New Visions Homeless Veterans
No Veteran ever sets out to be homeless, and often when they end up here at New Visions they are broken in mind, body, and spirit. One of the first steps in problem solving is to gather information, and in this information gathering process nothing beats the internet. Computers are definitely a tool to help in the recovery process, here are a few uses they serve:
· Employment. Those without an income stream need to develop one, and employment fills that gap. Almost no employer takes paper applications or posts the jobs offline.
· Applying for Benefits. Almost all benefits must be applied for on-line, i.e. food stamps, disability, section 8.
· Bus Route directions. We do have bus tickets, but they must be able to navigate the system to get to destination.
· My Healthy Vet. An online service through the VA to manage their health care.
· Reconnection to family. Many veterans, once the healing process start want to reconnect with family. Facebook is an ideal tool to locate and communicate through.
· Search for housing. Our goal is to find permanent housing for each veteran. This allows them input to geographical area, or specific amenities.
· Research. Be it health, sobriety, diet or any other matter, nothing is better than the internet.
· Investigating and/or repairing credit. Starting with an online credit report, and a means to connect with various vendors.
· Online banking and bill pay.
· Entertainment. Online movies, music, hobby groups.
The above items assume that the veteran knows how to use a computer. By having a collection of "like computers”, classes on computer use, which they provide, they are much more productive. This education process is crucial and those without computer skills are considered illiterate. While this is the 21st century, most of our veterans are 20th century men and women without education and are afraid of technology.
In addition, we have a business printer for the sole use of residents. This allows for hard copy items to be made available, independently.
Picture below, left to right, VFW Post 1581 member, Dean Mathisen, VFW Post 1581 ADJ. / QM Dr. Steven Youngberg. New Visions Director, Steve Roberts. VFW Post 1581, Trustee, Marty Riemenschneider.
We have donated $344.88 JAVELAN, Inc. for training of service dogs for Veterans.
JAVELAN, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing service dogs to enrich the lives of military veterans, enabling independence and life-changing support. JAVELAN, Inc. was founded in January, 2017, as a non-profit organization to support the placement and training of service dogs for military veterans. Our primary focus is partnering veterans with trainers so the vet can obtain a fully trained service dog. JAVELAN is dedicated to assuring veterans in need will benefit from this opportunity regardless of ability to pay.
Our service mission is first, to provide our nations heroes that suffer with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), Traumatic Brain Injury, and many other affiliated physical disabilities, with trained medical service dogs, as well as supplies and a support team. Second, whenever possible we attempt to connect veterans with shelter or rescue dogs.
Our program delivers an all-around lifelong support system focusing on healing our Veterans bodies and minds while at the same time saving the lives of shelter and rescue dogs that would otherwise be facing euthanasia.
This program creates a scenario where everyone wins because multiple lives are saved. The dogs are given a purpose in a loving, forever home and the veterans quality of life is drastically improved with the medical assistance and by the healing power of their new canine partner
Picture below , left to right, VFW Post 1581 Sr. Vice Commander, Dan Hemmings, JAVELAN, Inc., Vice President, Bob Dean, VFW Post 1581 , Commander, C.L. Leighter.
