"The latest count in boston estimated 458 homeless vets on any given night in 2013, a drop of 15 percent over the past three years."
A team of formally homeless veterans roams the streets of Boston, helping homeless veterans get off the streets, just like they did. This team identifies homeless vets, helps them get involved in the program, and spends the rest of their time making sure that they stay involved.
"it's easy to put someone into an apartment, but it's not as easy to keep them in one."
A lot of the participants in the program have mental health issues or problems with substance abuse. The biggest goal is to get them into housing, and then keep them there by establishing a relationship with them and someone who has previously been in their shoes. The team has regular visits from fellow veterans to make it harder for them to go back to their old life.
President Obama's administration pledged to eliminate veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. The federal government currently estimates that the vet homeless rate has dropped about 25% in the past three years, but close to 58,000 vets still remain on the streets or in temporary housing.
By putting housing as the first priority in assistance programs, treatment, rehab, and other services become more effective along the way because their primary need is being met first.
Read the entire story here.
President Obama's administration pledged to eliminate veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. The federal government currently estimates that the vet homeless rate has dropped about 25% in the past three years, but close to 58,000 vets still remain on the streets or in temporary housing.
By putting housing as the first priority in assistance programs, treatment, rehab, and other services become more effective along the way because their primary need is being met first.
Read the entire story here.