It is very hard being a veteran in Northeast Wisconsin these days. As we continue to grapple with an affordable housing crisis and a lack of effective transition services away from the military, things aren’t getting better. They’re getting worse. This during a period when resources are actually being taken away from the area to help (story HERE). Its conditions like these that result in veterans homelessness, and 163 Wisconsin veterans suicides according to the most recent report by the VA.

This is why we have to recognize when agencies are actually doing something right.

And I was happy to see the Green Bay Police Department get recognized for its work connecting veterans to the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (or VORP) and other services.

The truth is myself and many other veterans in Green Bay don’t have anyone. We’re separated from family because of financial reasons or estranged altogether. And with no serious support structure, we tackle all of our problems alone.

And when we hit rock bottom, we need someone to give us a hand and get us up and moving in the right direction.

Ideally, it shouldn’t have to be law enforcement. If the system were truly effective, we’d be able to find the help we need long before we’d have to speak to police. But it takes days, sometimes weeks before we can talk to someone outside of a suicide hotline. And someone has to be there when no one else is picking up the phone

GBPD comes under a lot of criticism these days. I think much of it is unfair social media trolling. But I’m happy that they’re getting recognized for their work helping our bravest brothers and sisters.