Homeless VeteransNadia Zullo-Ross

Definitions

What is Homeless?• McKinney Act• A homeless person is one who

lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence

• Who has primary nighttime residence that is • Supervised publicly or privately

operated shelter• Temporary residence for

individuals intended to be institutionalized

• Public or private place not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

Who is a Veteran?

• “…a person who has served or is serving in the armed forces, and has direct exposure to acts of military conflict, commonly known as war veterans (although not all military conflicts, or areas in which armed combat takes place, are necessarily referred to as "wars").”

Causes of Veteran Homelessness

• Shortage of affordable housing, livable income and limited access to health care

• Lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)• Substance Abuse• Lack of family and social support• Unemployment• Lack of Transportation• Lack of Education

Transitioning Service Members• Transitional Assistance Program• Intended Emphasis on Transition to Civilian Life• Actual material is employment only based

• VFW, American Legion, Other external government organizations

• Department of Veterans’ Affairs• OEF/OIF Program

Where are the Homeless Veterans?

List of Agencies addressing:

• Medical:• VFW• Blue Cross/Shield• OEF/OIF Medical

Program

• Employment• EXCEL• VA Compensated Work

Therapy• Online employments

sites• Compensation:• Texas Workforce

Commission• VA Disability

Compensation• GI Bill/Education

• Housing:• HUD/VASH• Veterans Transitional

Living Center• VA Outreach Program

How can you help?

• Volunteer at Emergency Shelters, Stand Down programs and Homeless Veteran Burial Program• National Crisis Center 1(800)273-TALK (8255)• Department of Veterans’ Affairs• 1(800)827-1000• (915)568-6100

References• U.S. Department of Labor. (21 July 2010). Transition Assistance Program:

Workshop Participant Manual. Washington, DC: Office of the Assistance Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training.

• National Alliance to End Homelessness. (04 November 2011). Data Point: Veteran Homelessness in the US. Retrieved on 08 November 2011 from http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/4288

• Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (27 October 2011). Compensated Work Therapy Network Meeting: VA Mental Health Services. El Paso, TX.

• Workforce Solutions. (21 October 2011). Summit of Homeless Veterans. Lomaland, El Paso.

• Wikipedia. Veteran. Retrieved on 08 November 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_veteran

• Department of Veterans Affairs. Services. Retrieved on 08 November 2011 from www.va.gov

• Texas Workforce Commission. Veterans’ Services. Retrieved from 08 November 2011 from http://www.twc.state.tx.us/