While the general impression is that the homeless are primarily alcoholics and drug abusers, more than half the homeless are families with children. The vast majority of these have been thrust into homelessness by a life altering event or series of events that were unexpected and unplanned for. There are many reasons these unfortunate individuals are seen living on the streets of our cities. Homelessness is caused by tragic life occurrences like the loss of loved ones, job loss, domestic violence, and divorce. Other impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities are also responsible for a large portion of the homeless. Many factors push people into living on...
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...Homelessness in America is a huge issue in our nation today, with an array of causes and effects. There are many reasons why people become homeless.They are unable to afford their rent so they have no place to go but the streets. A complete solution to homelessness has yet to be found. But, activists have came up with many alternatives for example like affordable housing and homeless shelters. Alarmingly twenty-two percent of people in shelters were children. There are a lot more statistics like this that just wanna make you cringe. But, they are receiving shelter and food so that is a great alternative than sleeping on the streets. Although this isn't a complete solution to the issue of homelessness we are getting closer to a final solution. Homelessness has gradually become a...
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...the lack of demand of work, people going homeless is rapidly becoming a problem. Also there are many other reasons why people are homeless, such as family breakdown or a natural disaster. In earlier times homeless people were typically blamed for their own circumstances or they were considered to be lazy, a drunk, or a criminal. During the Great Depression, beliefs about the homeless were changed. During the depression people were faced with hard times. Millions of people lost their jobs and homes, and those who still had a job struggled just to make ends meet. In the 1960s, mentally ill patients being discharged by the masses, also known as deinstitutionalization, were sent out to live on the street with little to no assistance. Homelessness has no demographic boundaries. People of all ages, gender, race, and educational background can become homeless. Single males make up the highest percentage of homeless people at 51%. Sadly, 39% of homeless people are children under the age of 18. The majority of these are children with their families at 33%. African-Americans make up 49%...
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...poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” – Mother Teresa (Mother Teresa, 2001). Many people have difficulties in their lives that make them more susceptible to becoming homeless. When these complications become reinforced they can initiate a downward spiral that almost seems impossible to get out of. Approximately 3.5 million people are likely to experience homelessness in a given year (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007). Not receiving the help needed in time can result in living on the streets. Some of these complications include mental illness, lack of affordable healthcare, drug addiction, domestic violence, decreasing work opportunities and housing, decline in public assistance, and poverty. It has become so common to see a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk. 43% of the homeless population are women, 36% are families with children, and 7% are unaccompanied minors. 50% are African-American, 35% white, 12% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian. 66% of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness and veterans constitute 40% of the homeless population (GrabStats, 2008). Having insufficient money does not help to cover the expenses of a home, a family, and bills. The typical lower class citizen has to deal with all types of financial issues. These issues include debt, loans, bills, and payments. If one has low-income or is unemployed they are consequently at risk of living on the streets...
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...Homeless in Missoula Kelsey Brandewie Homelessness in Missoula, Mt has been a tremendous issue that the community is trying very hard to eliminate. What people do not know, is that the people out on the streets downtown and around the city, only make up 11% of the homelessness (2.) Those are not the only people struggling with life. There are families that do not have a steady home that the community does not realize need help because most of them have jobs and seem normal but in reality they are struggling to make ends meet. That is what the community needs to come together and fix. There is a rough estimate of at least 200 people who are homeless in Missoula.(1) There are of course, the visible homeless but 25% of the homeless, the “chronically” homeless that seemed to be overlooked by the community. Most of the homeless, of that 25% are families. (1) Families in which have children in them, who are trying so hard to provide for them and give them a normal life. These children attend public school but for them they never know where they will be sleeping that night once they leave school. Some of them sleep in their cars or they go from house to house but none of those houses are their homes. That is not a healthy life style for anyone to live, especially children. The sad thing is though, of all the resources that are at their feet, they only seem to use 50% of them (1.) They feel like they do not need the help as much as others might, so they are too afraid to ask for...
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