By Brad Estes on Wed 01/25/2012 08:40am
Posted in
The VA Medical Center is joining others around the country in efforts toward putting an end to homelessness among Veterans. Will Banks, social worker at the VA in Sheridan.
Health professionals in particular are asked that when they encounter a veteran who they might think need some help to contact Banks or the VA hospital. Or call the VA toll-free hotline at 1-877-424-3838. Visit va.gov/homeless for more information.
The goal is to "connect veterans with the support they've earned". The US Department of Veterans Affairs offers Medical and Dental Care, Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs, Housing Support, Job Training and Education Benefits.
Banks said there are currently 16 homeless veterans at the homeless shelter and 10 at the VOA campus that will be included in the VOA's Point-In-Time Count Wednesday. Those 26 “sheltered veterans” will go toward the VOA's final number. Banks says the accurate count on Wednesday is critical in determining the types of programs they will build in coming years to help them toward their goal.
The VOA's Point-In-Time Count begins at 8 am in the K-Mart parking lot, and continues until noon. It will also take place from noon to 7 pm in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Sheridan. If you know of someone who is homeless contact VOA, to help them with their "snapshot" of the homeless population in Sheridan County.
