Homeless vietnam veterans and what is being done to help them - Essay Example

According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the number of homeless Vietnam era veterans exceeds the number of fatalities that occurred during the war. Statistics show that forty seven percent of the homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era. At present there are more than 200 community-based veteran organizations, besides the federal and state agencies in the United States, that are working toward providing the best possible care to these unfortunate war veterans. Besides these there are also some organizations in Australia, Canada, and South Korea that are helping the homeless veterans in their nation.

Many of them have quite an impressive achievement record. There has been a lot of support and a vast number of people have benefited from the various programs. But statistics still show that more than 600,000 veterans are homeless at some point during the year. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) The VA was one of the first organizations that extended its wholehearted and sincere support to the homeless Vietnam War Veterans. . Over the years, the VA has launched many new programs, which dealt with specific problems faced by the war veterans (NCHV Releases FY 2010 Annual Report, 2011).

Project CHALLENG In 1994, the VA launched the project CHALENG, which assessed the needs of the homeless veterans living in a particular area and then focused on their health care, education, job assessment, training, placement, and counseling. It also prepared a list of all the homeless services in the local area and encouraged coordinated services, which proved to be much more beneficial than individual efforts (HUD, VA Release Supplemental Report on Veteran Homelessness, 2011). Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program This program reaches out to the thousands of homeless people who are currently not receiving any kind of benefits and so are most vulnerable.

Prompt assistance is offered and the fundamentals problems that led to homelessness are addressed. They are then provided with individual care that includes getting physical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and help finding food, shelter, clothing and transportation (Homeless Veterans, n.d.). HCHV/Grant Per Diem Program The purpose of this program is to fund community agencies that provide services to the homeless veterans. It promotes the development of supportive housing for the homeless veterans to achieve residential stability.

This program provides grants through a competitive process for up to 65% of the costs of construction, renovation, or acquisition of a building for use as service centers or transitional housing for the homeless Veterans. The VA has recently founded a National Call Center. This Homeless Veterans hotline ensures that the homeless Veterans or