VOICE OF THE TOWNSHIP
When I walk in the Memorial Day parade in Waynedale, I try to greet as many veterans of military service as I can and thank them for their service to this country. The brave men and women who have served and are serving, often overseas, to protect all of us deserve all the help and support we can give them.
Unfortunately, far too many of our veterans are either homeless or in need of our continued help after leaving the military. The Veterans Administration estimates that nearly 200,000 veterans may be homeless on any given night.
The VA’s estimated number of homeless veterans in Indiana is between one and three thousand, with many of the homeless veterans having other problems, such as substance abuse or mental illness. The VA Hospital in Fort Wayne has helped 142 homeless veterans so far this year.
The Wayne Township Trustee’s Office has a history of helping our veterans through our annual Health Fair and Veterans Stand Down. During the Stand Down, which is scheduled this year for October 24th at my office, we provide free health care, warm weather clothing, personal hygiene products and other services.
My office works with the local VA Health Center to sponsor the Stand Down. Our Veterans Stand Down is one of only two Veterans Stand Downs this year in northern Indiana.
In addition to the Stand Down, I have been exploring other ways to provide better services to our veterans here in Wayne Township. We are in the process of partnering with Allen County and its Veterans Services Office to help educate Wayne Township veterans about benefits to which they are entitled and to help them apply for those benefits.
While our collaboration with the County still is in the planning stages, we hope in the future to be able to have a Veterans Services specialist in our office to meet with our veterans on a regular basis.
I also was privileged recently to attend a meeting at the VA hospital regarding programs, some new, the VA has for veterans. One new program the VA is introducing in this area is a transitional housing and treatment program for homeless veterans. The veterans will be able to live in a transitional housing shelter and receive help for substance abuse and mental health issues for from six months to two years.
Another program discussed at the VA meeting will provide housing vouchers for veterans through Section 8, along with case management.
I was pleased to be able to attend the meeting at VA and have an opportunity to interact with the staff there. No agency alone can provide the services veterans in our community need and deserve. We all must work together to better serve the veterans who have made the sacrifice to serve us.
Richard A. Stevenson, Sr.
Wayne Township Trustee
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