Five years ago, President Barack Obama announced an ambitious plan to house all of the nation’s homeless veterans by the end of 2015. The country has made steady progress since then, with more than 26,000 veterans moved off the streets and into stable housing, but considerable work lies ahead. As the president’s deadline approaches, Stars and Stripes will examine efforts by cities across the country to bring the remaining homeless veterans home.
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The VA will open a transitional housing facility for veterans and soon start a planning process for the redevelopment of its 387-acre campus.
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Living with fellow veterans in permanent supportive housing offers a healing camaraderie, an oasis of shared experience and empathy. “For some of them, being here is the first time they’ve felt connected to anyone since they got out of the military.”
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Since 2010, when President Barack Obama launched a five-year national campaign to end homelessness among veterans, the number of former servicemembers living on the streets has dropped from over 76,000 to below 50,000. Here’s a look at efforts in a handful of U.S. cities' progress, based on figures provided by federal, state and local agencies.
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As thousands of troops leave the military each month without jobs or a plan for permanent housing, a new text messaging program will link vets to peers who can connect them to the services and support they need.
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FEATURE REPORT
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FEATURE REPORT
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It took a Facebook group, a search team and a lot of patience, but a Collinsville man and his emotional support dog were finally reunited, three weeks after they were separated by a car crash.
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Navy veteran Brian Flick came up with the idea for a veterans shelter before he graduated from Penn State Shenango in 2015. When a professor gave him an assignment to create his own mock non-profit agency, Flick decided his class project would focus on helping veterans.
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Ending a 16-month quest to stay in a country where he was raised and that he fought to defend, Miguel Perez Jr., a veteran who held a green card, has been deported to Mexico, where he has not lived since childhood.
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Jeff Gustin, director and co-founder of Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin, said since the first resident moved into the residence in November "we're basically full." But that does not surprise Gustin. In fact, he said it actually took a bit longer than expected to get to the 15-person capacity.
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He received military honors including the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal before embarking on a career as a government lawyer and high-ranking Clinton administration official who oversaw Army investigations into sexual harassment and served two rocky years as secretary of veterans affairs.
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Attorney General Bob Ferguson said investigators randomly selected 50 landlords to target in a sting operation. Women posing as veterans contacted the rental agencies and asked if they could use VASH vouchers for rent. Of those 50, 10 said no, leading to the enforcement action by the state.
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Mourners gathered at Fort Jackson National Cemetery to honor Airman 1st Class Raymond Gerard, Army Pvt. Glenn Duncan Jr. and Airman Dennis Reidy. All three men were homeless veterans.
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Four Democratic senators said Thursday that they are troubled by Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin’s response to findings of ethical violations connected to his taxpayer-funded trip to Europe last summer.
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Lucien "Chet" Lebrun was recently given notice that he'll be evicted from his mobile home, which suffered significant damage to the roof and outside during Hurricane Irma in September. He hasn't had the means or ability to get it repaired.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs would get another multibillion-dollar increase in 2019 under President Donald Trump’s new budget proposal, which includes cuts to domestic agencies and social programs while boosting spending for defense, homeland security and the VA.
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Collaborators spoke out in December when they discovered VA Secretary David Shulkin planned to reallocate $460 million specifically geared toward the veteran housing program known as HUD-VASH into hospitals’ general-purpose accounts.
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Funeral arrangements have been made for Dennis Reidy, the homeless veteran recently found deceased in Lexington, S.C. No one claimed the body of 69-year-old Reidy, who was found Jan. 23 in a wooded area.
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Obituary
Rodger Wilson – a U.S. Army veteran – passed away on Friday, surrounded by members of Helping Cleburne Homeless while at the Community Hospice of Texas Hospice House in Burleson. He had been homeless for 17 years, carrying around nothing more than the shirt on his back.
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Eleven Wisconsin nonprofits were awarded a total of $250,000 in funds to be used toward services and assistance for veterans and their families. Funding came from a nonprofit grant program passed in spring 2014.
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Retired Marine officer charged with selling items donated for homeless veterans
February 2, 2018
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VA criticized over eye care for vets in rural areas
January 31, 2018
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Fla. veteran calls U-Haul's claim to phrase 'moving help' unfair
January 26, 2018
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VA secretary, other federal officials participate in national homeless count
January 25, 2018
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Advocates concerned veteran homelessness isn’t a VA priority
January 18, 2018
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Formerly homeless Air Force veteran vows to 'leave no one behind'
December 30, 2017
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Utah couple's relentless pursuit to end veteran suicide: 'If it's not us — then who?'
December 29, 2017
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Hawaii veteran gathers volunteers to help the homeless
December 27, 2017
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Retired Navy captain helps son, other veterans with mental illness
December 25, 2017
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79-year-old veteran who lived in the NJ woods for a decade has come home
December 22, 2017
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Family Endeavors rejuvenates veterans in need
December 16, 2017
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Maryland center offers shelter, services to oft-overlooked homeless female veterans
December 13, 2017
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Village of tiny homes creates a community for homeless Wisconsin veterans
December 8, 2017
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HUD reports 1st increase in homeless veterans since 2010
December 7, 2017
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Money raised for homeless Marine veteran tops $385,000 and growing
November 22, 2017
