VFW DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI
HOMELESS VETERANS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM GUIDANCE
2019-2020
Each District and Post Commander should appoint a Homeless Veteran and Employment Chairman. Appointed chairpersons contact information should than be sent to Department Chairperson at emplhomelesschrm@movfw.org.
Establish contact with the local MO Career Center and speak with the Local Veteran's Employment Representative (LVER) or the Disable Veteran's Outreach Program (DVOP) coordinator.
Establish contact and report with local or regional HUD Continuum of Care coordinator. These individuals or agencies have detailed Point In Time info for most homeless individuals in their area of responsibility. Utilize this link to find your COC: https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/contacts
Each Chairperson should compile a list of local agencies to assist veterans either in Employment, Homelessness, or Food Banks. Post this list on the Bulletin board and inform the leadership of its presence.
Maintain a list of phone numbers at strategic locations so you can quickly refer a homeless veteran to someone who can provide support. As a minimum, publish the following for your officers and staff so they are armed with information on how to help:
HOMELESS VETERAN RESOURCES -
Call the closest VA and ask for the Homeless Veteran Coordinators:
St Louis VA Hospital (314) 652-4100
Kansas City VA Hospital (816) 861-4700
Columbia VA Hospital (573) 814-6000
Fayetteville AR VA Hospital (479) 443-4301
Poplar Bluff VA Clinic (573) 778-4425
Kirksville VA Clinic (660) 627-8387
St Joseph VA Clinic (816) 676-1044
Springfield VA Clinic (844) 501-8387
Joplin VA Clinic (800) 691-8387
Two Other Homeless Veteran Resources:
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (877) 424-3838
Veterans Crisis Line (800) 273-8255 (Veterans press "1")
There are two homeless veteran voucher programs that can provide assistance for eligible veterans, HUD-VASH and SSVF. HUD-VASH is funded and administered by the VA. SSVF is funded by the VA but is usually administered by a local or regional non-profit organization. Contacting the Homeless Veteran Coordinators listed above for your area may provide more local or regional information.
Learn about your agencies and Co-Host a town hall meeting or a stand-down. By hosting a Job Fair relating directly for the homeless Veterans you will form a network to assist you in reaching more Veterans.
Other ways of getting this information out is through your local Radio, Televisions, Cables, Marquee's, Churches, and Library's, Newspapers, District and Post Newsletters, and all Bulletin Boards. The more information you get to the public, is a better chance of helping relay the information to our Homeless Veterans.
Remember to report your activity on your Post Activity Report. VFW DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI
Remember the Post Relief fund is for aiding Veterans in need. Donate (through VFW Department) to the Homeless Veteran Program.
Education and training are keys to breaking the homeless cycle. Encourage your legislators to provide for homeless veterans beyond a roof over their heads.
Homeless Veteran defined:
An individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; and
A Veteran who has a primary nighttime residence that is:
1. A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters and transitional housing for the homeless)
2. An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized for human beings.
3. A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations for human beings.
As the committee chairman, I am available to you for guidance and help in creating events that will accomplish our goals of addressing Veteran Employment issues and helping working toward ending Veteran Homelessness. We would like to ensure that all Veterans are treated with courtesy and respect by our organization. It is up to us to make an impact. Thank you for your efforts to make this happen.
Ted Donaldson, Chairman, VFW Department of MO
Employment/Homeless Veterans Committee
417-439-3988 or emplhomelesschrm@movfw.org
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