Vietnam Veterans of America
Chapter 1024, Orange County, California
News
CALVET BRINGS NEW
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO CALIFORNIA
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO – Over the past year, the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) has put greater emphasis on marketing and outreach to veterans. As a result, California veterans have received more federal compensation and pension dollars than ever before. CalVet is home to more veterans than any state in the nation. CalVet proudly serves veterans of every generation by helping them connect with the benefits and services they have earned through military service.
“By the end of 2010, California had received $300 million more compensation and pension dollars than it had the year before,” said Peter J. Gravett, CalVet Secretary. “We are confident that the 2011 numbers will show another significant increase in compensation and pension dollars. Those dollars mean money in the veterans’ pockets – money they can spend on everyday living that stimulates local economies.”
CalVet’s marketing and outreach efforts relied on the dedicated work of AmeriCorps volunteers, the use of social media and mobile applications, the assistance of public libraries, chambers of commerce, government agencies statewide, and the engagement of diverse private-sector employer partners. This array of approaches has helped CalVet to reach and assist veterans who have been out of military service for decades and veterans returning to California from Iraq and Afghanistan. AmeriCorps volunteers logged more than 50,000 hours of service, calling recently returned veterans upon their discharge and older veterans who had never before applied for benefits.
In addition to CalVet’s more aggressive approach to helping to connect veterans with their benefits for the first time, the department is also focusing on making sure that veterans are receiving all benefits they qualify for.
“By the end of 2010, California had received $300 million more compensation and pension dollars than it had the year before,” said Peter J. Gravett, CalVet Secretary. “We are confident that the 2011 numbers will show another significant increase in compensation and pension dollars. Those dollars mean money in the veterans’ pockets – money they can spend on everyday living that stimulates local economies.”
CalVet’s marketing and outreach efforts relied on the dedicated work of AmeriCorps volunteers, the use of social media and mobile applications, the assistance of public libraries, chambers of commerce, government agencies statewide, and the engagement of diverse private-sector employer partners. This array of approaches has helped CalVet to reach and assist veterans who have been out of military service for decades and veterans returning to California from Iraq and Afghanistan. AmeriCorps volunteers logged more than 50,000 hours of service, calling recently returned veterans upon their discharge and older veterans who had never before applied for benefits.
In addition to CalVet’s more aggressive approach to helping to connect veterans with their benefits for the first time, the department is also focusing on making sure that veterans are receiving all benefits they qualify for.
Nashville Shelter Prepares For Rise In Returning Veterans
As residents of the Volunteer State, our history is one of respect and honor for those who have volunteered to serve and defend our nation. Today, we have two more reasons to feel good about our local veterans, both of which were recently reported in The Tennessean.
First, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is having a great deal of success in getting homeless veterans into affordable housing. The second is a story of combat troops returning home to Middle Tennessee from Iraq.
The two stories have more in common than you might imagine. Currently, Nashville/Davidson County has 600-700 homeless veterans. This number has remained constant for years, and the makeup of veterans also is little changed. Sixty-two percent of homeless veterans served in the Vietnam War era or previously. Very few of these homeless veterans served in the global war on terror.
This is about to change. The number of veterans returning will be the largest since the end of the Vietnam War, and we will see a significant increase in the number of homeless veterans in Nashville/Davidson County.
This won’t happen overnight. Those suffering the causes of homelessness (substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some other mental or physical disability) will take three to five years to become homeless. This is how long it generally takes for people with these disorders to become unemployable and sever any family or social support system they may have previously known.
We have a strong nonprofit community poised to help. For 25 years, Matthew 25 has provided safe and secure housing for male veterans. We feed the men three meals a day; work with them on substance abuse issues; and help them receive physical and mental health care from the VA Medical Center. Through daily group meetings, we focus on personal development and empowerment. If the veteran needs employment, we assist with this, as well. The goal at Matthew 25 is for veterans and non-veterans to find and keep a job that lets them find and keep a home.
As residents of the Volunteer State, our history is one of respect and honor for those who have volunteered to serve and defend our nation. Today, we have two more reasons to feel good about our local veterans, both of which were recently reported in The Tennessean.
First, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is having a great deal of success in getting homeless veterans into affordable housing. The second is a story of combat troops returning home to Middle Tennessee from Iraq.
The two stories have more in common than you might imagine. Currently, Nashville/Davidson County has 600-700 homeless veterans. This number has remained constant for years, and the makeup of veterans also is little changed. Sixty-two percent of homeless veterans served in the Vietnam War era or previously. Very few of these homeless veterans served in the global war on terror.
This is about to change. The number of veterans returning will be the largest since the end of the Vietnam War, and we will see a significant increase in the number of homeless veterans in Nashville/Davidson County.
This won’t happen overnight. Those suffering the causes of homelessness (substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some other mental or physical disability) will take three to five years to become homeless. This is how long it generally takes for people with these disorders to become unemployable and sever any family or social support system they may have previously known.
We have a strong nonprofit community poised to help. For 25 years, Matthew 25 has provided safe and secure housing for male veterans. We feed the men three meals a day; work with them on substance abuse issues; and help them receive physical and mental health care from the VA Medical Center. Through daily group meetings, we focus on personal development and empowerment. If the veteran needs employment, we assist with this, as well. The goal at Matthew 25 is for veterans and non-veterans to find and keep a job that lets them find and keep a home.
“Many Vietnam-era veterans are not aware that they are entitled to compensation and pension benefits if they suffer from diseases and disorders related to Agent Orange exposure,” said Trevor Albertson, CalVet Deputy Secretary for Veteran Services. “Our team’s goal is to make sure every dollar available goes to the deserving men and women in our state who are eligible to receive them. We strive to be above the national average in terms of compensation for our veterans and will shortly accomplish that goal.”
In addition to helping veterans get the compensation and pension dollars to which they are entitled, CalVet is also committed, through its Home Loan Program, to helping veterans and active duty personnel attain the American dream of home ownership. CalVet’s efforts not only help veterans and their families but also stimulate local economies, improve communities, and add value to the California real estate market.
In addition to helping veterans get the compensation and pension dollars to which they are entitled, CalVet is also committed, through its Home Loan Program, to helping veterans and active duty personnel attain the American dream of home ownership. CalVet’s efforts not only help veterans and their families but also stimulate local economies, improve communities, and add value to the California real estate market.
For more information about CalVet, contact pao@calvet.ca.gov
All veterans are reminded that the fastest way to inquire and secure the benefits you have earned is by visiting your local County Veterans Service Office.
A listing of these offices is available at www.cacvso.org or on CalVet’s website at www.calvet.ca.gov/resources/database.aspx
A listing of these offices is available at www.cacvso.org or on CalVet’s website at www.calvet.ca.gov/resources/database.aspx
("Nashville Shelter," Continued)
Matthew 25 has 25 beds allocated for veterans. It is critical that we are more than a shelter. Our goal is to change these men. We require that the men who work or receive disability assistance save 75 percent of what they earn. These funds are returned to them at completion of their stay. The purpose is to teach the importance of saving and managing money so they can rent affordable housing or have the opportunity to live in our Progressive Housing units located throughout Davidson County.
Helping a man in mind, body and spirit leads him to housing and hope. Progress has been made in the fight against homelessness, but steep challenges still lie ahead. That’s especially true for veterans, who deserve nothing less than our best efforts to do as Matthew 25:35 calls us:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in …”
Matthew 25 has 25 beds allocated for veterans. It is critical that we are more than a shelter. Our goal is to change these men. We require that the men who work or receive disability assistance save 75 percent of what they earn. These funds are returned to them at completion of their stay. The purpose is to teach the importance of saving and managing money so they can rent affordable housing or have the opportunity to live in our Progressive Housing units located throughout Davidson County.
Helping a man in mind, body and spirit leads him to housing and hope. Progress has been made in the fight against homelessness, but steep challenges still lie ahead. That’s especially true for veterans, who deserve nothing less than our best efforts to do as Matthew 25:35 calls us:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in …”
Patrick Clemens is executive director of Matthew 25, a Nashville-based nonprofit focused on moving homeless men from the streets into permanent housing.
Editor's Note: Everyone is well aware that California is the number one destination for Americas homeless, now including our record number of young, returning home war Veterans. During a recent, weekly Monday night meeting of Vietnam Veterans many Veterans expressed their concerns for this increasing dilemma as well as that of making these young returning Veterans aware of the jobs and education benefits and programs available to them. Please join Vietnam Veterans of America by participating in and supporting efforts toward addressing these issues by contacting VVA Chapter 1024 (or attending one of our monthly meetings).