Homeless shelters, VETS, Mentally ill, Car Living, How to Help

Homelessness continues to be on the rise. I have run in to a few people on this web site who are currently homeless, being evicted, or have been homeless in their past.

I recently heard on Coast to Coast AM that a large number of our VETS are homeless. Many of our homeless are mentally ill. Quite a few these days are also families with children.

Here are links to numerous shelters across the US.

National Coalition for Homeless VETS

nchv.org...

Homeless VETS can call 877-424-3838 for assistance

National Coalition for the Homeless

www.nationalhomeless.org...

Womens Shelters

womenshelters.org...

Shelters and Soup Kitchens

4homeless.hypermart.net...

Survival guide to living in a car

guide2homelessness.blogspot.com...

With many people unemployed this year the need for donations to soup kitchens, food pantries and homeless shelters is high.

For a food pantry or soup kitchen you can donate non-perishable food items such as pasta, rice, dried beans, salad dressing, canned veggies-green beans, mixed vegetables, carrots, peas and corn,canned fruit peaches, pears, pineapple, applesauce, fruit cocktail, canned beans,tomato products (diced, crushed, paste, sauce), sweet potatoes or yams,canned tuna and pink salmon,cans of cream soups (chicken, celery, mushroom)

Other items: toiletries, sleeping bags, tents, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, wet wipes, femine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, comb, toothbrush, washcloths and hand towels.

May we all remember to share what we do have with those that don't.

Please, have compassion and reach out and touch someone's life today.

Thank-you.

This link has great ideas for donations to a shelter that accepts children

www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org...

Here is a great site for ideas to help teach kids how to help others.

www.hud.gov...

I am homeless,and I donate to my local food pantry.

Homelessness is one thing,helplessness is the real problem,refusing to help those less fortunate is worse.

It takes practice to not be spotted as being homeless,and it is best not to let those who are not realize you are.

They are to afraid to understand the truth about many things in their lives.

Homelessness is freedom.

reply to post by LAinhabitant


Yes it is a serious problem.

Majority of homeless people, studies show are military veterans.

And recently on the fbo.gov website, a new contract for homeless vet shelters has been solicited. As well as a relocation of said homeless veterans into those shelters for them.

Homeless Shelter: Grand Forks North Dakota
Solicitation Number: VA26311RP0016
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
solicitation link fbo.gov



I have looked into gaining the above mentioned contract to assist and help develop such shelters for the veterans and hope to be awarded with the contract.

This vile reality is heart breaking to me, as these veterans are my brothers and sisters in arms. Any one who has sworn the oath as I have, and kept it sovereign should not be forgotten and left in the streets.

More should be done, now to reverse and prevent future generations of Americas protectors from being abandoned.

Thank you for posting this, and bringing it to the attention of our community here at ATS.
I hope it will help spread awareness of this hypocrisy.

Originally posted by chiponbothshoulders
I am homeless,and I donate to my local food pantry.

Homelessness is one thing,helplessness is the real problem,refusing to help those less fortunate is worse.

It takes practice to not be spotted as being homeless,and it is best not to let those who are not realize you are.

They are to afraid to understand the truth about many things in their lives.

Homelessness is freedom.

You would probably really enjoy the blogs written about living in your car. They were written by someone who lived in their car for several years. There are several comments by people on his blogs that say the same thing-homelessness is freedom.

Thank-you for caring and thinking of our fellow men (and women).

Originally posted by ADVISOR
reply to post by LAinhabitant

 

Yes it is a serious problem.

Majority of homeless people, studies show are military veterans.

And recently on the fbo.gov website, a new contract for homeless vet shelters has been solicited. As well as a relocation of said homeless veterans into those shelters for them.

Homeless Shelter: Grand Forks North Dakota
Solicitation Number: VA26311RP0016
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
solicitation link fbo.gov



I have looked into gaining the above mentioned contract to assist and help develop such shelters for the veterans and hope to be awarded with the contract.

This vile reality is heart breaking to me, as these veterans are my brothers and sisters in arms. Any one who has sworn the oath as I have, and kept it sovereign should not be forgotten and left in the streets.

More should be done, now to reverse and prevent future generations of Americas protectors from being abandoned.

Thank you for posting this, and bringing it to the attention of our community here at ATS.
I hope it will help spread awareness of this hypocrisy.

edit on 14-11-2010 by ADVISOR because: to added linked content

Thank-you for caring about our Vets and our homeless. I know several Vets and was shocked to find out that so many of the men and women who have fought for our freedoms are living on the streets and scrounging to exist. This is not right at all.

I hope you are rewarded the contract. Good luck!

Here's another link:
Homeless Veterans
www1.va.gov...

or Homeless Vets can call 877-424-3838

It only makes sense that a lot of homeless are veterans.

Somebody hacked into their brain and screwed up their perspective of reality.

Then they end up out here on the street,not knowing how to act anymore,schluppin around aimlessly.

I know,but I got out nearly 30 years ago.

Re-adjustment is really hard.

No one can work hard enough long enough to make $2k/month rent or to buy an $800,000.00 'average family home'.

The States is NUTZ and the foreclosure crisis is just the beginning.

Add to that the draconian unforgiving so-called police state justice system, and you get soldiers hiding in the park.

The programs mentioned in the OP are nice ideas, but face it, we need more than handouts to a few.

We need a reboot, new hard drive, redo from start.

Just make sure everyone you know never joins the military.

If your in there and talk secrets you will end up homeless, they are that bad.

Nothing more you can do.

reply to post by Chakotay
Yeah,boot-RE/P and boot DEM too,might work.

Big fake system done turned us all into fictional corporate entities.

Then we have to deal with the CORPs of the problem.

Just wait till they actually admit there is a commercial real estate foreclosure issue.

Somebody took out loans to build all of those empty strip malls too.

Thanks for posting this. Homelessness is a huge problem in this country. A few years ago, I heard of hunters donating meat from some of their kills to soup kitchens. It sounds like a great idea to me. Also, if you have any extra fruit or vegetables from your garden, I think they might take that, too. Donations of blankets, sleeping bags, or winter coats might also be good. It's cold in some parts of the country and will get colder.

reply to post by Skid Mark
All of this talk of helping the less fortunate is just fine and dandy,but if one were to take it further,they would be accused of being a socialist.

There is nothing wrong with socialism,as long as government isn't involved in the disbursement of goods.

Governments really don't like being left out of the loop for the reason that there would be no need for them if people just did what was necessary to help one another.

In the old days,if you wanted to eat fresh meat,you either preserved it somehow,shared it,fed it to your dogs,or enjoyed the smell of it rotting out there in the treeline,cuz you couldn't eat it all.

There's nothing wrong with socialism,as long as it is understood what exactly it is.

Socialism,is what those who would desire a piece of your pie,or those who would desire to control you and me....

.... Would Call Anarchy....

Originally posted by chiponbothshoulders
It only makes sense that a lot of homeless are veterans.

Somebody hacked into their brain and screwed up their perspective of reality.

Then they end up out here on the street,not knowing how to act anymore,schluppin around aimlessly.

I know,but I got out nearly 30 years ago.

Re-adjustment is really hard.

I personally don't understand why we keep sending our same troops back again and again. It seems to me that would really screw with your mind. It's no wonder they come back and can't function and end up homeless.

Originally posted by chiponbothshoulders
It only makes sense that a lot of homeless are veterans.

Somebody hacked into their brain and screwed up their perspective of reality.

Then they end up out here on the street,not knowing how to act anymore,schluppin around aimlessly.

I know,but I got out nearly 30 years ago.

Re-adjustment is really hard.

Especially because in the forces I guess you would become used to being ordered around all the time, being fed, told when to shower, told when to sleep, told how to make your bed, not having to pay bills, manage money, etc.
As well as the more obvious mine-screwing activies like, say, shoot these guys over here, sweep this area for mines, being shot at, seeing friends and enemies alike being blown to bits etc.

Then you get home and for many people they have no help (one of the reasons to join the forces in the first place) or family who can only help so much or are messed up vets themselves.

For a country that prides itself on its military prowess i am suprised that they don't take better care of their veterans :/

Originally posted by Skid Mark
Thanks for posting this. Homelessness is a huge problem in this country. A few years ago, I heard of hunters donating meat from some of their kills to soup kitchens. It sounds like a great idea to me. Also, if you have any extra fruit or vegetables from your garden, I think they might take that, too. Donations of blankets, sleeping bags, or winter coats might also be good. It's cold in some parts of the country and will get colder.

You're welcome.

Great ideas, thanks! Hats, gloves, scarfs, thermal shirts and long johns are probably very beneficial as well.

Some deer sausage-now that's some good eatin!

reply to post by chiponbothshoulders


you know how moronic you sound? why not make an INTELLIGENT reply to this thread or dont post again!
People like you really have no damn clue, or are you simply a troll?

reply to post by andy1033

This goes for you too troll

reply to post by LAinhabitant


There is an organization called Operation Stand Down, www.voamass.org... they provide clothing, furniture, job prospects for homeless veterans.
I want to add to this that yes, homeless vets make up a marge portion of homeless persons, FEMALE vets and their children are making up the bigger chunk of the homeless vets today. Its terrible when a veteran goes homeless, its a CRIME for a child to be homeless

Originally posted by HomerinNC
reply to post by LAinhabitant

 

There is an organization called Operation Stand Down, www.voamass.org... they provide clothing, furniture, job prospects for homeless veterans.
I want to add to this that yes, homeless vets make up a marge portion of homeless persons, FEMALE vets and their children are making up the bigger chunk of the homeless vets today. Its terrible when a veteran goes homeless, its a CRIME for a child to be homeless

A big thank-you for that info. The link didn't work for me so I will try it again.
www.voamass.org...
It appears varios states have their own websites.

www.nchv.org...

This may be a better link as it even has a section on starting an Operation Stand Down in your area as well.

It's absolutely horrible for any child to be homeless.

Thanks everyone for your ideas! Here's a few more:

Treat homeless people with respect.

Donate shoes and socks.

Volunteer to help.

Educate others.