A critical need, a new resource: transitional housing for homeless veterans
For Release: May 23, 2008
Contact: Marilee Roloff at 509.624.2378
Grand Opening Celebration:
Transitional Housing for Veterans
Thursday, May 29, 12:30 p.m. lunch, 1:30 p.m. ceremony
2626 North Cook (Spokane)
Program will include:
- Marilee K. Roloff, President/CEO, Volunteers of America
- Bill Malloy, Grants Per Diem Coordinator, Spokane Veterans Administration Medical Center
- Mayor Mary B. Verner, City of Spokane
- Judy Olson, Eastern Washington Director for Senator Patty Murray
- Joe Shogan, Spokane City Council President, Retired Lieutenant Colonel
Spokane, Wash.—Volunteers of America will hold a grand opening ceremony for a new transitional housing facility for veterans at 2626 North Cook on Thursday, May 29, 2008, with a lunch at 12:30 p.m. and a ceremony at 1:30 p.m.
This new transitional living program, funded by a grant from the federal Veterans Administration, provides support for up to five chronically homeless, single men (ages 45-61)—referred primarily from Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)—who are dealing with co-occurring issues of mental illness and substance abuse.* Currently, 90% of the homeless veterans served by HCHV are dually diagnosed; 39% are substance involved and 73% have combat- or non-combat-related mental illness.
The housing and support needs of veterans in Spokane are at a critical level—with only a handful of transitional housing beds available. This project adds five desperately needed beds to this transitional housing pool, providing significant supports to individuals who are not yet ready for long-term housing.
The Spokane Veterans Administration estimates that the Spokane area has approximately 3,600 persons who are homeless veterans. Of these, some 1,224 are chronically homeless.* In addition, the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans estimates that one out of every three homeless men is a veteran.
“The statistics tell us there are already so many homeless Veterans,” explains Dale Briese who manages the program. “And it’s a population that is about to grow exponentially, so this house fills in a crucial gap, complementing our homelessness to housing continuum. We offer shelters for teens and women; transitional living programs; and permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless, disabled adults—and veterans fall into some of those categories, but this is the first time we have provided a direct service specifically for Veterans.”
Veterans served by this program will live in a newly refurbished single family unit in the middle of a vibrant residential community, with access to services, parks, and other typical residential amenities. A Volunteers of America case manager will provide supportive services to these veterans with backup support from caring round-the-clock staff. They will help each veteran assess his needs, stabilize his life and set goals within basic need areas such as:
- access to education
- assistance with legal issues
- clothing & personal hygiene
- employment readiness & job placement
- financial & healthcare benefit programs (SSI, TANF, Medicaid, etc.)
- life skills (cooking, housekeeping, laundry services, budgeting, etc.)
- mental health care
- nutritional & dietary needs
- physical health & access to health care
- spiritual & family connections
- substance abuse treatment
- transportation
- vocational or skills-building
Veterans who live at the facility will be required to participate in community living activates such as weekly house meetings and household chores that build social skills and independent living practices, providing provide a foundation of supports that will prepare these veterans for success in permanent housing.
*CHALENG Point of Contact Survey 2005 and 2006
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