Community Support Needed To Solve Veteran Homelessnes
On Saturday, October 19th, the VA Maine Healthcare System will be hosting their 22nd Annual Homeless Veteran Stand Down. The stand down will run from 8:00AM to 4:00PM and is free for anyone wishing to attend. Although the event is still a few weeks away, we thought now would be a great time to discuss the issue of homelessness and how it is effecting our veteran population.
While veteran homelessness has decreased by 5.4 percent between 2017 and 2018 nationally, there is still more work that must be done right here in Maine. The issue of veteran homelessness is one that we are morally obligated to change, and it is well within our power to do it.
“Currently, there are roughly 103 veterans in Maine that do not have a place to call home or safely rest their head at night. To make matters worse, there are even more veterans experiencing near homelessness or are at risk of being homeless in the future,” stated David Richmond, Director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services.
One of the biggest issues surrounding veteran homelessness is the lack of affordable housing across the State of Maine. The housing crisis has most certainly effected thousands, and our veterans are experiencing the negative effects. We would like to call on landlords, hotel owners, and motel owners to help us. If you are a landlord, consider accepting a HUD/VASH voucher from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to permanently house a veteran. If you own a hotel or motel, consider offering a discounted rate for a homeless veteran looking for a room for a few days while they try to get back on their feet.
We will continue to work with Maine’s housing agencies, community action programs, and state and local leaders to locate and improve housing options. While the number of homeless veterans in Maine continues to decline, there is still more that must and will be done. One veteran sleeping in their car is one too many, and we will continue to bring partners together to work toward the goal of eliminating veteran homelessness altogether. While no two veterans share the same journey through crisis, there are resources available for everyone.
If interested in learning more about Veteran homelessness, please contact Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services’ Homeless Veterans Coordinator, Jarad Greeley at 207-430-6036.
To learn more about available resources for Veterans and their families, please contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services at 207-430-6035 or visit their website www.maine.gov/veterans.
Additional resources include: Preble Street’s Veterans Housing Services, a program which assists Veterans to find and maintain stable housing. Preble Street can be reached by calling 1-877-377-5709; Veterans Inc., a national leader in ending homelessness among Veterans, can also be reached at 207-784-0182.
