Before the Joint Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee on Appropriations Regarding Housing Our Heroes, Addressing the Issue of Homeless Veterans in America.

May 1, 2008

Good morning Madam Chairwoman Murray, Ranking Member Bond, and distinguished members of this subcommittee. Thank you for giving Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) the opportunity to offer our comments on Housing Our Heroes, Addressing the Issues of Homeless Veterans in America.

Homelessness continues to be a significant problem for veterans especially men and women veterans who served during the Vietnam era. The VA estimates about one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services. Current population estimates suggest that about 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Of that number about 4-5% are women veterans with VA reporting that of the new homeless veterans this is as high as 11% for woman veterans.

Homelessness has varied definitions and many contributing factors. Among these are PTSD, a lack of job skills and education, substance abuse and mental-health problems. The homeless require far more than just a home. A comprehensive, individualized assessment and a rehabilitation/treatment program are necessary, utilizing the “continuum of care” concept. Assistance in obtaining economic stability for a successful self-sufficient transition back into the community is vital. Although many need help with permanent housing, some require housing with supportive services, and others need long-term residential care.

Read or Print Complete Testimony

Press release: Vietnam Veterans of America Endorses Snowball Express  

(Washington, D.C.)--Vietnam Veterans of America is proud to endorse Snowball Express, the nation’s largest gathering of military widows, widowers, and their children who have lost a husband or wife since 9/11 in the war on terrorism.

Snowball Express 2008, scheduled to take place December 16-19 in Orange County, California, will provide a weekend of entertainment for over 1,000 children and their surviving parents. Financing for this weekend of fun will come entirely from donated funds.

Vietnam Veterans Sought for Research Study

The Indiana-Ohio Center for Traumatic Amputee Rehabilitation Research Project (a joint venture of Ohio State University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) is looking for Vietnam veterans who incurred traumatic amputations during the war to participate in a research project designed “to determine functional, psycho-social and other outcomes over their life span”.  Participation is entirely voluntary and confidential. 

[More Information]

2008 VVA and AVVA membership Directory

Harris Connect has started to contact our members, by phone and email, regarding the Membership Directory. This message is intended to assure our members that the calls from Harris Connect are legitimate. Members do not have to respond if they choose not to.  The Directory is scheduled for completion in Fall 2008.

To order the new 2008 VVA/AVVA member directory with color photos please contact Harris Connect at (800) 558-7915.

The Wall 25th Anniversary Commemorative book To commemorate the anniversary and memorial events, Vietnam Veterans of America has teamed up with Boston Publishing Company, known to most of our members as the publisher of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book series, The Vietnam Experience. [Order The Wall Book]

Powerful new song helps modern day veterans

Mia Global Publishing LLC is donating all proceeds from their new song “Nation’s Prayer” to two Veteran groups to help them continue thehumanitarian programs they run to assist Veterans: The Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) and The Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund (VVAF).  “We chose the VMW and the VVAF because they do aremarkable job of helping our veterans, especially the modern day veterans,” states Mia Global owner and producer Dan D’Alio. Dan adds, “The spirit of the song, which was influenced by the war on terror, brings out the emotional struggle that everyone deals with when in any military conflict.” [See complete press release]

Support VVAF! Order your copy today by clicking on the ad below!