The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates that 309 Montana veterans lacked shelter at some point in 2013.
In a single nights survey, the January point-in-time count, nationally 49,933 veterans had no home.
Singer/songwriter James McMurtys 2005 song, We Cant Make it Here Anymore, pointed out the plight faced by many veterans:
Vietnam vet with a cardboard sign, sitting there by the left turn line. Flag on the wheelchair flapping in the breeze, one leg missing, both hands free. No ones paying much mind to him, the VA budgets stretched too thin. And theres more coming home from the Mideast war, we cant make it here anymore.
In 2009, the Obama administration promised to end veteran homelessness by 2016. By all accounts, the battle being waged to end veteran homelessness is showing some success.
One of the tools the Veterans Affairs employs, Stand Downs, is a program that includes collaboration with other governmental agencies and local nonprofits.
Stand Downs are organized and run by non-VA community groups. The VA provides the resources and pays the sponsoring agency for some event expenses. At these one- to three-day events, services are available for veterans who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. The services include but are not limited to food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, available government benefits and counseling.
A Stand Down that was planned for Helena this Saturday, Oct. 18, ran into an organizational snag, and until this week it seemed as though it might have to be canceled.
The VA, however, stepped in and will make sure that at least some of the normal services offered at a Stand Down will be available. The event is set for Saturday at the St. Pauls Methodist Church, 512 Logan St., in Helena from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The full plate of goods and services normally offered at a Stand Down will not be available but, said VA spokesman Randy Martin, the VA is going to step outside its normal role of providing support and step in directly.
It will be honored to the extent that well be able to provide assistance or give advice to veterans on how they can tap into the resources they need, he said. Thats our commitment, and were going to honor that.
The primary goal is to outreach to veterans who are at risk of homelessness or are homeless, and this includes families, said Cindy Jensen, VA Recovery Program Manager in Helena.
Jensen also said that veterans can contact a social worker at her office at Ft. Harrison for the same services. The phone number there is 406-874-5617 or 406-447-6045.
There are two more Stand Down events set for Montana in 2014, one in Billings Oct. 16 and another at Ft. Belknap on Oct. 29. For more information on the planned Stand Downs, or for community groups who are interested in organizing a future Stand Down event, call Shad Barrows at 874-5617.
