MINNESOTA’S COMMITMENT TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS FOR U.S. VETERANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 10, 2010 -- Federal and State Plans Highlight Goals to Securing Stable Housing for Veterans in Need

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - November 10, 2010 -- Minnesota will honor and remember our United States Veterans this Thursday. For a group of Minnesota Veterans, honor and remembrance may be hard to come by. MACV estimates that of the 400,000 veterans in Minnesota, approximately 4,000 (1%) are currently homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Progress continues federally and statewide to address the critical needs of homeless veterans, but the recession creates great challenges to ensuring that no veteran remains on the streets, in the woods, or in a shelter.

Research shows that veterans make up a significant number of Minnesotans experiencing homelessness. Every three years the Wilder Research Center (www.wilder.org) organizes a statewide survey of people experiencing homelessness. In October 2006 the survey found one in four homeless men was a military veteran, and homeless veterans were more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attempt suicide. Three years later, Wilder Research Center conducted another survey on October 22, 2009. The survey found nearly 700 homeless adults (19% of homeless men and 2% of homeless women) have served in the armed services. Within this group, 44 percent reported a service-related health problem.

Federal and state lawmakers across both political parties have committed to addressing the needs of veterans experiencing homelessness. Nationally, Secretary Eric Shinseki of the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) pledged to cut the number of homeless veterans in half by 2012 (131,000 in 2008 to 59,000 in 2012). The Administration’s proposed FY2011 budget offers significant new funding to increase homeless assistance programs for veterans. Likewise, Governor Pawlenty and the Minnesota Legislature approved a business plan to end long-term homelessness in 2004. The plan set benchmarks for the creation of housing with supportive services to stabilize people, including veterans, who were experiencing long-term homelessness. In the past six years, over 2,000 individuals experiencing long-term homelessness have exited the streets and shelters, including veterans.

“We know veterans represent a vulnerable segment of the homeless population due to their exposure to trauma and injury during their military service,” says Richard Hooks Wayman with Hearth Connection, a supportive housing network working with homeless veterans across Minnesota. “While many veterans need assistance with mental and chemical health disabilities, we found that offering stable housing coupled with supportive services helps to transform lives. We know what works to end veteran homelessness and wish to see our supportive housing model replicated across Minnesota.”

Supportive housing allows veterans to move from long-term homelessness to stable housing and improved functioning in their communities. An added bonus: research by Hearth Connection has demonstrated that these positive outcomes made more effective use of public funding than the costly crisis responses typically offered to the homeless. “One of our Veteran program participants lived for years in his car and was bounced between twenty-five programs. Once he received access to supportive housing he was able to address chronic health conditions, find employment, and contribute to child support,” notes Richard Hooks Wayman.

Kathleen Vitalis, Executive Director of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV, www.mac-v.org) states, “We are seeing an increasing need in 3 major areas: Vietnam-era veterans who are experiencing physical and mental health challenges as they retire, increases in the challenges faced by a younger generation of veterans as they return and reintegrate while faced with the economic hardships of unemployment, and an increase in women veterans. MACV helps veterans with housing, employment, and legal assistance, filling gaps in available services. “We’re serving a more diverse population that ranges in age from 18 to 92,” Vitalis states. The National Alliance to End Homelessness cites research noting veterans of the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are enrolling in homeless services from the Veterans Administration, and female veterans are increasingly represented in the pool of veterans who may face homelessness. Vitalis notes, “Of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans we serve annually, 12 to 15 percent are women and 30 percent have families with children.”

Progress toward national and state goals to address Veteran homelessness face acute challenges due to the national recession and decreasing funding. Veteran advocates call upon the state to not lose the momentum built by community-based organizations in breaking the cycle of homelessness. “We hope that when giving thanks to the men and women who have sacrificed for our safety and freedom, we do not forget those trying to find a way home,” remarked Richard Hooks Wayman of Hearth Connection.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please feel free to contact Kathleen Vitalis, Executive Director of Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans at 651-222-0613 or kvitalis@mac-v.org, or Richard A. Hooks Wayman, Executive Director of Hearth Connection (www.hearthconnection.org) at 651-645-0676 or Richard@hearthconnection.org.

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