I am going to shamelessly use the CH forum for a topic having nothing to do with CH.

As a Veteran what do you percieive to be the biggest issues faced by Veterans in our society ?

1. Health care. Immediately and long term.
2. More pay, especially for the lower grades. At least enough to get the military families above the poverty level.
3. A job after leaving the military.

Thanks for asking about this important subject. The list could go on for forever.

I ask because tomorrow I meet with VA reps at one of the states VAMC.

I know this is late, but maybe you will have another meeting.

Health Care is extremely important, but along with that goes equality in health care. Veterans from WWII have top priority in VA health care. After that comes the Iraq/ Iran war vets, and the vets who were in Afghanistan. These people are welcomed with open arms and their medical appt's come ahead over older vets.

Vietnam war vets are low priority when it comes to receiving health care, and especially following up with their health care. Korean vets are in the same boat as the Vietnam war vets. If they are due health care from the VA (and most are), then the VA needs to get them in to be seen right away.

I know a veteran here, and he can't get into see a doctor to continue the medications he's on, because they are seeing the returning vets from Iraq/ Iran now. He needs follow-up appt's in various specialties, kidneys, cardio, and a few others. The VAMC wouldn't return his calls to set up an appt. He had to drive over there finally and get in their face to get it set up.

I know this is why you are on this board, but affordable housing should also be required, especially for wounded disabled vets who are on disability from the VA. Without taking it out of their disability income. They can barely get by as it is.

And what Bob said. Young vets pay needs to be adjusted up. Do they even make minimum wage?

Regular veterans don't need anything.  They did their duty and can go on with their civilian life.  It is nice that they get some health care, education assistance and house purchasing assistance but they really don't need anything.
Disabled veterans need all the health care and rehab we can give them.

Yeah, my wife and I fall into the 'regular' veteran category.  The military did not really owe us anything after we ended our service.

But VA funding... wow, is that atrocious.  Do not embark on a decade of war without first ensuring that VA funding is ramped up for the next 30-years to ensure our wounded are adequately cared for.   

The permanant housing  we will be providing will primarily serve homeless disabled veterans. In partnership with the VAMC residents will recieiive ongoing on site case management, transportation, job training and fully furnished studios apartments with rental subsidies attached. The building is designed to have a work out center, community room, and state of the art computer learning center. The building in Mass is not on a VAMC but integrated and part of the local community.


Its a work in progress with some needs to be determined by the residents themselves once the building is occupied

Ok, I'm gonna say my say.. The Viet Nam era vets are STILL being ignored insofar as the VA is concerned. To get any help for them, is a pain in the rear (ok it can be done, but it takes a lot of foot stomping and usually getting a congressman involved).

there are a lot of VN vets that need help that are falling thru the cracks right now.

I hope your project addresses them.

Off soap box..  :-*

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I hope your project addresses them

Vietnam era vets will receive the same considerations and services as vets from any other era.

I was in the cold war. All I get is the purple shaft with 13 barbed wire clusters.  Low income partial medical. I am sure happy I get even that. We kicked commrades ass though. ;)

seaworthy wrote on Mar 6^th, 2013 at 7:28am:

The permanant housing  we will be providing will primarily serve homeless disabled veterans. In partnership with the VAMC residents will recieiive ongoing on site case management, transportation, job training and fully furnished studios apartments with rental subsidies attached. The building is designed to have a work out center, community room, and state of the art computer learning center. The building in Mass is not on a VAMC but integrated and part of the local community. Its a work in progress with some needs to be determined by the residents themselves once the building is occupied

One more thing. When you have several disabled vets living in a place like this, one thing is to provide PLENTY of handicapped parking. Also, provide several entrances, and elevators near them. It's very hard for someone who can hardly walk even with a cane to have to park a long distance away in a handicapped spot, then walk a few hundred yards to get into the building, then walk some more to the elevator. Up the elevator, then another long distance down the hall. Make the studios easy to access from more than one location, this would be a big help. Most vets are too proud to even think about asking for help like this, but it is wearing and can be dangerous if someone were to fall down trying to make it to their apt.

If laundry facilities aren't available in the apt's, then make sure they are on every floor at least. And in more than one place, depending on how it's laid out.

Barb, yep, what you said.

Rock, funding the VA is one thing. Most of the people who work for them have credit cards with up to $50,000 credit limits, and can spend that in one purchase without being questioned. And believe me, they do it. And not necessarily on VA purchases. But that's another crooked guvment story.

Sounds like what you are getting at, Don, is good. Just try to think of yourself in a disabled person's place.. bad heart, back, legs,  can't walk more than 50 feet, can't breathe well, trying to carry groceries, laundry, etc. You'll get the picture. Is it on a bus route? Easy to get to? Any families with kids? Can they be separated from the older vets who are more of the loner type?

I'm sure it will be non-smoking. Not sure of the state laws, but that's a good thing. How many vets will stick to that? You'll see. Good luck, and thanks for asking.

One more thing, Don. I looked at the renderings in your other thread. Those places look really nice. The thing that concerns me is a lot of disabled vets can't handle stairs. Will there be elevators available? Instead of having 2 story apts, can they be one story, and the other apt be an elevator ride upstairs? This is pretty important.

After desert storm we were treated ok , better then the VN vets were, but never even close to the guys coming back in the last few years. Seems every war they do better. I am 100% P&T due to severe headaches (cluster and migraine) and some other things caused from an explosion in the desert.
You have to remember our government only spends money when they absolutely need to if its not benefiting them. So in order to get more for vets you need millions of signatures or backers that show them you mean business. Personally I think all combat vets should be tax exempt for at least 3 years after combat ends.

Any disability issues not addressed in the design features of the buildings will be addressed through the Reasonable Accommodation process. Parking at one of the buildings, a rehab of an existing historic structure, is unfortunately non existent however this particular building is on a bus line and a stones throw from the train station. In addition the VAMC will be providing transportation to meet health care appointments.



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I'm sure it will be non-smoking.

No. It will not be a non smoking building.


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Any families with kids? Can they be separated from the older vets who are more of the loner type?

Neither of the developments are designated as family developments. They are all one bedroom studios. Separating folks, however well intentioned, is a violation of Fair Housing Law.


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3. A job after leaving the military.

Massachusetts just signed a bill into law that allows a veteran to use active military experience and training towards professional licensing. Step in the right direction.

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Personally I think all combat vets should be tax exempt for at least 3 years after combat ends.

I believe war veterans shouldn't have to pay any taxes again, ever.


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After desert storm we were treated ok, better then the VN vets were, but never even close to the guys coming back in the last few years. Seems every war they do better.

That's because the veterans administration learned a lot from the returning VN Vets. There was no working with them to integrate them back into society, one day you're killing the enemy, the next day you are on a flight home back to "normal" life. They really didn't know what to do with them. And when they returned, people who screamed at them and spit on them, like the vietnam war was the Vet's personal fault it was happening. That's atrocious, incomprehensible and unforgivable. And unforgettable. Talk about PTSD and social issues, Barb, you know what I mean.

Desert Storm, they tried to work more with the Vets, after the learning curve with vietnam Vets and now, even more after learning from the Desert Storm. Now that they are working with the current returning Vets to integrate them back into society, and giving them health care, it's not too late to work with the vietnam Vets in the same way. They need the same programs  even now.

I believe providing this housing service to the vets, Don, is a great thing. Once it's up and running, I'm sure you will get plenty of visitors from other places to see how well it works, and maybe other states will create similar programs.

And what Bob said about health care, available, immediate, continuous and long term. And reasonably close. Veterans have to travel up to 4 hours to get to an appt. at the nearest VA facility that has the specialist they need to see. There should be an arrangement set up with nearby doctors, and hospitals to have these specialists available. Those vans they use for transportation can be a little uncomfortable to ride in, especially after surgery, or a procedure, or if you just can't travel that far without being in severe pain.

Ok, done for now. 

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I believe providing this housing service to the vets, Don, is a great thing. Once it's up and running, I'm sure you will get plenty of visitors from other places to see how well it works, and maybe other states will create similar programs.

This is a pilot program in that it is the first time VASH housing vouchers have been project based outside of VAMC. If the project is successful then my hope is the VA will expand the project based voucher program to developers across the states. States can not create the housing programs unless the VA extends the VASH voucher program.

Good news. We have two more sites in the developmental stage.

Started leasing up the Massachusetts building.

Veterans are coming out of shelters, domiciliaries and transitional facilities and into their new homes.

It feels good!

Great, now get the next building done...and the next...

Three more on the radar.

Awesome!