VA Loma Linda Healthcare System hosted a VA2K Walk & Roll event on May 19, 2021, to support homeless Veterans and promote healthy lifestyles. More than 150 participants, including Veterans, VA employees and community members, walked and rolled 1.2 miles in VA’s 11th annual event. Veteran peer support groups gathered to support the event, see in each other in person, provide entertainment and build camaraderie. VA Loma Linda hosted resource booths with helpful information and offered participation opportunities at the Medical Center, Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) and even virtually. Attendees brought voluntary donations such as t-shirts, socks, hygiene kits, canned food, and monetary contributions to help local area homeless Veterans.
One Veteran family at VA2K was excited to get out of the house, get some fresh air, and support Veterans. Bringing awareness to homeless Veteran programs was especially important, as they themselves were homeless just a few years ago. Fortunately, they connected with VA Loma Linda, where a homeless Veteran coordinator helped the family stay together and find permanent housing. Four years later, the family is thriving and incredibly grateful for the lifesaving help they received at VA.
One lifesaving initiative recently established is the readily accessible mental health clinic, located at the VA Loma Linda Medical Center Emergency Department. The access clinic operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and homeless program coordinators are on station to help Veterans right away. Resources are available at the emergency clinic in Mod 3, or at the Valor Building which is also open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“The Valor Building is a one-stop-shop for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,” said Rolando Perez, Homeless Outreach Coordinator at VA Loma Linda. “We are here to guide Veterans to the best resources available, including supportive services for Veterans and families; help to locate a house or stay in your home or apartment; and HUD-VASH housing vouchers. We can arrange emergency shelter or temporary housing for Veterans, and we’re connected with Riverside and San Bernardino county resources.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) is a collaborative program between HUD and VA that combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help Veterans who are homeless and their families find and sustain permanent housing. https://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp
The VA Loma Linda team takes outreach seriously, especially Homeless Outreach Coordinator Steven Chavez, who physically goes out in the community to find and help homeless Veterans. “I actually go to their location, wherever they’re at,” said Chavez. “They can call me directly, and I will stay in contact with them to make sure they have access to help whenever they need it, and whenever they’re ready to accept it.” Chavez works closely with county, city, and community programs to facilitate safe and effective assistance to Veterans in need. He helps Veterans find out if they are eligible for VA Health Care and gets them registered and enrolled as soon as possible to get medical care quickly. If a Veteran is not eligible to enroll at VA, Chavez connects them with community providers who help Veterans.
VA’s specialized programs serve hundreds of thousands of homeless and at-risk Veterans each year. Independently and in collaboration with federal and community partners, VA programs provide Veterans with housing solutions, employment opportunities, health care, justice- and reentry-related services and more.
Resources:
Dial 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) to access VA’s services for homeless and at-risk Veterans, available 24/7.
Homeless Veterans - VA Loma Linda Healthcare System
Veterans Experiencing Homelessness (va.gov)
VA Programs for At-Risk Veterans and Their Families
Peer Support Groups:
Vet to Vet Program - VA Loma Linda Healthcare System
Guitars for Vets offers lessons, guitar for Veterans - VAntage Point
Peer Support Groups - PTSD: National Center for PTSD (va.gov)
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