By
Walter Simon
Edited for Publication
More and more veterans are discovering that there are benefits for them of which they are not aware.
“I would say there are 10% to 20% of the veterans I have spoken to who do not even realize they are counted as veterans and do not know what benefits they are entitled to, reported Jami Warner, a Social Worker for Veterans at Goodwill Industries in Spokane.
She noted that many of the veterans do not consider themselves veterans because they have not served in a war zone or did not serve enough time in the military.
“The more I hear about these veterans, the more I am seeing that it’s not all that unusual,” she said. “Some veterans think they are not entitled to medical benefits because they have not been admitted to the VA hospital.”
There is a vital program in the developmental stages that focuses on the homeless who are unaware of their benefits. It is called Spokane Built for Zero (SBFZ). Warner said strategy meetings are being held now at the Goodwill facility on Third Avenue in Spokane.
“Plans are being formulated to focus on community participation,” she said. Input from community leaders is welcomed.
“As a social issue homelessness is a difficult and sophisticated issue in Spokane. With all the elements involved in homelessness, the situation is like a disassembled jigsaw puzzle; once the pieces are fitted together a clear picture will bring a better understanding,” one organizer noted.
The United Way, represented by Morgan Smith who is qualified in organizing and operating community projects, originally suggested the Spokane Built for Zero idea.
“People who have experienced homelessness are missing from the planning and policies development process in Spokane,” Smith said. She added, “Policies developed from the mindset of those who have always had basic needs met are not necessarily effective for people who are experiencing homelessness (right now).”
In other words, homeless veterans seem to be better informed as to what their needs are, and they are encouraged to participate in the SBFZ developmental stages. Once the programs are fully developed the homeless veterans are encouraged to use agencies that offer an open door to assist them.
At the heart of the program is a focus on providing comfortable sleeping facilities for veterans who may have suffered physical and psychological wounds during their service time.
One veteran noted, “None of us who walked the streets…can escape the filthy doorways used as housing, the under bridge cardboard beds, or the haunted faces of those who pass on sidewalks, many who are capped with military logos.” He added that homeless veterans may need extra assistance because of their psychological battle wounds. Veterans sometimes realize the difficulties of re-entering a civilian society.
Warner added, “Often those needs are futuristic, but now our homeless veterans need warm places to sleep and meals to eat.”
Veterans, both men and women, who have been awarded medals for their service, may suddenly find themselves having adjustment situations. Some of the heroes have expressed the feeling of helplessness in spite of Purple Hearts, Silver Stars, Bronze Medals, and Good Conduct Medals.
Both Warner and Smith noted that there are many agencies in the Spokane area that specialize in helping the homeless. Some focus on veterans.
“Spokane Built for Zero desires to develop programs for veterans in order to meet their special needs”, both agreed. They added, “our goal is to get the homeless veterans off the streets with positive reinforcement to integrate into the community.”
This writer has found that many of the homeless veterans are reluctant to seek help and that it takes a more unique sense of encouragement to assist them in a recovery journey.
Spokane Built for Zero offers a guidepost, solutions based on veterans with experience and insight. Workers who are volunteering in the SBFZ developmental stages are encouraging communities to reach out to veterans as part of the solution.
Please don’t simply be a piece of an unfinished puzzle. Seek and embrace the whole picture. It will satisfy your support for our veterans. And it may well be a reward for their service.
Walter Simon is an Army veteran. He graduated from University of Washington
and works as a research Social Anthropologist. He resides in Spokane, WA