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Getting Veterans Off the Streets
Richard Myers at work.
By Susan E. Hansen, Health System Specialist
Despite successfully completing several rounds of rehab and staying sober for years at a time, Richard Myers has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for most of his adult life. His addiction placed him in difficult circumstances throughout the years, including living out of his car. It was not until a few years ago that Myers decided that he needed to make a life change and he sought the help of the Homeless Program and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO). Through his completion of several VA programs he has been clean for six years now and has found permanent housing and full-time employment.
Prior to enlisting in the Navy Myers enjoyed a vibrant career as a musician, playing back-up guitar for rock and roll legends like Neil Diamond. “Playing guitar is what I thought I would do my whole life” he remarked. “There is no way to describe the empowerment you feel knowing that people paid money to come see you play, it’s the best feeling and is better than drugs or alcohol can ever make you feel.” In 1967 Myers enlisted in the Navy and spent two years stationed in Florida. After being honorably discharged from the military he began to abuse drugs and alcohol. Since that time he has been to rehab about nine times and has even stayed sober for years at a time; however, when he moved back to Winslow, AR in the early 2000s he began to drink heavily again to the point of blacking out. “My life felt out of control,” Myers stated. “I didn’t like being hung over all the time,” causing him to turn to the VHSO for treatment in the Homeless Program and the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
The VA and VHSO offer comprehensive homeless programs that include substance abuse treatment services. The purpose of the Homeless Program is to “identify homeless Veterans through community outreach, get them place into housing and provided with necessary treatment” according to Brian McAnally, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Coordinator. In addition, “providing substance abuse treatment is a large part of what we do” he affirms. “Approximately 95 percent of homeless Veterans have substance abuse problems.”
To eliminate Veteran homelessness, the VHSO has a transitional housing program known as the Grant and Per Diem Program and permanent subsidized housing through the Housing for Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD/VASH) initiative. The Grant and Per Diem program offers 34 transitional housing beds and 15 contract transitional housing beds in Webb City, MO. In addition there are 15 contract beds available in Rogers, AR and 10 contract beds in Fort Smith, AR. “Transitional housing beds are essential to getting Veterans off the street and into housing” affirmed McAnally. “Once a Veteran is in housing we can get them enrolled in the necessary treatment programs to get them on the path to permanent housing.” Furthermore, VHSO has numerous HUD/VASH vouchers that Veterans can use to receive permanent subsidized housing. There is a scale based on income levels that determine how much the Veteran must pay in rent.
Myers participated daily in the IOP treatment program to address his substance abuse issues and was then placed in transitional housing located Rogers, AR. After completing the 30 day outpatient program Myers was selected for a compensated work therapy program also offered at VHSO, which paved the way for him to find full-time employment. In addition, he also qualified for a HUD/VASH voucher, helping him to get into permanent housing. These programs “gave me the opportunity to get my feet back on the ground and start thinking straight” Myers said. “I realized that I had something to offer and I knew I either had to change or I was going to drink myself to death.”
For more information about the Homeless Program, please visit the program website or contact VHSO’s Homeless Program at (479) 443-4301, extension 65145.
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=174894
Posted by Veterans Today on Dec 30 2011, With 0 Reads, Filed under Vet News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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CWT? compensated work therapy? You kidding me? this is the answer to getting homeless veterans off the streets of the US. come on, enough with the VA BS, call it as it is, there is a problem that the VA needs to understand and its this “THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FRIGGIN DETOX BEDS” , leave the homeless housing issue to HUD, the jobs issue to DOL and FOCUS, like a laser beam on the issue of substance abuse. that’s what medical hospitals should do, not some “make believe” work program that teaches vets to make belts or some other useless skill, homeless vets first need a good DETOX, then a multi-agency approach to work and housing, come on, jeez,. do a story on how many Detox beds the VA has lost over the past 4-years. that would be an interesting read other than this Christmas feel good story .
This is a problem that goes beyond moving in when those souls are nearly lost forever. Many are left over from Vietnam, now the new new one will soon join despite Obama’s efforts. I am working on it while trying to find and answer that goes beyond the serpent lure of Israel and the 1% oil company and bank and etc. Howe did we get there? The Cancer is now in our society and even the Churches that were the last stand of morality by the grace or sword of God are now corrupted since the serpent pointed them where the money and glory was and some took it, and money did do the job. And look where we are. Morality and God get in the way but you can use it for your dirty purposes. So, what do we do? Well, we do have many military coming back from wars based on lies, we need them to fight for the enemy withing. Clean out the scum, I can tell you a Sheriff job right now here in L.A. area, Housekeeper or any worker with easy access are now steeling every where. I kept hearing people saying “not to even bother reporting it they will do nothing they know the cops, and the cartel pays many well they will do nothing because it will give them a record that makes them available for deportation” Hard to believe while we are bombarded for our lack of heart. Then it happened to me, they took a big box of old silver dollar we had been saving, the Gulf disaster ruined our saving accounts, so I with some ad old and 1800, estimated at cost to $10:000 dollar, now that is no small misdemeanor, “they will do nothing they will say you are an old foggy who does not remember” It was worse than that, my first call to the sheriff was on the phone when I said My house keeper is the only one that enters my dead husband’s room to clean it” before I finished he interrupted me and very sarcastically stated “and that you ask you friends…..” Someone took the phone from him and told me they will have an inspector here to see. He came, he laughed at my age said :nothing wrong with your brain kid” and gave me case number an d name of officer who would call me for investigation, right now fire all of them because it runs in the family, i one does it they share all know about it. I waited n o officer called I send him a letter explaining how it happened and that lady cane back fr in colorado with heavy gold chain so please n he do something . N O Answer. Close ti tax tie I asked for a report so I could claim that in my taxes NO ANSWER, fiouir years have passed, I was robbed again by a niece of the same family who supposedly do not like each other. They are brazen. I called my Congressman and told him I was denied due process of law and was made an easy target because Sheriff will not do any thing..
Now, it is happening all over, do you know how many jobs a good soldier can take over????
Also running for office we vote every military name on the b allot for the Council. Now not all military are peace minded 99% supporters but they all want a chance to clean out the scum that crawled in while they were fighting people for the pleasure and interest of bastard that took over this country. My question is? You fought to keep us free and decent generius people, are you going to let this country get worse that the one you fought? Instead of accidentally killing a child abroad would you feel betetr killing the drug scum and immoral many with no loyalty to this nation here only to exploit us. I know the answer come back and go to the job you can do and need reminding the oat they take, ask around your neighbour can tell you the moment they stop being scared. RUN FOR OFFICE at the local level where the fraud begin.
Come on guys we need you!!!! Lets get us list available jobs areas. Who shot that Col.? Go get him.
Today they rub you tomorrow they kill you and get away with it. As the Russian Jews who came to the USA and started security6 collection in Fairfax old Jewish place said to curious reporter “why are you doing that especially to your own people” “well, we look at TV in Russia and that is how is done in the USA” Interestingly because is was Jewish mob that started that scam here and then started the immoral film to glorify it.
SORRY TOOK MY POST WHILE STILL SPELLING AND EDITING A BIT MESSY
At least this is something. Someone is trying to help. Here is a site that can help with employment, now.
http://www.facebook.com/l/-AQFDJTyXAQGqQJkuANICOs1yGZgzTZUL49uLboyT-u93ow/news.bentleyprice.com
Please check into it to help yourself.
For you idiots who don’t have a clue as to what you are commenting about.Shutup and pay attention.I live with about 400 other vets at the White City Or. Dom.Most of us have substance abuse issues.Some of us are homeless.Many are receiving medical attention.All of us are getting our needs met and are looking forward to living in the community again.There are numerous opportunities and programs offered.Only a blind idiot could fail to benefit from what the V.A. has to offer.I am a living example of the wonderful gift we now can take advantage of I would have died from alcohol or much worse had I not came here.We served our country with honor and we deserve all that this country can give us in return.Love it or get the hell out.If you don’t like it here.We damn sure don’t want to keep you here.I am a United States citizen and I will defend my country to the end.God Bless All of Us. IRONLION;USA