Helping Veterans #7

For the Veteran... By a Veteran

They don't tell you everything, which is where "For the Veteran... By a Veteran" comes in. SSG Mike Mills (retired) has lived the trauma of war and injury, depression and guilt, but is on the path to recovery and has set up an organization to help other vets like him do the same.

If you are looking for assistance or a way to help those that do please check them out.

"I broke my foot, my hip, I actually shattered my hip and I broke my shoulder," Mills said. "Along with the burns, I lost a pinky on the left hand, my thumb on my left hand, part of my nose, but my nose has been rebuilt."

After the explosion, Mills blamed himself for his injuries. He hated himself. But he quickly got over those negative feelings with his family's support and help from his psychiatrist.

To help other soldiers do the same, he has started For the Veteran, By A Veteran.

excerpt from: Minnesota Public Radio online news

Helping Veterans #6

PBS and Bill Moyers offer a list of government and non-government resources for veterans as well as a look at how combat changes a person's life.

VA Aims To Curb Homelessness

From the Washington Post:

The Department of Veterans Affairs laid out Tuesday an ambitious five-year goal of curbing the number of homeless veterans, pledging $3.2 billion to an issue that is more rapidly affecting those who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars than by any from past conflicts.

"No one who has served this nation as veterans should ever be living on the streets," VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said.

"In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless veterans off the streets," Shinseki said. "This plan is different. It aims as much, if not more, on preventing as it does on rescuing those who live on the streets."

POUR at AIFF

Pour will be showing at the Anchorage International Film Festival which runs from December 4 - 11, 2009.

Helping Homeless Vets in Philadelphia

From Gathering of Eagles:

Our short range goal is to find as many vets as we can and get them off the street, but we fully intend to develop this into a national program once we work the bugs out here in Philadelphia. If anyone is available on Thursdays from 1100-1300hrs and wants to help please contact us and we’ll get you into the mix. If anyone has other availability we can always use volunteers on site to sort clothes, assist with paperwork, etc.

Unfortunately they don't have any contact info or directions for those interested in volunteering. Will update if I can get any info.

NOT Helping Veterans #1

This is disgusting:

Taylor residents oppose proposed women veterans center in their neighborhood

October 11, 2009, Taylor, Texas (Austin American-Statesman)— A California company wants to convert an empty facility formerly used as nursing home into a trauma assistance center for as many as 88 female veterans, including those who have been sexually assaulted by fellow soldiers.

But some Taylor residents say they don't want the facility in their town.

"It would put veterans in a situation where they are going to a town that doesn't want them," said Cherri Wolbrueck, co-owner of a Taylor bookstore.

I guess "Support Our Troops" is only a catchy phrase to the folks of Taylor, Texas.

Homeless Women Veterans Increase

From CNN: With the U.S. Army now at 15 percent female, and more women providing supporting roles in combat zones, female vets are becoming homeless at a faster rate than men, said Department of Veterans Affairs spokesman Pete Dougherty.

Read the full article

For a blog journaling the efforts of one female veteran going through this I highly recommend reading Soldier, Interrupted.