LIHU‘E — Ten more homeless veterans were identified through the efforts of the Veterans Administration Homeless Veterans Outreach program, Friday, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center. Charlene Burgess, team leader and social worker for the VA Kaua‘i Community Based Outpatient Clinic,
LIHU‘E — Ten more homeless veterans were identified through the efforts of the Veterans Administration Homeless Veterans Outreach program, Friday, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Charlene Burgess, team leader and social worker for the VA Kaua‘i Community Based Outpatient Clinic, said 35 veterans took advantage of the free event.
The Statewide Point in Time count in 2011 indicated that 25 of the 500 homeless people on Kaua‘i are veterans, Burgess said in an email. “We know there are others out there and we need to identify them so we can get them help.”
Originally planned as part of a national commitment to prevent veteran homelessness, the “Stand Down” was designed as an outreach for Kaua‘i’s homeless, or at risk of homelessness veterans in keeping with President Barrack Obama’s vision to honor and support the men and women who have preserved the country’s freedom.
During the event, 30 agencies and community organizations stepped forward with contributions from the community which were processed by the 47 volunteers who worked to host the veterans and those interested in helping veterans keep a roof over their heads.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, a Kaua‘i native, established a priority goal of eliminating homelessness among veterans by 2015.
“We had a terrific turnout and it was a great display of the VA and the community coming together to carry out Secretary Shinseki’s goal,” Burgess said. “The homeless veterans who attended were able to obtain help to assist them with housing, financial, employment, vocational rehabilitation, transportation, medical care, food and legal assistance.”
In addition to those services, veterans and their families were also treated to lunch, haircuts, showers, massage, food packages, clothing and toiletries, many contributed by community organizations and residents.
Everything took place under the canopy of fellowship, brought together by the free entertainment offered up by Larry Rivera, Harrom Kaili and the Kapa‘a Kanikapila Serenaders and the New Hope Kaua‘i Hula Ministry.
During the formal portion which launched Kaua‘i as one of 28 sites to spearhead Shinseki and Obama’s initiative, volunteers and representatives of the participating organizations listened to dignitaries including Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits Michael Cardarelli.
“There are 195 HUD-VASH Section 8 housing vouchers statewide and Kaua‘i has 13 currently utilized, or in the process,” VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System Homeless Program Manager Andrew Dahlburg said.
During the Friday event, an addition four new HUD-VASH vouchers were identified for processing for veterans to secure stable housing, he said.
Burgess said the VA also received inquiries to look into emergency housing contracts with Kaua‘i housing organizations to have VA-funded beds on island.
“This outreach program would not have happened without the support of the community working together at all levels and the VA wants to thank each person who contributed to make this possible,” Burgess said. “We need to continue working together to help our homeless veterans and if anyone knows of a homeless veteran who did not, or could not attend the event, please refer them to the VA Clinic at 246-0497.”
More information is available by visiting www.va.gov/homeless, or by calling the VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, toll free, at 1-877-424-3838.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
