What the VRO does
Peel, who served as an aviation electronic technicians during the Vietnam War and then in the Coast Guard Reserves, now lives in a portable shelter he built for himself, and tries to raise money to make more for other homeless vets, the report said. The shelter is big enough for a mattress and sleeping bag. Peel, who calls himself "a crazy old guy" believes the option might be preferable for homeless vets who need a little extra stability even as they remain on the streets or living in rural areas.

Another inspiring story
On the other side of the coin, though, there are still plenty of organizations and individuals pitching in for homeless vets as well. One such effort recently helped a 20-year-old homeless vet in Cedar Falls, Iowa, according to a report from ABC News. There, Goodwill officials provided Marine vet Timothy Hogan with a job and a room in a four-bedroom home that he will share with other vets in the near future. Prior to this move, Hogan had been honorably discharged due to a medical issue, and bounced around between some local homeless shelters. The Goodwill home will not put any restrictions on how long veterans can stay in the home, and says it is focused on helping Hogan determine what his next steps in life will be.

"I think it's very rewarding serving veterans who have served us so well over the years, to pay that back a little," Steve Tisue, vice president of human services for Goodwill of Northeast Iowa, told the news organization. "Goodwill is grateful as well."

While the federal government recently announced that it had fallen short of its goal of effectively ending veteran homelessness, it has still gotten tens of thousands off the streets nationwide. That trend should continue for some time to come as well, thanks to both private and public efforts.

The many complications and challenges that accompany transitioning from active military service to civilian life have inspired several organizations over the years, from government agencies to regional charities. The thread tying these various groups together is their earnest desire to help veterans live the satisfying lives they deserve after serving the nation. Despite this web of existing services and programs, there is always room for new entrants, and there will be until every veteran has his or her needs met. Recent announcements have shown the latest wave of organizations taking action.

Dedication in South Carolina
The Post and Courier, based in Charleston, South Carolina, recently reported the creation of a new partnership known as SCServes Lowcountry. Its mission is to make connections between veterans and other community groups, and ensure that former service members are housed, employed and enrolled in health care plans. The news provider explained that the new program involves both government agencies and businesses. It is designed to ensure that when veterans experience multiple pressing needs, there will be an organization to offer them help.

SCServes Lowcountry is classified as a nonprofit and is aimed at both military members and their families. The Post and Courier reported that the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new program saw appearances from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Director Pamela Crowell, U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Secretary Christopher Lu and Wal-Mart Senior Director of Military Programs Gary Profit, himself a retired brigadier general. The combination of personnel from the local VA, federal government and corporate world shows the many types of organizations contributing to the partnership.

Lu explained at the ribbon-cutting that individuals reaching out to the Department of Labor or any of the other involved agencies are often facing issues that go beyond one organization's power to help, according to the news provider. This is why an alliance is being used as a solution, with SCServes Lowcountry helping families receive the care they need. Profit stated at the same ceremony that for its part, Wal-Mart has given jobs to over 3,000 South Carolina veterans between 2013 and the present.

Sister program underway in Pennsylvania
SCServes Lowcountry is one of several nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping veterans and their families thrive in civilian life. Pittsburgh newspaper the Tribune Review recently gave an update on the efforts PAServes has made since its opening in October of 2015. The organization has offered its assistance to 622 veterans and military family members. The group has taken action on a number of pressing needs, with job placement, health services and housing foremost among them.

According to the news provider, the national organization that backs the Serves programs, AmericaServes, has been especially positive in its assessment of the Pittsburgh branch. That means the office has been consistently active and has made progress offering services to the families of veterans. The everyday needs that these family members face, from care for their children to furniture for their houses, have become major focus areas for PAServes. The network of care providers will continue its work across the nation. 

Firefighters, police officers and EMTs regularly put their lives on the line to keep their communities safe, but the strenuous demands of their roles can take a toll. Events that create a sense of togetherness between first responders and the towns and cities they serve fulfill a valuable function, ensuring there is a strong bond between civilians and emergency personnel. These gatherings are a great chance for those in the community to let first responders know that their tireless efforts are being appreciated by the people they are keeping safe – as such, they can be valuable for morale.

Community gathering in Illinois
Champaign, Illinois news provider WCIA recently described one such gathering, designed to create a space where firefighters and police officers can mingle with the community they serve and enjoy a festive evening. Part of the National Night Out series of events, the gathering has been held in Champaign annually for several years. It is meant to foster an environment of inclusiveness, one where civilians and first responders take a stand together against crime in the community while relaxing and having dinner.

Neighborhood Association of Beardsley Park member Christine Bailey told WCIA that the events are always peaceful and thoroughly enjoyed by the participants. The local citizens get to spend time chatting with members of the fire and police departments, who in turn get to introduce themselves to those they serve on a daily basis.

Neighborhood Services' John Ruffin elaborated that the symbolism of the event involves the whole community taking a stand against crime. Individuals come out to mingle and support the efforts of first responders to keep the neighborhoods safe. This is a valuable connection, and one that can help prevent the fraying of ties between emergency personnel and the towns and cities they protect.

WCIA added that in Central Illinois alone, there are multiple other towns taking part in the National Night Out program. Decatur and other, smaller towns have organized gatherings along similar lines, ensuring that first responders in those communities have close and cordial connections to the public. Efforts to keep people happy and unified with emergency personnel may prove valuable for all involved.

Dining and dancing in Michigan
Another evening event for the benefit of fire firefighters, police and EMTs was recently announced in Michigan, via local news provider the Record & Clarion. This particular gathering, the Gladwin County Emergency Responders Appreciation Dinner and Dance is designed around the theme of free food and dancing. The event will also have a raffle that awards donated prizes to first responders who attend, as another way to show esteem.

The news provider explained that the community wants to show it values the contributions of first responders, as well as the support provided by their spouses, who are also invited. This Gladwin County event is new, being held this year for the first time. This demonstrates that new ideas for appreciation and community engagement events are popping up all the time, and there are multiple ways to ensure there is a strong feeling of connection between emergency responders and civilians.

There are a variety of creative and effective ways to raise funds for veterans groups, and exciting new methods and events are popping up all the time. These worthy causes have been helpful at both local and national levels, and it's worth periodically taking time to examine the programs that have done well getting much-needed money into solutions that will materially better the lives of service members once they return home.

One of the primary reasons to celebrate these achievements is that they may prove highly inspirational for the next round of projects. It's not too hard to imagine a world where conditions for veterans are markedly better, and the efforts of a few patriotic individuals and committed corporate leaders are showing the way.

Supermarket chain gives millions
On the high end of the donation scale, the parent company behind several different supermarket marquees recently conducted a massive funding drive. Southeastern Grocers is set to donate more than $2 million to Hope for the Warriors, according to the Montgomery Advertiser, a USA Today subsidiary covering Alabama. The news provider explained that Southeastern is the company behind Winn-Dixie BI-LO and Harveys. The total accounts for all profits from sales made on July 4, as well as additional donations.

The chosen organization, Hope for the Warriors, is focused on helping wounded servicemembers, as well as looking out for their families. The Montgomery Advertiser explained that it is less well known than some other nonprofit groups, but stands to gain in prestige as a result of the large new donation. In fact, expanding the visibility of the program was one of the main goals behind picking this recipient for Southeastern's fundraising, according to the corporation's CEO, Ian McLeod.

The promotional period went beyond raising money, and also included personal expressions by customers, the news provider reported. These took the form of posts both online and in person, with stores creating "Walls of Honor" adorned with messages from consumers.

Beyond Southeastern Grocers and the company's customers, other businesses got in on the fundraising. The Montgomery Advertiser noted that Pepsi, Tyson, Nestle Waters and more made donations to Hope for the Warriors. The organization has already started to see benefits beyond the one-time gift, too. McLeod told the news provider that inquiries to the charity are now up 40 percent.

Road race raises funds
While the above example shows how a massive corporation can help fund veterans programs, smaller events can be successful, too. The Chicago Tribune recently reported that this year's running of the Burr Ridge Run For Veterans drew 197 participants and raised money that went to Volunteers of America – Illinois. The organization runs two facilities that house veterans and family members, with a new building set to join the ranks soon.

The news provider explained that the Volunteers of America locations currently operating house 80 and 73 veterans, with the second also serving as a home for dependents. The organization's director of external affairs and resource development, Liliana Scales, stated that veterans can stay indefinitely for 30 percent of their income, even if that amount is very little. Once individuals find more stability, they move on to permanent accommodation elsewhere.

Over the past few years, more has been done at both the state and federal levels to assist veterans as they re-integrate into civilian life and deal with the aftereffects of their service. And while there have been plenty of bumps in the road during that time, the fact is that more is now being done than there has been in some time, and the government's efforts aren't going to stop soon.

President Barack Obama made this point and others in a speech to the annual convention of the Disabled American Veterans this week, according to a report from the Associated Press. While Obama was in office at the time the massive wait lists and documentation backlogs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs were uncovered, he noted that his administration has also done more to cut down those problems since the revelations, and that veteran homelessness has been significantly reduced during his presidency.

A big announcement
Moreover, Obama also noted that the U.S. government is now more than halfway through its goal of building a database of health care information for every veteran nationwide, the report said. That, in turn, should go a long way toward helping to shore up the kind of care to which veterans have access, regardless of where they seek it. And in general, this comes at a time when many in the veterans' community already have a strong opinion of the treatments they get at the VA, just not how long they sometimes have to wait to get it.

"We know that even though the access is a problem, health care in the VA is very good," DAV executive director Garry Augustine told the news organization.

That could, in theory, still pose some problems going forward because demand for health care among vets grew 13 percent in the past year alone, and that number could continue to rise, the report said. Add in the backlog of disability claims the VA still has to process, and it's clear issues still linger. While only about 80,000 remain from the initial backlog number of 610,000, there are still hundreds of thousands more appeals left to review.

More steps being taken
Meanwhile, even as the Obama administration touts its achievements with respect to veteran care, more work is being done on their behalf in Washington as well, according to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota. Writing in the St. Cloud Times, she said that she and Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst recently introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow veterans to have more personal power when it comes to scheduling health care treatments at the VA. As it stands now, wait times can easily exceed 90 days, and that number may be on the rise.

With all this in mind, it's important for veterans to know what it is that government officials are doing to help them when it comes to getting the care they need. Everyone in Washington and elsewhere would agree that veterans have sacrificed a great deal already, and therefore deserve the best possible treatment when their service is done.

Veterans have to deal with unique physical and mental stresses as a consequence of their demanding roles. The extent of the issue becomes more obvious with the release of every study on health and the military. That said, knowing about these problems is much better than letting them go unseen, and thus the wave of disclosures and increased focus on detection and prevention is a welcome development.

According to HealthDay News, one of the prominent challenges facing service members is troubled sleep. A good night's rest is vital to maintain overall well-being, but that can be an unreachable goal for some veterans, at least without treatment. As with all recurring issues affecting military personnel, the quality of their sleep is worth continued focus.

New report highlights sleep issues
The news service reported that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine carried out the study. The research covered 11 years, and the many veterans receiving health care from the Veterans Health Administration were the subjects. Over 9.7 million cases were studied, leaving the researchers with a huge pool of data. They concluded that veterans are six times more likely than members of the population at large to possess sleep disorders.

While the survey did not stipulate that post-traumatic stress disorder contributes to sleep problems, HealthDay reported that the researchers did find disorders were far more common among veterans afflicted with this condition.

"Veterans with PTSD had a very high sleep disorder prevalence of 16 percent, the highest among the various health conditions or other population characteristics that we examined," said James Burch, author of the study, according to the news provider.

The breakdown of disorders observed showed that there is no one sleep problem afflicting veterans. Instead, they can expect to face everything from insomnia to sleep apnea. HealthDay explained that chronic conditions not tied to sleep do tend to coincide with increased sleeping problems. The researchers stated that based on what they observed during the study period, veterans' sleep should be more carefully managed.

Mental health programs increasing
The suggestion that physical problems such as sleep disorders are tied to mental health outcomes puts more importance than ever on efforts to help veterans suffering from the effects of stress and trauma. Fortunately, many across the country are launching programs to do just this. Texas lawmakers Jose Rodriguez, Joe Moody and Cesar Blanco recently penned an El Paso Times column explaining their state's recent initiative to set up a center that will assist the service member community. It could serve as a model for similar project in other states.

The authors noted that the Texas Veterans + Family Alliance will now respond to mental health issues with the support of members of local communities. One of the program's signature features is a course that will equip veterans and their family members with mental health first aid, procedures that can help when conditions become unbearable. The training centers on issues that veterans frequently deal with, meaning that it will be highly relevant to the types of situations many service members encounter. Such training may create a more hospitable environment when military personnel come home.

Working as a first responder is one of the most difficult career paths an individual can take. Firefighters, police officers and paramedics find themselves in situations that put them under intense strain as part of their regular duties, and they need to find methods to cope with the added pressure. In this way, they share a great deal with active duty military personnel, who also spend plenty of time in dangerous conditions. As such, they are affected by some of the same problems that haunt veterans.

Coping with PTSD
The Aspen Daily News recently reported on efforts to help first responders deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. The news provider explained that, like veterans, emergency relief workers have a heightened risk of committing suicide – 10 times higher than the average U.S. adult. Bringing this rate down may rely on managing issues such as PTSD. Fortunately, some programs do exist to manage mental health and keep individuals comfortable, even when they have to face traumatic circumstances while on the job.

According to the Aspen Daily News, Michael Ferrara, former Aspen Ski Patrol member, paramedic and sheriff's deputy, is behind an effort to keep  first responders mentally healthy. He told the news provider that he had his own difficult experiences suffering from PTSD in 2009, and that the issue is sometimes denied the focus it deserves because it is not a physical disorder. Mental health can be more difficult to recognize and diagnose, but it demands attention, and Ferrara's series of lectures is designed to shed light on PTSD in the community.

Discovering and mastering coping strategies and treatment methods for traumatic mental health issues are important steps for first responders. Ferrara explained to the Aspen Daily News that he recommends getting fresh air, as well as spending time with animals and staying physically active. He stated that people who have been exposed to trauma should try to depersonalize the incident and not take it to heart – and they must not become to isolated. Being alone can be very harmful to mental health, especially when a negative event is preying on an individual's mind.

Healing those with mental trauma
In addition to taking better care of their own mental health, first responders around the nation are learning to better serve those in the community who are suffering from related afflictions. According to Hartford news source NewsTimes, local paramedics and other officials have begun to receive mental health first aid training. This program is designed to help them respond in situations such as providing medical care to those who have made suicide attempts.

Participants in the course told NewsTimes that the training has helped them relate to individuals who are at risk and engage in situations that it feels more natural to avoid. If first responders receive direct lessons in dealing with mental illness, they may be able to step into situations beyond their normal purview and bring more people home safely. It's clear that between the struggles of the population at large and the trauma-induced challenges facing emergency personnel themselves, increased focus on recognizing and treating mental illness is worthwhile.

In an ideal world, military personnel returning home from active duty wouldn't have to worry about employment. That said, many individuals do find it difficult to slip into civilian jobs when their time in the service comes to an end. This is why it's important to seek out and publicize industries and programs that help veterans find work. A job is a cornerstone of a settled life, and when service members have fewer troubles finding work, the whole transition to home front life is easier.

Trucking industry makes direct pitch for vets
A recent Arkansas Democrat-Gazette report showed that trucking organizations are making efforts to get veterans as drivers, not just for the sake of supporting these individuals but because they tend to excel in those roles. The news provider spoke with leaders of transport companies who noted that skills honed in the military, from logistics knowledge to detail-oriented thinking to the ability to manage oneself independently, help drivers become top employees.

"Attention to detail, in layman's terms, is noticing things that other people would walk past and just not see. We have to constantly monitor our truck, inspect it and make sure everything is what it's supposed to be," veteran and truck driver Nathan Waite told the Democrat-Gazette. "I would also add self-discipline. It does take a lot of self-discipline to drive a truck, be on time, and get up out of bed when you're supposed to. They definitely teach you that in the military."

The news provider explained that there is now a joint program between transport industry organization FastPort and the Hiring Our Heroes Foundation, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce agency. The Trucking Track is meant to create connections in the industry, so that veterans may match up with companies eager to hire them. This mutually beneficial situation will have more trucks out on the road and fewer veterans looking for work.

That isn't the only program designed to bring military personnel into trucking, either. The Democrat-Gazette mentioned Troops for Truckers, a Veterans Resource Network service. This program includes the option of training, enabling veterans to move right into the transport field, even if they didn't perform similar work before or during their time in the armed forces.

Occupational programs popping up
Of course, fields beyond transport and logistics also have roles for veterans, and there are more general programs to help soldiers become civilian employees. California news provider Valley News recently highlighted California Employment Development Department funding for workforce training. The EDD's director, Patrick Henning Jr., cited military-honed traits such as discipline and dedication as reasons why employers should work with veterans.

Valley News reported that the funds described above, distributed by the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, have prepared military personnel for roles in numerous civilian fields, with construction, health care and the energy industry among them. With strong skills from their days in the armed forces and programs designed to help them find new employment, veterans have something to look forward to when they return home. Communities with good job training opportunities are helping these individuals enter a new stage in life.