Maybe we'll get a happy ending for the homeless veteran

[Jeffersons Ghost]

for my regular readers:

I re-wrote the first section and added information and put fresh input at the bottom.

About a 1.56 million people in America spent at least one night in a homeless shelter last year, according to The National Alliance to End Homelessness. In these tough economic times, that number is likely going to increase.

That’s only the measurable tip of the iceberg. People who became homeless and moved in with friends or relatives elevates the number immeasurably higher.

While data is not available, many of the children of homeless families go on to become homeless themselves at a high rate.

“Mom” is one of those statistics. Mom, as everyone calls her, is a spry 68 years old. She cleaned houses to raise her children. Three out of her five children are chronically homeless. Only one is currently homeless, though. Mom now collects Social Security and lives in federal housing. Her daughter, a recovering heroin addict, is homeless and on the Methadone Program. Even on the program, methadone is fairly expensive, so her daughter relies on prostitution to pay for the drugs. Drugs are common in this sector of humanity.

As we sit in the park chatting, my friend - a homeless veteran - speaks to another homeless individual he met at the local mission, as he shuffles from trash-can to dumpster. He's collecting cans and bottles. In MA we have recycling, so there's a .5 bounty on each container. Lots of homeless get their drinking money in this way. Alcoholism runs high with the homeless. It helps them forget.

Mom can’t allow her daughter to sleep over because of federal regulations. In fact, Mom is upset because a friend of hers took in another homeless person, which broke the rules of the building. Now her friend will also become homeless, again. Her friend has some serious psychological issues.

The homeless veterans’ job was filled. He says that he has a lead on a better construction job. Construction jobs are hard to find in America these days. People that think the homeless don’t want to work should be horse-whipped.

I took him by another veterans’ apartment so that he could get a shower. My other veteran friend is service connected from catching plenty of led, so he gets more money than me. He paid my buddy $20. to clean the kitchen. Keep your fingers crossed about his perspective job.

These people asked me to thank you for caring. We're hoping the publicity will help alleviate some of the problems. For them, it's just nice to know that people care.

[HereSince1628]

1. Health officials hate alcohol, but

it's at least as good as lorazapram when it comes to relaxing and making sleep possible.
The homeless need sleep.

The false euphoria is as good as any fast acting 'bene' and more noticable than mood lifting of ssri's.

God created olfactory adaptation to help pig farmers, whose to say She didn't create alcohol for those who need it too?

God Bless the homeless. Those I've lived with turned out to be PEOPLE, too.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. I need to buy him a T-shirt that says "support our troops"

[HereSince1628]

3. If you could get a copy of his DD 214

it'd be better than a t-shirt.

It sounds to me like you are building a relationship that might make that possible.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. that's what I keep telling him! I'll pay the train fare to Boston, if you'll get him to agree...

He said he didn't want "blood money" but today we established - over the beers I bought - that it was stigma over bipolar that creates his reluctance to going into the VA Boston Healthcare System. He's been diagnosed and said he'd approach his current MA Healthcare psych about getting on some meds. VA would give him better care.

[HereSince1628]

5. The County's Veteran's service organization, under any name used there, is the place to start

the process, he can then move into whatever VA district medical facility is near, once that's done. Many facilities across the country provide housing to those who need it.

From the last few posts you've made about him, it seems to me that he's accepting of your help. It's just a matter of time until you firm up your relationship and convince him to provide his social security number and a guess at his time in service for a record recovery. I have no doubt that will be a delicate dance for some time. But, the signs are good at this time.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. keep your fingers crossed

[pinboy3niner]

7. Here's a GREAT vets' resource in MA

I learned about this from DUer Dystopian. Note that it's not limited to a geographical area--they will help ANY vet:

Welcome Home Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Guardsman, Reservist

The Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center provides
Counseling, Case Management, Benefits Advisement, Outreach, Food Pantry, Medical Transportation, Permanent & Transitional Housing

Proudly serving Veterans and/or their families for 27 years!
Our core service area consists of, but is not limited to, the 24 Cities and Towns of the Montachusett Region.


The Montachusett Veterans' Outreach Center
http://www.veterans-outreach.org/

[Dystopian]

10. Thank you....

Thank you for posting this :hug:
It's a wonderful resource ...many lives have been changed.

Hope. Patience. Peace.

[Dappleganger]

8. Thank you for reaching out.

If we all just did a little bit we could really make a difference.

:hug:

[Dystopian]

9. Heartfelt thanks....

It really is nice to know that people care. And what you are doing is priceless.
I have a feeling that there will be a happy ending for him...
I have hope...he has you, a gift to humanity.

My heart goes out to all of them....

Thank you for the update...
Thank you for being you~

peace~

[Dystopian]

11. Kick for truth....

And for the love of humanity ...

Thank you, Jeffersons Ghost.
Much peace & love to you~