Services for Veterans
Volunteers of America - Greater New York serves homeless veterans across a broad spectrum of needs, with short-term emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing, as well as a wide range of other services. In the past four years Volunteers of America-Greater New York has more than quadrupled its housing services for homeless veterans, expanding from only 47 beds in 2007 to 354 housing units today. Four major programs have been added since December 2010.
On December 1, 2010 the Veterans Administration (VA) invited us to be one of only five agencies in the US in a demonstration project providing client-centered sheltering for street homeless veterans with a history of shelter avoidance. 40 beds at our Bronx-based Cromwell Avenue site were dedicated to provide Safe Haven shelter and programming for these veterans.
On April 1, 2011 the VA awarded a grant to Volunteers of America-Greater New York for 40 additional transitional housing units in our existing veteran’s SRO programs. We now have 100 units providing veterans with residential services for up to two years, with the goal of moving them into permanent housing.
On April 27, the NYC Department of Homeless Services selected Volunteers of America to operate the East 119th Street Veterans Residence. This SRO will provide permanent supportive housing for up to 174 veterans. In keeping with our commitment to service-rich programs, the residence offers case management, financial planning and budget management, employment counseling, crisis intervention, recreation and more. With sensitivity to the complex and individual struggles of veterans, staff will also help coordinate primary care, including mental health and substance abuse programming and social skills development.
Patriot House, our newest veterans’ program, opened on May 2nd. This is the first program in this region for which the Veterans Administration provides the funding while referring clients directly from VA medical centers. The new facility, a 40-bed, emergency housing alternative to discharge into the NYC shelter system, provides a safe dwelling for homeless veterans with special needs. Patriot House serves both male and female veterans; in fact, 18% of the clients are women. The staff provides essential social services to help the veterans regain financial stability and their physical and mental health.
Brian Bardell, VOA Director of Veterans Initiatives, says, “I attribute our success and growth to the unity, cooperation and planning that the VOA family puts forth on these important projects. Everyone makes an extra effort to ensure our veterans receive the best we have to offer, and we deliver on our promises.”