By Larry Dandridge
This is the third article in a series of three articles on homeless veterans and the resources available to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, depression, injury, illness, disability, or transition from jail. Articles 1 and 2 can be read online at https://yourislandnews.com/category/voices/larry-dandridge/.
The first two articles in this series covered:
· Two recent real-life examples of homeless or about to become homeless veterans.
· What a veteran should do and who to contact if he or she is homeless or about to become homeless. If enrolled in VA healthcare, contact the Veteran’s PACT Team social worker. Contact the RHJVAMC&HCS Senior Social Worker/Homeless Care Coordinator (HCC), Erin Ashoff, at 843-789-6804 or ErinAshoff@va.gov. If unable to contact the HCC, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. If you are in any kind of crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1. Call the North Charleston CRRC at 843-789-6804. Call your local County Veterans Affairs/Services Office (The Beaufort Veteran Affairs Office phone number is 843-255-6880, and the Savannah, Ga., Veterans Affairs Office phone is 912-920-0214, Ext. 312191.
· The high importance of enrolling in VA healthcare as soon as you leave military service or as soon as possible, any time after military separation, discharge, or retirement.
· The importance of knowing who your VA Primary Care Patient Aligned Care team (PACT Team) social worker is. PACT Team Social Workers are experts in all VA services and to whom to refer veterans.
· Who is the Charleston, S.C., Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Homeless Care Coordinator (and Senior Social Worker at the Community Resource and Referral Center – CRRC), and how to contact her. The RHJVAMC&HCS Senior Social Worker/Homeless Care Coordinator (HCC) is Erin Ashoff, at 843-789-6804 or ErinAshoff@va.gov.
· What the Charleston VA Homeless Care Coordinator can help with (food, shelter, permanent housing, employment, financial support, addiction treatment, depression treatment, health and dental care, and more).
· The Charleston, S.C., Community Resource and Referral Center – CRRC. The North Charleston, S.C., CRRC is located at 2424 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, S.C. 29406, 843-789-6804. There are 34 VA CRRCs.
· Using a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer at your local county Veterans Affairs/Services Office. The Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Office is headquartered at 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906; 843-255-6880. There are also satellite offices on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. USMC Lt. Col. (Retired) and Veterans Service Officer Caroline Fermin serves as the Director of the Beaufort County Office. Her phone is 843-255-6880, and her email is caroline.fermin@bcgov.net. Miquel Rivera is the Savannah, GA VSO/Office Manager. The Savannah Veterans Field Office is located at 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, GA 31419, 912-920-0214, Extension 312191, miquel.rivera@vs.ga.gov.
· How VA Vet Centers (the Charleston and Savannah Vet Centers) can help. The closest Vet Centers to Beaufort are located in Savannah, Ga., and Charleston. The Savannah, Ga., Vet Center is located at 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga. 31419, Phone: 912-961-5800. The Charleston/North Charleston, Vet Center is located at 3625 West Montague Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29418, Phone: 843-789-7000.
· VA and other Housing Programs (SSVF, GPD, and HUD-VASH).
· VA Employment Assistance Programs (HVCES and CWI).
· VA Health Care for homeless veterans (HCHV).
· VA Dental Care for homeless veterans.
This article will cover the VA’s Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) and Healthcare for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) Programs and other resources.
VA’s Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) and Healthcare for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) Programs
According to the Charleston, S.C., VA webpage, “Homeless Veteran Care” (https://bit.ly/4tEBM0n), the VA’s VJO program aims to prevent homelessness by helping justice-involved veterans with mental health or substance use issues access the VA clinical services they need. HCRV specialists (social workers) work with veterans to ease their transition from prison/jail back into the community.
VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management to veterans in local courts and jails, helping them navigate the justice system. Every VAMC has at least one VJO specialist. HCRV specialists meet with incarcerated veterans before they are released and assist them in planning for reintegration into the community by accessing VA and community services, as well as housing and employment opportunities. Learn more about VJO at the “VA Homeless Programs (Veterans Justice Outreach Program)” webpage at https://bit.ly/40e61gZ andThe Island News article “Veterans vs. the System (What veterans, their families can do when veterans run afoul of law enforcement, the criminal justice system), by Larry Dandridge, published on Nov. 4, 2021 (https://bit.ly/3ZKiY1Y).
Health Care for Re-entry Veterans Services and Resources
According to the Ralph H. Johnson VA Homeless Program and the VA webpage, “Health Care for Re-entry Veterans Services and Resources (HCRV)” (https://bit.ly/3Ok3MX2), most Veterans who are in jail or prison will eventually re-enter the community. VA’s HCRV program is designed to promote success and prevent homelessness among Veterans returning home after incarceration.
HCRV services include:
· Outreach and pre-release assessment services for veterans in prison
· Referrals and linkages to medical, mental health, and social services, including employment services on release
· Short-term case management assistance on release
The VA may not provide medical services that correctional institutions provide.
HCRV Specialist contacts
Each VA Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) has an HCRV specialist who serves as the regional point of contact and provides outreach and assessment services to incarcerated Veterans. Each state also has a specialist who is the state point of contact. The S.C. HCRV regional point of contact is Kyle Elsea at Kyle.elsea@va.gov. The Georgia HCRV regional point of contact is Brandy Stinson at brandy.stinson@va.gov. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Health Care System VJO specialists are listed in The Island News article “Veterans vs. the System (What veterans, their families can do when veterans run afoul of law enforcement, the criminal justice system), by Larry Dandridge, published on Nov. 4, 2021 (https://bit.ly/3ZKiY1Y).
This concludes the series on homeless veterans and how veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can find help.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, a combat and 100% service-connected disabled veteran, an ex-Enlisted Infantryman, an ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and a retired Lt. Colonel. He is a former Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA and Durham VA Medical Centers, a Fisher House Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for his local AUSA Chapter, MOPH Chapter, and VFW Post 7383. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.