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Unfortunately, there are several misconceptions surrounding our organization that we’d like to address and clarify. By dispelling these myths, we hope to provide a deeper understanding of our impactful work to uplift the lives of those in need. The challenges can be very simple or complex for veterans who need assistance readjusting. Veterans can find stability in life with the proper housing support. 

The first step toward resolution should be – understanding the root causes of the situation, and a coordinated, holistic approach to support can make that discovery process more effective. For instance, a recently transitioned service member may need assistance securing his first civilian job while managing unseen injuries. Helping that veteran find employment without helping him heal psychologically lowers his chance of beginning a successful, long-term civilian career. 

Myth #1: The Homeless Do Not Work 

The number one myth is that those experiencing homelessness do not work. However, the reality is quite different. Did you know that over 40% of our shelter residents are gainfully employed? At Opportunity House, we understand the importance of sustainable employment in rebuilding lives. 

For some of our clients, this might be their first job in years, while it’s the key to securing safe and stable living conditions for others. We provide brown bag lunches and bottled water to support our working clients, ensuring their daily sustenance. Our commitment extends to our dinner meal, frequently prepared and served by dedicated volunteers at 7 pm, specifically to accommodate those employed. 

Myth #2: Clients Sit Idle In the Shelter All Day 

We’ve just busted the myth that people experiencing homelessness do not work, so what do the clients who aren’t working do all day at Opportunity House? Our clients are required to participate in the SMILE program—Skills to Master Independent Living and Empowerment. This comprehensive program equips individuals with vital life skills, including personal hygiene, cooking, organization, and stress management. This proactive approach ensures that individuals are empowered with essential skills that can significantly contribute to their journey back to independence. Clients also help maintain the shelter by cleaning the kitchen after meals, sweeping the day area, and doing other jobs while staying there. 

Bridging the Gap of Understanding 

As we debunk these myths, we aim to bridge the gap between the perceptions and reality regarding opportunity. Our organization is fueled by compassion, commitment, and the belief that everyone rightfully deserves an opportunity to rebuild their life, no matter their circumstances. Through sustainable employment support, educational excellence, comprehensive life skill programs, and eco-friendly initiatives, we are actively working to impact the lives of individuals we serve. 

By dispelling these misconceptions, we invite you to join us in creating a community that understands, supports, and uplifts individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Your contributions, whether donations, volunteering, or advocacy, are crucial in transforming lives and making our vision of a better tomorrow a reality.

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Whether you are a landlord interested in offering permanent housing for veterans or a veteran seeking affordable housing opportunities, it is imperative to know the housing programs and vouchers offered to veterans. There is no denying that veterans deserve the highest honor and the best welcome after they are discharged from active duty. Unfortunately, they are not treated in the way they deserve. Homelessness is one of the most crucial issues that veterans face after they are discharged. The primary reasons for veteran homelessness are unemployment and lack of financial support. With a mission to eliminate homelessness among veterans, this blog will share the details of different housing programs dedicated for veterans.

Immediate Shelter – Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Programs (HCHV)

When it comes to permanent housing for homeless veterans, this is one of the best and most immediate options for veterans on the brink of homelessness. This was a community-based residential caregiving program for homeless veterans. However, at present, it has become a hub for a wide array of housing and other services that offer homeless veterans a way to avail of VA care. The Contracted Residential Service program of the HCHV offers homeless veterans with a housing solution who need immediate housing placement.

Permanent Housing for Veterans

1. US Department of Housing & Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)

This is a collaborative program between the HUD’s housing choice voucher with VA case management and supportive services for homeless veterans. When it is about permanent housing for veterans, this is the best option.

2. SSVF 

Just like HUD-VASH, SSVF also offers permanent housing for veterans. They offer case management and supportive services for veterans at imminent risk of homelessness. Their objective is to offer a new and much more suitable housing solution to homeless veterans and their families. They also offer rapid re-housing solutions to the homeless veterans and their families.

The objective of HUD-VASH & SSVF is to help homeless veterans and their families in getting sustainable and permanent housing. Also, this program enables the veterans to access healthcare, substance use counselling, mental health treatment, and other necessary support to ensure that the veterans recover in the best possible way. The veterans also receive rental assistance when they are a part of these programs. The rental assistance is disbursed from the following:

• Public Housing Authorities that administer HUD-VASH vouchers for HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program.
• Non-profit organizations that administer the VA-funded grants through the SSVF program.

Who Can be the Ideal Partners of SSVF or HUD-VASH?

Landlords that own property, including an apartment complex and a house of their own, and who are a part of the development of multifamily homes can be the ideal partners of HUD-VASH or SSVF. Also, the property managers who are trying to fill up vacant units are ideal candidates for both the SSVF and HUD-VASH programs.

Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Program 

When it is about permanent housing for veterans, the Grant and Per Diem can also be a great solution. Even though it is not a permanent housing solution, it is a transitional housing solution for homeless veterans. The GPD program has awarded innumerable grants to offer transitional housing along with supportive services for assisting vulnerable veterans to move into permanent housing.

The grants are designed in such a way that they will meet the requirements of the veterans at different stages while they move to stable housing. The GPD program is crucial in ensuring the continuation of homeless services by offering supportive services to veterans who would otherwise be homeless and unsheltered. If you are a veteran seeking help with the above-mentioned grants, get in touch with us today!

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Are you a veteran of the US Army thinking about retirement options? Are you going through the problem of homelessness or on the verge of facing the issue of homelessness? If you are exploring the possibilities for the future life of seniors, you must choose the veterans’ retirement home. There are several reasons to choose a veterans retirement home. They are as follows:

A Veterans’ Retirement Home will have Nursing Facilities

There are options for community care for the veterans, including nursing homes that are houses and places for the veterans to get qualified healthcare, lifestyle amenities 24/7, and community activities. There are different types of communities that offer this type of care so that older veterans can find a community in the area that they reside in. It is also crucial to remember that the eligibility of this kind of community is based on the financial and clinical requirements of the prospective veterans. For example, if you are a veteran who is facing the issue of homelessness, you must meet the requirements. However, the Veterans Affairs will pay for the nursing home care in the community.

Community Living Centres

The veterans’ retirement home includes veteran community centers designed to help senior veterans feel as close to home as possible. The residents can stay for a long or a short period of time, and they can get the nursing care and community support that they need. There are also activities and places for the family members and friends to visit the community and learn about them so that they can be sure how the veterans will be treated. Residents will also have complete access to 24-hour skilled nursing care, restoration, and access to the services of social work. There are some communities for palliative care or hospice, respite care, and memory. The VA can help in covering some of the costs of staying here, based on whether you are enrolled in the healthcare system and whether you are medically or psychiatrically stable.

Medical Foster Home Care

Medical foster homes are places where trained caregivers will administer care to specific individuals. When it comes to veterans’ retirement home, it is a safe place for veterans when they need special care and nursing, but they prefer having fewer people around and want to remain in a non-institutional setting. Medical foster homes are not covered by the VA, though they will inspect and approve the types of houses in this context. Also, trained caregivers will be available 24*7, ensuring that the senior veteran receives care when they need it.

State Veteran Homes

State veteran homes are also a sort of veteran retirement home. These are the places that offer nursing home care, home care, or adult day services for veterans. These facilities are owned, managed, and operated at the state level. In some locations of the state veteran homes, they allow spouses of the veteran and gold star parents, but others will only admit veterans.

Military Retirement Communities

There are two types of military retirement communities. The federal and private. There is also the federal military retirement community, known as the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Some offer different types of accommodation options, while others specialize in offering assisted living or skilled nursing care. There are some senior living military retirement communities that cater exclusively to former military members, while others recognize the public. The eligibility for admission in the veterans’ retirement home will vary based on the senior housing community because they will have different requirements so that they can stay there.

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Supportive housing is a cost-effective and successful combination of affordable housing that includes services to help people live much more stable and productive lives. The objective of supportive housing for veterans is to end homelessness amongst veterans. The effectiveness of a supportive housing facility depends on the willingness to take risks and experiment with new models, strategies and approaches. There is no denying the fact that creating successful, supportive housing for veterans will vary dramatically from one location to another. It will be based on multiple factors, including the preferences of the target population, the capacity of the organization, the kind of housing available and the history of the community’s real estate market. Here are five elements of successful, supportive housing for veterans.

Five Elements of a Successful ‘Supportive Housing for Veterans

1. The People – This is the starting point of a successful supportive housing project for veterans. It is crucial to do a clear and thorough analysis of the characteristics and requirements of the veterans. Who will be living in the supportive housing? What are their particular needs for space? How is the neighbourhood? What are the amenities and services available? It is crucial to have a clear idea of these questions.
2. The Place – The supportive housing project for veterans should be in such a location that it supports the needs of formerly homeless veterans. The location must be near essential shopping services, transportation, human services, employment opportunities and other key requirements. The building must offer the appropriate physical facility for the residents. The unit size and amenities must be suited for the types and households expected to occupy them. The household considerations include composition and special needs.
3. Support Services – The program of support services must be in sync with the requirements of the homeless veterans who will reside in the project. The services might cover a long range of areas based on the tenants’ requirements, including food preparation & services, intensive assistance with daily activities, case management, counselling, employment training and placement, and medical services. It is also critical for the support services to make the best and most cost-effective use of off-site services and referral relationships, especially with veteran-specific providers.
4. Money – The project has to be financially viable for both the short and long term. The supportive housing for veterans must have adequate sources of capital funding to cover the required development costs. In case the development financing involves debt, there has to be adequate net operating income to pay for the debt service in future years. The project operations have to be underwritten to ensure that income projections accurately reflect the availability of the subsidiaries. The expenses must be projected to add all the costs associated with operating and maintaining the building over time. Finally, there has to be adequate funding for appropriate support services in accordance with the service program.
5. Organization – The complete project has to be supported with the organizational capacity needed to plan, manage, develop and offer services to the supportive housing project for the veterans. The project should also have a long-term commitment to the organization’s executive staff and the Board of Directors. The designated individuals and entities should fill all the critical roles with the right skills and track records in those areas. One organization might play multiple roles or work in collaboration with others to have complementary strengths.

Are you a veteran who is homeless or going through housing instability? Habitat4Veterans is committed to ending homelessness among veterans. Our mission is simple. Conduct a coordinated outreach to seek out veterans in need of assistance. Connect with homeless and at-risk veterans with housing solutions. Third, collaborate with the housing providers, local & state agencies and faith-based community non-profits to expand the affordable housing options for veterans.

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Did you know? The number of homeless veterans has reduced to 50% in the last decade. This is not because of the effort of a single entity. It is because of a combined effort of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Department of Labor (DOL) along with the community and faith-based homeless service providers that the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans represent (NCHV). It is always a collective effort to do something for the nation. This is why support for homeless veterans is always a collective effort.

There is no denying that the heroes of our nation, who have sacrificed a lot to keep us safe for decades, deserve love, care, and support after they retire from active duty. Thus, our duty is not just to ensure the best support for homeless veterans. Still, it is also our responsibility to ensure that every single veteran gets the best care and support they deserve.

A New Era to End Homelessness amongst Veterans

The initiative to end homelessness among veterans signalled a new era for the homeless veterans’ movement. This has been underway for more than a decade. There are innumerable ways to do it if you want to know how to offer support for homeless veterans and end homelessness amongst veterans. It can be done as an individual or through an organization. In the following section of the blog, we will discuss the number of ways to end homelessness among veterans.

Community-based organizations within a local network offer the best and most effective assistance, offering a wide array of services from housing to continuous case management and counselling. At the same time, the veteran gets a detailed plan of self-sufficiency.

When it comes to supporting homeless veterans, it is crucial to focus on supporting the homeless veterans’ service providers in the community. Also, you can become an active advocate to ensure that homeless veterans get the appropriate share of the available resources to eliminate homelessness in your area. Here is what you can do to support homeless veterans.

1. Supporting the Emergency Shelters

You can donate personal care items, food, and clothing, or you can also make monetary donations to the organizations that help eliminate homelessness among veterans.

2. Volunteering as Mentors, Counsellors, and Legal Aids

Did you know? When veterans retire from active duty, even though they apply for subsidized houses/house rents, it takes quite a long time to go through the documentation process. Thus, they need the help of a counsellor/mentor or a legal aid to help them through the documentation. Therefore, when it comes to supporting homeless veterans, being a counsellor or legal assistant to sort out the housing issues of a veteran is crucial.

3. Volunteering at Stand-Down Retreats

Every military veteran has to go through numerous mental trauma and social isolation during times of active duty. Thus, when they return to social life after their release, it becomes tough for them to be a part of civilian society and experience a sense of belonging within a community. Thus, if you want to support homeless veterans, you can be a volunteer at stand-down programs. These two-three-day events offer the veterans a community-like feeling once they return from active duty. In addition, they receive personal hygiene products, healthcare services, employment and housing referrals and VA benefits. They can opt for all these from one location.

The objective of Habitat4Veterans is to bring together the veterans who need help with homelessness and those who can offer properties or rent at a subsidized rate. Let us help our veterans to get back on their feet.

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There is no denying the fact that homelessness is a severe problem that US veterans are facing today. Almost 13% of homeless adults are veterans. There are more than 40,000 US veterans who are presently homeless. Homeless veterans’ programs help homeless veterans or veterans at risk of becoming homeless to find safe and stable housing. The question is, why are so many veterans homeless? Let us find an answer to that.

Why are so Many Veterans Homeless?

Veterans are slightly more likely to be homeless than the general population. Did you know? 21 out of every 10,000 veterans face homelessness compared to 17 out of 10,000 civilians. Homelessness amongst veterans is a complicated issue, and there are a lot of contributing factors to it. Shifting to civilian life is difficult for veterans. 44% of the veterans, who have served after September 2001, have reported difficulty transitioning back to civilian life.

Traumatic events, prior combat experience and injuries can make the transition to civil life even more difficult for veterans. Veterans have the same risk factors of homelessness as civilians, including substance abuse and mental illness. The risk factors specific to veterans include low military pay grades and social isolation after returning from military service.

What are the Programs that help Homeless Veterans?

There are a lot of programs that exist to help homeless veterans or veterans at risk of homelessness so that they can attain stable housing. These include programs from both government-run and non-profit organizations.

1. US Department of Housing & Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)

The HUD-VASH is a joint program between the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program adds HUD’s Housing choice vouchers for government-subsidized housing along with the VA resources for mental health care, substance abuse counselling and other necessary services.

2. Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program

When it is about helping homeless veterans, the homeless veterans’ reintegration program offers homeless veterans with employment training so that they can try different civilian jobs after their retirement.

3. Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs (DRRTP)

This is a residential program as a help for homeless veterans struggling with homelessness or other severe issues like substance use disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. The placement in this program generally lasts from 30 to 120 days and offers veterans residential care, counselling and a community along with teaching skills needed for better employment.

4. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV)

This organization doesn’t offer direct resources; NCHV connects homeless veterans with support like rent and mortgage assistance, federal benefits and community organizations that serve homeless veterans in the local area.

Is Homelessness Declining Among veterans?

Veteran homelessness has been declining over the last decade. HUD, the White House and the VA have recognized New Orleans, Houston, Las Vegas and Philadelphia for functionally ending veteran homeless in their cities. These cities were amongst the 25 cities that took part in the VA’s 25 Cities Initiative in 2014 and 2016. This initiative has reduced veteran homelessness by 22% in the 25 participating cities. Did you know?

More than 92,000 homeless veterans have been permanently housed since 2011. Also, the rate of homelessness amongst veterans has declined by 50%. In addition, the VA and other organizations have developed new programs to assist with finding housing for homeless veterans.

Encouraging the development of affordable housing in your community is the best way you can help homeless veterans. If you are a landlord, we urge you to consider accepting the HUD vouchers and encourage other property owners in your community to do the same.

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The USA as a country has not yet managed to end veteran homelessness completely. After nearly 30 years of extensive veteran homelessness, communities around the country are racing to finish it by all means, but they are yet to reach the goal. So, how do we extend the best possible help for homeless veterans as a community? Here are some of the highly recommended ways to do it:

Provide increasing access to affordable housing

The root of veteran homelessness lies in the absence of sufficient and proper housing facilities for veterans. So, encourage property owners and landlords to house the veterans suffering from homelessness, whether they are eligible for the government-sponsored assistance services. In addition, consider incentives like risk-mitigation funding to encourage housing providers to get more involved.

Help veterans navigate housing options

Take inspiration from New Orleans—the first-ever US city to effectively achieve an end to Veteran homelessness in January 2015—and connect Veterans with housing navigators. Dedicated staff and peer support professionals can help veterans define which housing and other relevant services they need. They can also complete the paperwork and complicated tasks to promote a smooth and rapid transition to permanent housing.

Collect and distribute move-in essentials

There are several move-in essentials that veterans may need. These could be provided to them through sponsorships by compassionate donors from the community around them. In addition, veterans exiting homelessness often need essential items like mattresses, household items, medicines, and other costly supplies to make their new abode feel like home without worrying.

Try to sponsor the move-in costs

Even veterans who have shifted to a permanent home may just be one security or rental deposit away from being able to move in. Work with interested community partners who have programs to raise funds to help veterans secure their crucial first and last months’ rent and security deposits so they can exit from homelessness as quickly as possible. It could also be an excellent help for homeless veterans.

Coordinate housing efforts

If you come across like-minded individuals willing to make a difference, bring them together to develop coordinated systems to ensure that there is a welcome door for deserving veterans seeking help and housing. Identify all the deserving veterans facing homelessness by name and share their details across systems so that no one falls through the cracks.

Encourage veteran employment opportunities

A splendid way to end veteran homelessness is by empowering the ex-servicemen with economic freedom. This can only be done by providing them with enough employment opportunities. Employers can closely work with VA community employment coordinators (CECs)—based at nearly every VA Medical Center—to share position openings and set up interviews with qualified veterans. These former ex-servicemen with a wide variety of skill sets and education can thus find employment avenues. The nearest CECs can also be researched online on several sites like www.va.gov. There are other agencies also that can promote Veteran employment. Collaborate with workforce investment boards, faith-based groups, homelessness services, housing organizations, VA Medical Centers, and employers to help Veterans develop résumés, polish interviewing skills, and access job opportunities.

A collaborative effort can make a considerable difference

As you can see, ending veteran homelessness calls for the contributions and know-how of many people. Still, it’s essential to acknowledge that, mostly, veterans are taking the lead to help this. It’s gratifying to see older veterans stand up for their retired colleagues coming home from the more recent military conflicts. But as more individuals see that homelessness is a problem that needs attention, we at Habitat4Veterans are hopeful that Americans will open their minds to end homelessness not just for the veterans but eventually for everyone. Join us today!

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If you are wondering if you or I can be of help to the numerous homeless veterans currently in the USA, let us tell you – of course, you can! And you can do so by being their donor. You can support them to have their place called ‘home’ by sponsoring a property or assisting them in finding one. Facilities Housing for homeless veterans is thus an invariable need that is a matter of increasing concern in the USA.

Owning a ‘home’ is something special

It will actually be an understatement to say that owning a home provides an individual with a sense of security, comfort, and freedom. But, it is much beyond that. Imagine the lives of the veterans who have spent years serving the country in some farthest corners away from family.
All these years, they never had the opportunity to permanently live in their own homes as they had always kept the call of duty at the helm of everything. But, after serving successfully for several years, some even decades, do they not deserve their home post-retirement? Any sensible person will agree that they certainly do, but they hardly find one!

Are there government programs to help homeless veterans?

There are government schemes to support homeless veterans in the USA. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) offers the following special programs to help homeless Veterans:
• Homeless Grant and Per Diem ProgramDomiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs
• Substance Use Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program
• Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence Programs
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program

Who is eligible for this assistance?

For a veteran to be eligible for this scheme, they must be a member of the VA health care system (or be eligible based on one of the legal exceptions). Generally, to receive the benefits and services of Housing for homeless veterans under the VA scheme, their character of discharge or service must only be honorable, under honorable conditions and general conditions. However, individuals receiving even undesirable, bad, and other types of dishonorable discharges may also qualify for VA benefits based on a determination made by VA.

What is the lingering problem, then?

Many would now tend to ask why it is still a problem then? Well, the reason is because of the surging number of homeless veterans in the country that are on the rise every day!
According to HUD or the Department of Housing & Urban Development in the US, the current number of homeless veterans in the USA is around 40,000. That’s out of over half a million homeless people in the country. Therefore, this figure accounts for under 9% of all homeless people in the US. Roughly, they constitute approximately 11% of the homeless population in general. However, that number can’t be exact and constantly fluctuates between a few (or more) percentages.
But everything said and done, the simple logic is that in a civilized society, it is not acceptable to have even a single homeless veteran who has dedicated their lives to the country and its compatriots.

Is it possible to end veteran homelessness?

The simple answer is – by collaborative and univocal actions. If people come forward willingly to support the greater cause of supporting homeless veterans, there will be sufficient opportunities that will directly or indirectly help them find their own homes.
At Habitat4Veterans, we support homeless veterans to help them find their dream homes. We also encourage people from the community to come and join us in this noble initiative and become donors so deserving military, marine, and air force veterans can have a life of dignity, respect, and self-reliance. Let us together build a safer, happier, and brighter tomorrow for them. Visit http://habitat4veterans.us/ for more details.

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