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 ?

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

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.

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

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

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


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.

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.

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

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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. 

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

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

Awesome!