Re: Veteran Homelessness - Assorted Topics

by Silveray Fri 01 Jul 2022, 7:30 pm

'Walk of Gratitude': 100-year-old veteran in London, Ont. completes 100 mile walk for homeless vets

Published July 1, 2022

CTV News

by **SniperGod** Thu 10 Nov 2022, 6:37 am

Veterans at greater risk of homelessness across Canada

Nov 09. 2022

City News

by Mercury Thu 06 Jul 2023, 5:22 pm

Charity helping veterans with housing

Founder and CEO David Howard discusses the work of Homes for Heroes, and gives details on the charity’s Open Door Gala.

Thursday, Jul. 6, 2023

CTV News

by Dragonforce Wed 12 Jul 2023, 11:40 am

Cambridge legions look at ways to address homelessness among veterans

Spencer Turcotte
CTV News Kitchener Videographer

Published July 11, 2023

CTV News Kitchener

by Firestrike Wed 23 Aug 2023, 6:49 am

Fort McMurray becomes third Canadian community to end veteran homelessness

By Alex MacLeod . Aug 22, 2023

Fort McMurray has become the third community in Canada to reach Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.

Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness means veterans experiencing homelessness are less or equal to the number of veterans a community has proven to be able to house in a month.

This has a baseline of no more than three veterans per month experiencing homelessness.

Fort McMurray is joining London, Ontario, and St. Thomas-Elgin, Ontario as the third recognized community.

“Achieving deep reductions in chronic homelessness and ending homelessness for veterans in the face of a wave of new homelessness being experienced across the country is a huge accomplishment,” says President and CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Tim Richter, in a press release.

“Fort McMurray is demonstrating incredible national leadership by proving that homelessness can end and showing how to do it. They are giving hope to communities across the country.”

The municipality achieved this milestone by working with Built for Zero Canada, a program within the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and its partners.

Funding from the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund, Leave the Street Behind programs, and Veterans Affairs Canada aided in the achievement.

The municipality also used funding from Infrastructure Canada’s Reaching Home program and the Government of Alberta’s Outreach and Support Services initiative.

They developed tools to identify veterans experiencing homelessness and get them into appropriate housing and services.

The municipality, community organizations, and partners worked together to create a system of real-time data on every veteran experiencing homelessness.

They created a by-name list and built a coordinated access system to ensure the community can respond quickly.

“We have such tremendous gratitude and respect for the people that have served our country, and this achievement demonstrates what can happen when we all work together to fully support community members experiencing homelessness. My deepest appreciation goes out to all of the community organizations and other levels of government that collaborated with us to make this a reality,” says Mayor Sandy Bowman in a press release.

” While there is much more work to be done, my hope is that there will be lessons learned from this positive step that can be applied to how we best serve those continuing to experience homelessness in our region.”

The RMWB is putting the lessons learned into practice and as of May 2023, has reduced the number of people experiencing homelessness by 58 per cent, with 391 people moving into housing.

MIX 1037FM

by **Powergunner** Sat 02 Sep 2023, 7:45 am

Charity unveils first tiny home for veterans facing homelessness

Sam Konnert · CBC News · Posted: Sep 02, 2023

Veteran Homelessness - Assorted Topics - Page 10 Homes-for-heroes

CBC News

by Thunder Sat 23 Sep 2023, 7:39 am

Manitoba PCs pledge more money for homeless veterans' housing

The Canadian Press . Published Sept. 22, 2023

WINNIPEG - Manitoba Progressive Conservatives are promising more money for a planned housing development that helps homeless military veterans.
The Tory government put up $500,000 last year for the Winnipeg Kinsmen Veterans Village, which is set to open next year and offer temporary housing in tiny homes along with social supports.

Tory Leader Heather Stefanson says if her party is re-elected Oct. 3, the province would grant $250,000 for efficiency upgrades to make the project more sustainable.

She is also promising to expand the provincial Military Envoy office with an additional $1 million, so that it can help veterans access federal and provincial services.

Advance polls for the election open Saturday.

The Tories say they will release their full platform in the coming days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2023.

CTV News

by Cypher Mon 06 Nov 2023, 4:36 pm

Homeless veterans not forgotten this Remembrance Day

Sean Irvine . Published Nov. 6, 2023

Veteran Homelessness - Assorted Topics - Page 10 Rigel-chiokis---london---nov-2023-1-6633089-1699296195145

Rigel Chiokis is a London, Ont. veteran who spent time living in his car before the Leave the Streets Behind campaign came to his aid. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)

CTV News London

by Cooper Thu 09 Nov 2023, 11:25 am

These tiny-home villages for veterans are spreading across Canada

Homes for Heroes opening in Kingston, Winnipeg with plans for 8 more locations

Adrienne Lamb, Rick Bremness · CBC News · Posted: Nov 09, 2023

Veteran Homelessness - Assorted Topics - Page 10 Michael-schneider

CBC News

by Monsfool Tue 30 Jan 2024, 5:51 am

Northern Ont. Legions look to find, help homeless veterans

Sergio Arangio . Dan Bertrand . Published Jan. 29, 2024

While homelessness can affect any type of person – the representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion say it is especially upsetting to see a veteran living on the streets.

Legion branches in Timmins are looking for help in seeking and connecting people who have served in the military to supports it funds through donations.

Donations to the legion help support vulnerable veterans – including those who have become homeless.

The members of Legion Branch 88 told CTV News that they are noticing both more and younger street-bound veterans and that it is critical that they have a safety net.

“These people put their lives on the line, served their country, we’re away from their families,” said Ron MacInnis of branch 88.

“It is important to show respect and support these people. We can help them with first and last month’s rent, furnishings... find them some housing. groceries, help them pay their bills, if they’re behind on bills.”

The supports are part of a nationwide legion program called ‘Operation Leave the Streets Behind.

The program’s chairperson Dave Gordon said rough numbers indicate the program supported more than 1,200 veterans in 2023 and the need is growing.

“We’re hearing that there’s military serving personnel living in their cars or living on the street or whatever and we’re looking into that, at the present time, that just came out recently,” he said.

Officials in the area said these reports make it all the more important that veterans are supported.

Local volunteers told CTV News that they are trying to identify homeless veterans on street patrols – though they are often shy to admit they served and have now wound up on the streets.

“We’ll ask folks that we come across, ‘Have you ever served in the military in any shape or form?’ and through that, we can at least let them know that services are available,” said Brenda Beaven with the local legion.

The legion’s program also provides backpacks with some essentials.

MacInnis said he hopes people will reach out.

“Get a hold of us, give us a call,” he said.

“We don’t care what little community you are (in.) I will come find you if you are a veteran.”

Officials said the Royal Canadian Legions can also provide support for education, mental health services and a consistent supportive income.

CTV Northern Ontario

by **Luxray** Thu 01 Feb 2024, 4:25 pm

Kingston Veteran’s Village nearly complete, first tenants expected next week

By Shane Gibson & Ryan Peddigrew . Global News

Posted January 31, 2024

Kingston’s Veteran’s Village is expected to start welcoming their first tenants next week.

The village’s 20 module homes are part of a project spearheaded by not-for-profit Homes for Heroes that are meant to serve as a fresh start for unhoused military veterans in the area.

“This is a place of healing,” explained Brad Field, president and CEO of Homes for Heroes.

“This is where we can take veterans who are unhoused or are in risky situations, provide a home, a shelter, where they can collect their thoughts and heal. It’s transitional housing working them back into civilian life.”

Ground was broken on the Homes For Heroes Kingston Veterans’ Village, located at King Street and Portsmouth Avenue, last April.

Each home is 300 square-feet in size and fully equipped with the features of a larger home.

As furniture was being moved into the units this week, Field said, work on the project is 90-95 per cent complete and the first veterans are to begin moving in Feb. 5. He’s expecting full capacity at the village within the next few months.

“The community support has been overwhelming here in Kingston,” he said. “They’ve all come together for the good of veterans.”

As well as the tiny homes, the village includes a resource centre, social service offices, community gardens and a community recreation space.

Field said veterans will be offered wrap-around supports including counselling services and help with job seeking and resume building.

Veterans will live in the units anywhere from one day to 12 months, depending on their needs, he added.

“Sometimes it’s as simple as finding them a job, giving them secured employment, sometimes there’s more work involved, where it’s got mental health and addiction issues,” Field said.

“These are men and women who have served our country – put their lives on the line for our country — one homeless veteran is one too many.”

Homes for Heroes has previously said there may be 150 veterans in Kingston and surrounding area or more who could use the services offered by the village.

Global News

by Geoman Tue 16 Apr 2024, 10:56 am

by Whiskey Sun 21 Apr 2024, 4:20 pm

Amherst hopes to turn historic armoury into housing for veterans

Mayor says the building is extremely important to community

Vernon Ramesar · CBC News · Posted: Apr 21, 2024

Veteran Homelessness - Assorted Topics - Page 10 Amherst-armoury

CBC News

by Kingway Fri 11 Oct 2024, 11:27 am

Federal government invests to prevent and reduce Veterans homelessness in Prince Edward Island

Summerside, Prince Edward Island, October 11, 2024

News release

by Marshall Sun 27 Oct 2024, 2:54 pm

Veterans support groups call for government aid amid expected homeless ‘boom’

In Canada, veterans are two to three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population

Myles Bodie, National Post . Published Oct 27, 2024

A decade after the Canadian flag was lowered in Afghanistan, advocacy groups are calling for government support for those who fought, saying these veterans are most at risk of homelessness.

Alan Mulawyshyn, the executive director of Veterans’ House Canada, said a “bubble” of veterans who served in Afghanistan more than 10 years ago will soon “burst” onto the streets.

“We’re 10 years later, which experts say is when people start to fall through the cracks,” Mulawyshyn said. “So we’re expecting this bubble to burst.”

His claim follows a 2019 study suggesting most unhoused veterans report enlisting a decade before they experience homelessness.

Canada’s combat operations in Afghanistan wrapped up in 2011, and in 2014 the last Canadian soldiers quietly came home.

The estimated number of unhoused veterans across Canada varies greatly from 2,400 to more than 10,000. Veterans are two to three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population and are disproportionately represented among the unhoused.

Veterans’ House Canada and other organizations offering support for homeless veterans are unprepared for this boom, Mulawyshyn said during a Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs meeting.

In Mulawyshyn’s view, the veteran homelessness crisis is best tackled with housing support, which is primarily under provincial jurisdiction, and operational funding for veteran-support initiatives, a federal jurisdiction.

“Those two pieces together is what makes a complete package,” he told the committee. “It is an effort to herd all the cats to bring everybody together to find solutions.”

A policy report last year also emphasized this two-pronged approach. It said that the issue of veteran homelessness will not be solved “without clear federal leadership or coordination.”

They’re very mobile, and some you may never hear from again

Yet, for both matters, Mulawyshyn says there is little co-ordination and support.

He said the Veteran Homelessness Program, a federal government project that funds programs like Veterans’ House, does not provide reliable income. He added that he “(isn’t) sure it’s a one-and-done program or will be continued in future years.”

If Veterans’ House had a dedicated line of federal funding, Mulawyshyn said, provinces and municipalities would be more inclined to prioritize the veteran-homelessness crisis.

“We could expand quicker, provide more services, and be able to bring something to the table.”

Brad Field, president of the Homes for Heroes Foundation, echoed this while attending the Senate subcommittee meeting over Zoom.

“When servicing our veterans, there’s always this innate competition because we’re all striving to gain access to the funding,” he said.

“Nobody wants to donate money for our salaries,” Mulawyshyn added. “And that’s why it’s challenging to secure operational funding.”

According to Mulawyshyn, Veterans’ House Canada recently grappled with another “huge policy gap” when it comes to housing homeless veterans through the federal government’s Veterans’ Homelessness Program.

The Veteran Homelessness Program also offers rent funding for initiatives like Veterans’ House Canada to shelter veterans.

However, when these individuals move out suddenly, often due to mental-health issues or substance use, Mulawyshyn said Veterans’ House is ultimately left with unused rental aid.

“They’re very mobile, and some you may never hear from again,” he said.

He suggests offering homeless veterans the opportunity to apply directly to the federal government for funding instead.

“We’re trying to set them up for success so they can move on, but we can’t follow them,” Mulawyshyn added. “So why can’t they apply for rental (aid)?

“That’s not where you want us to spend our time,” said Field, who emphasized that the time spent applying for resources for unhoused veterans can be allocated elsewhere, such as “actually taking care of our veterans.”

“Everybody likes the structures and buildings because they can put their name on it, they can stand in front of it,” he said. “But nobody wants to pay the utility bill the day after — operational funding is key.”

The Cold Lake Sun

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