veteran services
TRANSCRIPT
Veteran ServicesElizabeth Donald
AmeriCorps VISTA
Billings Metro Vista Project
City of Billings
3/5/2014 1
What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
Volunteers in Service to America
(VISTA) was founded in 1965 to
combat poverty in the USA; in 1993 it
was added as an AmeriCorps program
Year-long volunteer commitment to a
nonprofit
Volunteers do capacity building for
nonprofits that work to end poverty
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Project Goals
Increase the capacity of homeless
veterans who receive services in
Billings
Decrease the amount of homeless
veterans
Assist local veteran service providers
to increase funding and marketing
strategies
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Who is considered homeless? The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines homelessness as an
individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not
designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings,
including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground
An individual is precariously housed if they are in imminent risk of becoming homeless under
HUD’s definition the following are considered precariously housed
◦ With friends or family; on emergency basis, for short duration
◦ With friends or family; voluntarily for long duration
◦ Motel/hotel paid by self
◦ Hospital
◦ Jail, prison or detention facility
◦ Psychiatric facility
◦ Substance abuse treatment facility
◦ Youth foster care home
For this project both individuals who are precariously housed and homeless by HUD’s
definition are considered homeless
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Homeless Veterans in Billings
The Housing Status Survey in 2013
reported that there were 66 homeless
veterans in billings
In 2012 there were 45 homeless
veterans that is a 46% increase
14 percent of all homeless in Billings
are veterans
Only 9% of the overall population in
Billings are veterans
Homeless Veterans
20%
8%
29%
43%
Where Homeless Veterans in Billings are Living
Outside/place not for sleeping
Emergency Shelter
With friends or families on a short term basis
Other
Local Veteran Resources
A list of resources available for
veterans was created by the Veteran
Services project through the Billings
Metro VISTA Project
The veterans resource list can be
found here
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Volunteer
We would greatly appreciate anyone
who desires to volunteer, please
contact Elizabeth Donald at
[email protected] or 406-657-
8289
Donations
Any donations to this project would be
deeply appreciated
Monetary donations can be sent to: ◦ Community Development Division, 2825 3rd Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101. Please make
checks out to the "City of Billings" with the words "Veteran Services Project" on the memo line
We are seeking the following items:•Granola bars
•Bottles of water
•Individual packages of trail mix
•Individual nut packages
•Socks
•Gloves
•Disposable razors
•Deodorant
• Toothpaste
•Toothbrushes
•Soap
•Individual packages of tissues
•Other similar items
A HUGE Thanks to…
Allegra for their donation of printing services for the veterans resource list
Billings Pay it Forward Group for their donation of care package items for homeless veterans
Brewer Dental Center for their donation of toothbrushes for care packages for homeless veterans
Sophie DeMartine for items for care packages for homeless veterans
Turley Dental Care for their donation of toothpaste and floss for the veteran care packages
Wendy's for their donation of free sandwich coupons for homeless veterans
National Resources for
Veterans VA Benefits Information:
http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/
VA Healthcare Information: http://www.va.gov/health/
Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255
Veterans Crisis Chat http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx
Veterans Crisis Line Website: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/Default.aspx
Women Veterans Hotline 1-855-VA-WOMEN
VA toll free numbers: https://iris.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1703