The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs held its first Statewide Homeless Veterans' Conference in partnership with the US departments of Veterans' Affairs, Housing and Urban Renewal, and Labor October 23 & 24 in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the Florida Coalition for the Homeless.

Volunteers of America

Homeless Stand Downs

US Dept of Housing and Urban Development

US Dept of Labor

About one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services. On any given day, as many as 250,000 veterans (male and female) are living on the streets or in shelters, and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing.

Right now, the number of homeless male and female Vietnam era veterans is greater than the number of service persons who died during that war -- and a small number of Desert Storm veterans are also appearing in the homeless population. At this time, scientific studies indicate that there is no known, direct connection between military service, service in Vietnam, or exposure to combat and any increased risk of becoming homeless. Family background, access to support from family and friends, and various personal characteristics (rather than military service) seem to be the stronger indicators of risk of homelessness.

Almost all homeless veterans are male (about three percent are women), the vast majority are single, and most come from poor, disadvantaged backgrounds. Homeless veterans tend to be older and more educated than homeless non-veterans. But similar to the general population of homeless adult males, about 45% of homeless veterans suffer from mental illness and (with considerable overlap) slightly more than 70% suffer from alcohol or other drug abuse problems. Roughly 56% are African American or Hispanic.

http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/overview.htm

The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (USDVA) has a section for information on Homeless Veterans' programs:
http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/

USDVA offers a wide array of special programs and initiatives specifically designed to help homeless veterans live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible. In fact, USDVA is the only Federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless persons. Although limited to veterans and their dependents, USDVA's major homeless-specific programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless treatment and assistance services in the country.

USDVA's specialized homeless veterans treatment programs have grown and developed since they were first authorized in 1987. The programs strive to offer a continuum of services that include:

1.  aggressive outreach to those veterans living on streets and in shelters who otherwise would not seek assistance;
2.  clinical assessment and referral to needed medical treatment for physical and psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse;
3.  long-term sheltered transitional assistance, case management, and rehabilitation;
4.  employment assistance and linkage with available income supports; and
5.  supported permanent housing.

http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/
For more info, email roger.casey@mail.va.gov

http://voa.org/publications/gazette/00_marapr/page_02.html
For more info, email equill6507@aol.com
813-282-1525, ext. 228

STAND DOWNS

In 1988, a group of Vietnam veterans held the first Stand Down in San Diego, CA.  In 1998, 123 stand downs/benefit fairs were held in 42 states and the District of Columbia.  Today Stand Down 2000 is a nationwide partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and various non-profit organizations.

Stand downs are designed to bring all the support to bear on the problem of homelessness by enlisting veterans' service organizations; city, county, state and community service organizations; homeless coalitions; and USDVA facilities (VA medical centers, Vet Centers, regional offices) to provide outreach to homeless veterans.  Stand Downs provide a gateway to government and community services that includes assessment and screening, crisis services, counseling, referral and placement.

For more info, go to http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/standdown.htm

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.  Founded in 1990 by a group of community-based homeless veteran service providers, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)3 corporation.

http://www.nchv.org/home.html
For more info, email nchv@nchv.org

HUD-VET (Housing and Urban Renewal)

HUD has pioneered the development of a community based consolidated planning process, and it is vital that veterans and their advocates become a part of this process in their community.

To tackle the problem of homelessness, comprehensive strategies must be forged -- strategies that recognize the particular needs of each segment of the homeless population, including veterans. This strategy is called the Continuum of Care.

http://www.hud.gov/hudvet/vethist.html
For more info, email hudvet@hud.gov

HUD Homeless Page.  http://www.hud.gov/hmless.html
National and State Homeless Organizations.   http://nch.ari.net/direct1.html

About one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the the Armed Services.  On any given day, as many as 250,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters, and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year.  Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/vets/