The $10.8M Executive Bonus Scandal is exactly why we can’t trust VA
As a homeless veteran, this one hurts. A lot. The Department Of Veterans Affairs improperly disbursed about $10.8 million dollars to senior executives when it should have gone to staffing for an already badly overwhelmed operation (story HERE). The money was suppose to go for employees to work on theContinue Reading
Friday Reflections: Nothing works anymore
If you’ve been reading this blog over the last couple of months, you know that Fridays are the worst for homeless veterans. All progress stops. Employers aren’t hiring. Housing offices aren’t working. Support services aren’t servicing. At the end of the week we often take inventory of how we’re doing.Continue Reading
Thursday Reflections: “No, I’m not in trouble or addicted to drugs”
“I haven’t been to jail. I’m not detoxing from any drugs. I just can’t find an affordable place to live.” I tell someone this at least once a day, as I try to find my way out of homelessness. There is this horrible misconception floating around regarding homeless veterans. AndContinue Reading
Education Flexibility for Veteran Parents proposal needed in online age
For veterans, especially struggling veterans, the GI Bill is our only lifeline to leveling up our education, and therefore being able to increase our quality of life when our time in the uniform eventually ends. New bipartisan legislation Senators Marco Rubio and Jacky Rosen would make sure that veterans whoContinue Reading
Baseball over Veterans philosophy by VA in Los Angeles is hurtful
A simply maddening report out of Los Angeles, that illustrates the Department Of Veterans Affairs opting to lease out land meant for veterans housing to other entities for baseball fields (story HERE). With a group of veterans camped out outside of the VA complex, some with family, the West LAContinue Reading
Lawmaker questions to VA Secretary regarding care of Maine Veterans very valid
Even though I have nothing at the moment, I still look around the nation to see how veterans in other states are coping with the lack of effective care they’re getting from the VA. It’s good to see the wheels turning (albeit slowly) in Washington with Maine Senators Susan CollinsContinue Reading
Wednesday Reflections: Waiting for something bad to happen
As you read these words, I’ve done just about everything you can in my situation as a homeless veteran. I’ve filled out every job application I could find. Every housing resource I’ve got access to is in play. And I’ve got a temporary (albeit unstable) roof over my head. ButContinue Reading
Many Landlords don’t want to house Veterans using vouchers
One of the most painful aspects of dealing with homelessness is discovering the hypocrisy of many of the people that pretend to care about veterans, but back away when it’s time to help. A prime example are a lot of landlords and property management companies that don’t want to acceptContinue Reading
Congress must take care of “Atomic Veterans” and preserve RECA
“Atomic Veterans” are soldiers who helped test nuclear weapons in the World War II era. In the years that followed many of them came down with illnesses linked to that testing. Since then, they’ve been compensated by something called the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act or RECA. Unfortunately, that act willContinue Reading
Tuesday Reflections: The Minimum Wage Interview of the Homeless Veteran
Today, I continued trying to climb out of the pit that I’m in by reentering the workforce. And while my political background and security work are impressive, none of that matters when you’re homeless. Nothing means no transportation. No money for incidentals. And no stable address. Not even the veteransContinue Reading