Vet Corp Secures Property to Build a Veterans Homeless Shelter
By: Jose G. Landa©
There are over 196,000 misplaced (Homeless) War Veterans in the United States of America. While only 8% of America’s population is comprised of Veterans, they make up a disturbing 23% of the homeless population across the nation.
This sobering statistic is on average three times greater than the civilian homeless population. On any single night in 2012 there were over 62,000 veterans sleeping in the streets or in homeless shelters across the United States.
Vet Corp coordinator for Maverick County Benjamin Estrada who was appointed on February 1, 2013 to this newly established program in Maverick County is in the process of establishing a Veterans homeless Shelter in Maverick County.
“We have taken the first step and have secured a property to establish the Veterans Homeless Shelter. Within the up-coming months with the organizational help of our local veterans, we will begin a variety of fundraising events to procure the necessary funds to begin the building process. With this program we will assure that any Veteran from the area or other who shows up to the facility is provided the proper shelter and help. Any veteran will be helped as long as they provide the proper documentation in this case a discharge document (DD214) and if not as long as we can find the proper documentation of justification of service we will assist them,” said Estrada. “Along with this program, we will also be bringing different services to our veterans such as substance abuse counseling and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) services. We plan to provide rehabilitation services for our Veterans and their families,” said Estrada.
“It is understood that our veterans have many needs and we are trying to address these issues as best as possible. For example, medical visits they have to travel to the nearest V. A. facilities in Laredo or San Antonio to get treatment. Unfortunately funding is an issue to be able to bring those medical facilities closer to the veterans in our region. But I feel that there are ways to push the issue and get our Veterans the adequate help needed to address all their needs medical and otherwise,” said Estrada.
Albert Daniel, a local volunteer Veterans Assistant, stated that through this program and the V.A. they are trying to arrange transportation to assure that the Veterans make it to their medical destination without any problems as well.
“It is important to recognize our veterans for their honored service to our country. We must recognize that they are the reason for our freedoms and we must do everything to take care of those who have sacrificed so much for us,” said Daniel.
“One of the things that we also help the veterans with is the paperwork that is needed to deal with any medical services, burial services or any questions that have to do with veteran affairs. If anyone has any questions, you can reach me at 2999 Lindberg Circle at Lewis Estates Farm or you can contact Ismael Castillo, Veterans Officer for Maverick County,” said Estrada.
