This community for homeless veterans in Massachusetts is one of the initiatives of Soldier On, a nonprofit focused on helping veterans who are homeless or at risk. Plans call for expanding outreach to eight counties in New Jersey (shown below in red outline). COURTESY OF SOLDIER ON More than 7,000 veterans in New Jersey are reported to be homeless each year, but with the help of the nonprofit Soldier On, more and more of them are receiving assistance.
In its nine months of serving New Jersey, the Massachusetts-based organization has reached out to approximately 614 individuals, including 352 veterans, to provide financial assistance, secure housing and make referrals to other agencies.
“The numbers are definitely higher than originally thought, but we expected them to be higher because it’s difficult to get an accurate count on homeless vets,” Maggie Porter, director of communications for Soldier On, said in an Aug. 14 interview. “However, when we were on the ground, there was definitely more than expected.”
According to Porter, 335 of the 614 veterans and family members were homeless, and the remaining 279 individuals were at risk of becoming homeless.
While much of the homelessness results from a range of mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder or drug abuse issues, Porter said caseworkers for Soldier On are finding that many of the veterans have just fallen on hard financial times.
“There are mental health issues, there are drug abuse issues, but a lot of times it’s just, ‘I’m a couple of months behind on my rent because my car broke down and I can’t get to work. Now I have these added expenses [in] trying to fix my car, so I can’t afford rent,’ ” Porter said.
“A lot of times, veterans don’t know the help and the services that are out there for them. We come in and help with a couple of months’ rent, and then they are back on their feet.”
Soldier On has been serving Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean and Burlington counties through the use of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant program. In Monmouth County, Soldier On served 109 individuals, including 66 veterans. Some 63 of those served were homeless, and 46 were at risk of becoming homeless.
In Ocean County, the numbers were slightly lower, with 52 veterans and 34 of their family members served. Some 47 individuals were homeless, and 39 were at risk.
Middlesex County showed a higher rate of homelessness. Out of 114 veterans and 94 family members, 123 individuals were homeless and 85 were at risk.
In Burlington County, Soldier On served 120 veterans and 91 family members.
With so many more in need, Soldier On is preparing to reach out to a total of eight counties in New Jersey, using $4 million in grants awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Starting this October, the group will use $2 million to serve approximately 500 more households in Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties. The remaining $2 million will be used to continue services in the four central counties.
“Right now, the grant is $1 million but has been doubled to $2 million,” Porter said. “Under our grant, we provide case management and referral services, and we also provide temporary financial assistance for housing. That covers security deposits, rent, back rent, utility costs, moving costs.”
The process starts with a veteran or family member calling 1-866-406-8449. They are put in touch with an intake coordinator within 24 hours. After taking an eligibility assessment, the veteran is provided with a case manager, who sets up an appointment.
“Our case managers go wherever the veteran is most comfortable, such as shelters, at their homes, coffee shops, etc.,” Porter said, adding that to be eligible, the person has to be a veteran who earns below 50 percent of the area median income.
“A case manager goes to them and figures out what their needs are and if we can help them.”
In addition to expanding outreach, plans call for implementing the second phase of the program, which is to build transitional, low-income housing at Fort
Monmouth for veterans who are homeless.
“Our goal is to provide housing for veterans,” Porter said. “Our outreach grant is a great way to get us into communities, but our ultimate goal is to provide permanent, sustainable, beautiful housing for homeless veterans and change the end of their story. We help homeless veterans become homeowners.”
“Anywhere that we can have a presence, we are looking to build our housing,” Porter said. “Fort Monmouth is the only location so far.”
According to Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) will solicit bids for a parcel that is designated for housing for homeless veterans.
“I understand now that the Army has agreed to let us put out the RFP [request for proposals] for the homeless veterans,” Burry said. “That is a program that is going to be from the ground up. That should be happening by the end of the year.”
Currently, Soldier On operates veterans’ housing communities in two locations: a 165-bed shelter in two buildings leased from the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in Leeds, Mass., and the Berkshire Veterans Residence in Pittsfield, Mass., a transitional-living facility.
Since Soldier On was awarded its first grant in October 2011, the organization has served 2,245 homeless and at-risk veterans, spouses and children in New York and New Jersey.
For additional information, visit www.wesoldieron.org.