OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- According to the United States Census Bureau there are more than 21 million veterans in United States and nearly 50,000 are homeless.
Nebraska comes in slightly below the natural average with 241 homeless veterans.
As a preventative measure, the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration and the Unites States Interagency Council on Homeless created a system to identify veterans who may be at risk for homelessness.
Prior to separating from the service, veterans speak with a member of the Airmen and Family Readiness Center who assess the following:
- Does the member have somewhere to stay for the next 90 days?
- Can the member pay for their hotel or motel plan?
- Can the member return to their home of record?
- Does the member have shelter or transitional housing?
- Can the member identify a safe place to stay?
- Does the member have less than 90 days until separation and no stable housing?
- Is the member receiving a medical or less-than-honorable discharge?
“It’s a very passive system, as far as the information the service member has to give,” said Aimee Salter, 55th Force Support Squadron A&FRC community readiness consultant.
If any of the risk factors are identified, A&FRC is required to connect the member with a Veteran’s Administration representative in what is called a “warm-handover.”
For veterans who are already homeless, the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System has programs in place. Their services assist homeless vets and their families in need of housing, food and more.
They also have a program for at-risk veterans and their families. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing, they assist with medical and housing needs.
For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/homeless/for_at_risk_veterans.asp . Additionally, toolkits to assist homeless, potentially homeless vets or anyone interested in helping homeless vets can be found at https://www.va.gov/homeless/get_involved.asp.