Nevada likes to pride itself on being one of the most veteran-friendly states in the union, and often lives up to that goal in convincing fashion. However, one lawmaker says that a facility in the state may not be holding up its end of the bargain.
After an incident in which a veteran living at a Nevada state hospital for former servicemembers died with deadly bacteria in his system, Rep. Dina Titus is pushing for better oversight of these facilities, according to a column in the Boulder City Review. Titus serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and recently worked with VA Under Secretary of Health David Shulkin to craft a plan to provide that kind of review.
Data shows that from late 2012 to early last year, the company in charge was cited for 38 issues, and fined more than $20,000 as a consequence, the report said. In addition, it's generally seen as not even being the worst-kept such facility in the state.
The more lawmakers can do to provide safety nets for veterans for whom they are supposed to be providing support, the better off those former servicemembers will be going forward, regardless of their needs.
Many studies have shown that having a pet can go a long way for veterans and active military members alike when it comes to helping their mental state. With this in mind, one organization is helping to connect those servicemembers, both current and former, with pets in need of a home.
The Ann Arundel County Animal Control in Millersville, Maryland recently announced it has partnered with the nonprofit Pets for Patriots Inc., to give veterans dogs and cats more than two years old, dogs weighing more than 40 pounds, or animals with special needs at no charge, according to the Broadneck, Maryland, version of the local news site Patch. Through the program, the adoption fees are not only covered by Pets for Patriots, but also receive supplies and veterinary care for free as well. That includes micro-chipping the animals.
"Our goal is to help our adoption partners re-home harder-to-place pets that still have years of love and life to give while at the same time making it more affordable for military personnel to bring a pet into their lives," Beth Zimmerman, founder and executive director of Pets for Patriots, told the site. "We're delighted to work with Anne Arundel County Animal Control to give these last-chance pets a second chance at life and, in so doing, to enhance the lives of veterans in the community. Everybody wins."
However, veterans must apply for the program through Pets for Patriots before they can adopt an animal with all these benefits, the report said. Fortunately, that approval time usually takes two business days or fewer.
These kinds of programs connecting veterans with pets can have immense benefits for both animal and servicemember, as they can each get a faithful companion for years to come.
Officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs on Feb. 1 released building plans for a proposed addition to its West Los Angeles housing community for disabled and homeless veterans, reported the Los Angeles Times. The blueprint calls for almost 2,000 supplementary apartments and support rooms. The new addition would also include a cafe, cinema, gym and library. VA officials say the first stage of the project could open as early as next year. The proposed veterans colony is part of the city's larger effort to fight homelessness. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 40,000 homeless live in Los Angeles County, 4,000 of which are military veterans.
Housing the homeless
The city in September announced plans to combat its homelessness problem, reported The New York Times. The plan set aside $2 billion to address the issue over the next decade.
"This is the highest priority that we have, to make sure that nobody is living on the streets and nobody is without a home," Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a press conference soon after the Los Angeles City Council approved the initiative.
However, the city will not have to dip into these funds to build out its VA campus. The Senate in January authorized the agency to grant Los Angeles $35 million in federal funds for the project, reported Southern California Public Radio. The House of Representatives must still approve the funding.
Putting an end to the war
The American Civil Liberties Union in 2011 sued the VA on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans of America who accused the government agency of mismanaging its vast campus, reported the Los Angeles Times. Last January, the federal government settled the suit out of court and promised to develop a blueprint for additional on-campus housing. These latest plans are a product of that settlement.
"This is the first tangible proof that veteran homelessness is on its way to becoming an oxymoron in Los Angeles," attorney Mark Rosenbaum, one of the lawyers who represented the Vietnam Veterans of America in its case against the VA, said in an interview with the newspaper.
Working out the details
Much of the project involves restoring a number of historic buildings that dot the VA's 388-acre West Los Angeles campus.
"The campus has a number of beautiful old buildings, that are outdated and underutilized," Milo Peinemann, senior director at New Directions for Veterans, a nonprofit that helps build housing for homeless ex-military personnel, told Southern California Public Radio.
The buildings, while beautiful and conveniently located, pose a unique challenge to builders. Most of them require serious structural improvements to meet Los Angeles' rigorous seismic ordinances. And, many still show damage from a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that rocked the San Fernando Valley in 1971. The quake killed 64 people, injured another 2,543 and caused $553 million in damage, reported the Los Angeles Times.
"The next big California earthquake is a question of when, not if," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who helped authorize the funds for the project, said in a statement. "These projects are also critical to meeting health care and housing needs for veterans throughout California."
Veterans in Vermont are taking part in a unique rehabilitation program, reported The Associated Press. Ex-military personnel in the state meet weekly to participate in outdoor activities sponsored by the Killington-based nonprofit organization Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports which offers a variety of sports programs for individuals with physical and psychological disabilities. The organization hosts skiing sessions in the winter and hikes, mountain bike treks and kayaking trips in the spring and summer.
Many participants suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and say the outings provide a relaxing respite from disturbing memories.
"It woke up a part of me," Bryan Ashley-Selleck, a Gulf War veteran, told the wire service. "Doing all these things like skiing, and kayaking and fly-fishing, it takes me back to like being a kid again. It stops all the thoughts and you're mindful and it feels good."
The National Center for PTSD encourages those dealing with the disorder to develop an exercise regime and, through the Department of Veterans Affairs, offers nationwide sports therapy programs. Additionally, the VA in December granted $376,000 to Disabled Sports USA's Warfighter Sports program. DSUSA serves over 300,000 veterans in 20 states.
Benefits seen from nerve-wracking yet controlled situations
State agencies and third-party organizations sponsor similar programs in cities across the country. The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico in December launched Warrior Sports, a year-round program that hosts athletic outings for local veterans, reported the Albuquerque Journal.
Todd Vance, an Iraq War veteran, runs a mixed martial arts organization for former military personnel, reported an NBC affiliate in San Diego. The company, called Pugilistic Offensive Warrior Mixed Martial Arts, helps veterans deal with PTSD and other conditions through vigorous combat training. Vance says putting ex-military personnel in nerve-wracking yet controlled situations helps them re-establish control over their emotions. In short, if they can take a punch in the ring and calmly conceive an effective counter move, they can handle everyday situations.
"You have to cognitively make decisions while you're extremely stressed out," he told NPR. "I think that transfers directly over to, 'I'm at the stop light, why is that guy staring at me?' I'm going to stop, take a breath, calm down, assess the situation, as opposed to, 'I'm stressed, I react, and now I'm in jail.' It teaches everybody to slow down, take a breath and take things from there."
The Department of Agriculture and Chamber of Commerce Foundation on Feb. 17 announced a joint initiative to help veterans gain employment in the agricultural industry. The USDA plans to leverage the foundation's Hiring Our Heroes program to connect with former military personnel transitioning into life after service.
"Today's agreement opens the door for thousands of service members who participate in Hiring Our Heroes events around the world to benefit from USDA's vast array of tools and resources," Lanon Baccam, the USDA's deputy under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services and military veterans agricultural liaison, said in a press release. "This new partnership strengthens USDA's ongoing efforts to help veterans pursue rewarding careers in farming, ranching, or in the fast-growing agriculture and food sectors."
Filling farm employment gaps
Many in the agricultural industry a farmer shortage is nearing, reported Forbes contributor Geoff Williams. According to the USDA, the average American farmer is around 60 years old. Additionally, only 6 percent of farmers are under the age of 35 which means, in a few decades, one-fourth of the population will have retired for good. Industry experts believe almost a million new farmers will be required to maintain current levels of production. The number of crop workers is also falling. Most are around 40 years old, reported The Wall Street Journal.
According to NBC News, the reasoning behind the shortage is simple: Younger Americans don't want to work in the agricultural sector.
"The aging of American farmers coupled with fewer students in agriculture studies and the fact that so many younger people don't look at it as a profession to get into is very worrisome," Milt McGiffen, an agriculture professor at the University of California, Riverside, told the news organization.
Stakeholders take on the problem
Private companies have attempted to address the impending farmer shortage by lobbying Congress to act. The legislative body is currently evaluating legislation that would address the problem. The Young Farmer Success Act would allow young farmers who operate qualified farms or ranches to apply for government assistance and take part in a loan-forgiveness program. According to industry experts, starting a farm is immensely expensive.
"You've got to buy the land, the equipment, find buyers for your product. It's very hard work. Plus there's always the uncertainty of the weather. It's not an easy life," Jay Jackman, executive director for the National Association of Agricultural Educators, told NBC News.
Others believe young veterans could fill the void left by aging farmers, reported The New York Times. And, a number of nonprofits have developed to act on this notion. The Farmer Veteran Coalition, based in Davis, California, provides educational and financial resources to thousands of former military members looking to start farms or ranches. According to the organization, 72 percent of these veterans enlisted after 9/11 and 59 percent have disabilities sustained in combat.
For many veterans who take advantage of programs offered by organizations like the Farmer Veteran Coalition, agriculture is a natural fit. Often, these men and women come from rural backgrounds and arrive home after the service looking for a quiet yet productive career.
"My goal is to find a job where I can move my family somewhere more remote so we enjoy life," Erik Fries, a Marine veteran who works with an agricultural nonprofit in Illinois, told The Times. "I guess I'm looking for a simpler life. I really would love to start a family business and I feel a small-scale farm would be ideal."
Government steps in
Congress in 2014, as part of the Agriculture Act, created an initiative to fund veterans interested in starting farms. And, last year, the USDA formed an interagency partnership with the Department of Defense in an effort to integrate agricultural training into the military's Transition Assistance Program.
The USDA hopes its collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce Foundation will help save American farms while providing fulfilling and stable careers to ex-military personnel.
"When our young men and women raise their hand to serve, they're doing so for a greater mission and a greater purpose and a greater good," Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes, said in an interview with the Military Times. "The greater good also exists in agriculture: You're feeding the world's people."
Many states and cities have undertaken the challenge from the federal government to end homelessness among veterans within their borders. While there have been varying degrees of success in this regard over the last year-plus, there are a number of superlative success stories, and Connecticut is the latest.
Earlier this month, the state of Connecticut received official certification from the federal government that there were effectively no homeless veterans living there, according to a report from the office of Gov. Dannel Malloy. This came about rather quickly, because the state only announced it had ended chronic veteran homelessness last summer, so to have effectively ended it altogether was a big step as well.
"This milestone is a major one – we have been a national leader on so many issues and today is yet another reflection," Malloy said. "We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans, to ensure that veterans have access to housing, quality health care, education, and career opportunities. We're proud to have achieved this ambitious goal."
Connecticut took on the challenge of ending veteran homelessness in 2014, the report said. At that time, the state did not even have a Department of Housing, but now, with the help of other agencies, nonprofit organizations, and more, the goal has been reached. After a review from a number of federal agencies including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA, the state received a congratulatory letter from first lady Michelle Obama to commemorate the milestone.
As more cities and states ramp up their efforts in partnership with nonprofits, these efforts could reach thousands more veterans nationwide and provide them with the stability that anti-homelessness programs can provide.
Across the country, many veterans may have pressing legal needs, but no real wherewithal to deal with those issues themselves. Fortunately, the state of Virginia will soon hold free legal clinics to help advise former service members about any legal questions they may have.
The first four days in March will feature one-day clinics all around Virginia, put on by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, the state attorney general, and the Virginia State Bar, according to a report from the attorney general's office. These will be focused on helping low-income veterans plan their estates, including the writing of wills, delegating powers of attorney, and giving medical directives. Veterans can sign up on the attorney general's website, in person at DVS offices, or by mail.
"Wills, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives are really important documents that can provide veterans, their partners, and families with peace of mind and planning for the future," said Attorney General Mark Herring.
Veterans need to be able to look out for and tap any services that can help them in their daily lives, because there are so many organizations which exist solely to better serve former service members nationwide.
While many organizations exist to help veterans get access to more military benefits, some still struggle to get all the assistance they need. To that end, one university in Virginia is taking an extra step to help former service members access the health care they need.
Old Dominion University in Norfolk will soon hold its first Health Fair for Veterans, where it will provide many different types of health care, according to a report from Norfolk television station ABC 13. That includes general physical, women's, and mental health services, as well as access to specialists in the fields of podiatry, vision, hearing, dentistry, and even chiropractors.
In addition, there will also be workers from nonprofits and local organizations who can help veterans get other kinds of assistance, including advice when trying to claim outstanding military benefits, the report said. This kind of help is also available for families of veterans.
Veterans should always try to be on the lookout for these kinds of events and programs, as they provide much-needed guidance that can improve the daily life of any former service member.
Families of military members and veterans certainly do not always have it easy, but organizations exist to help them with the various issues they face. To that end, a home in Nevada that will provide plenty of comfort in the coming years to those families will soon open.
The Fisher House in North Las Vegas is located near the VA hospital in the city, and is designed to provide temporary housing to families of active military members and veterans while they are being treated at the health care facility, according to a report from the Las Vegas Sun. The "comfort home," as these facilities are called, is the 69th to be opened in the U.S., and this one came in well ahead of schedule.
Crews weren't even supposed to begin construction on the building until next year, but the public fundraising goal of $3 million was met far more quickly than anyone expected, the report said. As a result, only a few last-minute touches need to be made before families can start moving in temporarily. The home will have 16 suites, including private bathrooms, in addition to communal amenities like kitchens, living rooms, patio, and so on.
"Over its lifetime, this home will serve thousands of warriors and their families, and that is something of which we should all be Nevada proud," Scott Bensing, president of the Nevada Military Support Alliance, told the newspaper.
These types of facilities are starting to crop up all over the country, and as such they are able to provide significant peace of mind to current military members, veterans, and their families as they go through difficult times. The more that can be done to provide this kind of help, the better off former service members and their loved ones will be.
Many cities and states across the country are now doing more to make sure veterans are getting the attention and military benefits they both need and deserve. However, the efforts being made in Rhode Island do not go far enough for the tastes of many veterans living there.
As a consequence, the state government is now close to hiring someone to oversee veteran affairs, and that job will likely have a concentration on outreach, especially when it relates to veterans benefits, according to a report from the Associated Press. Neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut both have multiple state officials whose work is focused in this area, so Rhode Island has plenty of catching up to do.
This lack of centralized help in the state seems to be related to a widespread problem many veterans run into: Even if they are eligible for certain benefits, they may not know about it, the report said. To that end, the state is actually looking to hire two caseworkers with salaries of about $56,000 each, specifically to deal with this issue. Those positions have been budgeted since 2014, but other things related to the jobs weren't approved until last July. The director's position has likewise been unfilled since it was funded last year.
''[Veterans] just don't know what's available to them,'' David Smith, commander of the Disabled American Veterans of Rhode Island, told the news organization. ''And I don't know if all the veterans' groups know all the information.''
Veterans who aren't receiving benefits, or who believe they're not receiving as much as they should, may want to reach out to organizations both public and private to determine whether they're due any assistance in this regard. Those benefits can go a long way toward helping them in their everyday lives.