Marcia Bellinger Shields and the VA Homeless Veterans Program leave homeless veterans out in the cold - literally! Columbia Internet
I am an honorably discharged veteran and caregiver for my 80 year old mother who suffers from congestive heart failure and late stage emphysema with only 22% of her lung function remaining. Recently, portions of the roof in our dilapidated mobile home collapsed. Also, electrical power functions in only two rooms, water is available at only one sink in the home and none of the toilets flush because of the poor plumbing. I fill a large basin with water to flush the toilet. And I heat water for bathing, etc. We are being evicted due to the poor condition of our home. Homeless shelters would not accept my mother because of her health condition. And, while temporarily residing at a nursing home during my absence a few months ago, she was hospitalized twice, due to poor quality of care and refuses further nursing home care. I sought assistance from the VA Homeless Veterans HUD-VASH program, which provides Section 8 housing assistance to homeless veterans and their families, and veterans and families AT RISK for homelessness. After several referrals from the National Homeless Veterans Hotline, a Marcia Bellinger Shields with the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center advised me that I don't qualify for the HUD-VASH program because I am only AT RISK for homelessness and not "chronically" homeless. (Apparently, having a dependant with frail health and facing impending homelessness at the peak of winter doesn't qualify for homeless veterans' assistance.) Shields referred me to her supervisor, then she terminated the call abruptly. Previously, when I inquired about the HUD-VASH program, Shields referred me to local non-profits before abruptly terminating the call. Marcia Bellinger Shields and others need to realize that everyone, veterans and non-veterans, have a breaking point. You may not realize the harm your depravity can cause others. Beware that what goes around COMES AROUND!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Head Hunter
Columbia ,South Carolina,
General comment or Generally Stupid?
#3Author of original report
Fri, January 09, 2015
Dear General Comment "genius": You haven't provided any helpful feedback here. The only thing you have provided is demonstrative evidence that you suffer from a cognitive deficit! You should seek a career with the VA. Dementia is a prerequisite for employment and you meet the qualifications! You're hired!
Tyg
Pahrump,Nevada,
Sometimes...
#3General Comment
Fri, January 09, 2015
Sometimes there is no help. As a military man YOU should understand that. Stop wasting time bashing them because THEY are NOT giving you charity and spend that energy FINDING A NEW PLACE TO LIVE!!!!!! Talk to some of your old buddies. Contact social services. Don't waste the time to complain online because we all understand that not everyone can be helped. ok, we get it, YOU served. But how long ago was that?? Im not saying that you don't deserve help. I am saying that YOU are an adult and should be able to handle YOUR business. Talk to your family and friends. THEY are more likely to help you out. When you go for governmental assistance YOU HAVE TO WAIT!!!!! While YOUR situation is dire TO YOU, it is nothing in comparison to others. THAT is what they are telling YOU. NOT that you don't deserve help, but that there is a lot of people ahead of you who are much worse then YOU have it. Use that old training and pull yourself up by the boots and FIND A SOLUTION!!!!!!! All YOU are doing is WALLOWING!!!!! Even by making this post YOU are wallowing in your own self pity. STOP THAT!!!!! Its NOT going to help you and YOU have another person dependant on YOU!!! As someone who has a infirm parent I KNOW the personal hell you are going through. YOU HAVE OPTIONS!!!!! Talk to churches, look at getting a fifth wheel or RV. Don't look to that great "uncle" for help, because he is too busy trying to help those even worse then you. Contact a local TV station and have them do a human interest piece on you and your mother. The point is GET OUT THERE!!!!! You wont solve your problem dwelling on who CANT or WONT help you. YOU have to spend that energy wisely!!! Each day with your parent is a treasure and a present and I understand the worry you deal with, but YOU are a military man!!!!! When one avenue is closed to you, YOU find another way. Did you maybe contact your old unit?? You know those kids DO appreciate all the hard work people like YOU have put in. Maybe you could get your old unit to donate some man power to help get your place fixed up. Did you contact the local police?? THEY like to do little things like this all the time. And lets not forget that the local police have to deal with homelessness. So THEY might have a group they can refer you to. I hope I have been able to give you a few new ideas. I appreciate your service as should ALL Americans, but we cant even get ahold of our own starving and poor population. So seeking help from our BIG govt is almost impossible and the wait is even more so. Try working smaller. Good luck.