Join the Fight Against Veteran Homelessness!

 

 

Hello to everyone, and thank you for taking the time to visit the Vet-4-Vets.com GoFundMe page. My name is Ronald Smith, and I served for over 17 years in the US Army as a medic. I am launching this page to help get some of the less fortunate individuals that have served our country the housing and dignity they deserve.

 

As a medic, my role was to take care of my Soldiers. It holds a special place in my heart for me. I have served combat tours overseas and taken care of wounded both home and abroad. I am one of the lucky ones. That is not to say I haven't suffered throughout my military career.

 

I am an OEF Veteran who suffers from PTSD, depression, and anxiety; I have broken bones, have metal in my body, and have been through divorce and the pain that brought my children. I have utilized alcohol to cope due to mental health help's stigma in the Military. None of these things I am proud of, but I have gotten to a place where I could come out and see the light on the other side when so many of my brothers and sisters in arms have not.

 

I have a wonderful wife and a family that supports me; I am receiving the counseling I need to make sure I am my best version of myself. I have a roof over my head and can help to support my family and myself. I was medically retired from the Military and currently work at the VA in the healthcare field, still taking care of my brothers and sisters in arms.

 

However, there is more that I want to do.

 

The housing and homelessness problems in this country are continuing to grow dramatically. The recent pandemic has not helped this situation, with many losing their income. My goal is to help a unique population that suffers from these issues.

 

Homeless veterans make up over 11% of the homeless population. This means that one out of every ten homeless individuals has worn the uniform and served to protect the freedoms we all take for granted.

 

Here are some statistics from Veteranaddiction.org:

 

• In 2020, the number of homeless veterans was 37,252, increasing from 2019.

• 98% of homeless veterans have a chronic pattern of homelessness.

• Men made up 91 % of the Veteran homeless population.

• African American veterans made up one-third of homeless veterans.

• Four states have seven out of ten homeless veterans. These states are California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Georgia.

• Veterans who were in the conflicts Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom have a 27% higher rate of substance use disorder than veterans involved in other conflicts.

 

Many believe that all veterans are taken care of by the Veterans Administration (VA). Veterans have free medical care and can get access whenever they want. The unfortunate reality is that it is not valid. Veterans must apply for benefits with the VA to get a service connection for injuries suffered while serving.

 

The Military does not help veterans when they are separating from military service. Often our veterans are unaware of the benefits they have earned with their service. To compound the difficulty, filing for help is often a time-sensitive issue for establishing a connection to military service for injuries suffered.

 

To understand what kind of issues our veterans suffer from, I urge everyone to watch the episode by John Stewart on apple tv relating to burn pits. This is just a glimpse into veterans' struggle to get their earned benefits. Here is a link to YouTube for a link to a short clip from the episode.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7PgaHnup3o

 

My goal is to utilize properties to help get Veterans off the streets and into stable housing and assist them with their claim process with the VA. Many Veterans do not know how to get the access and benefits they have earned with their service.

 

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

 

George Washington

The question that you may be asking yourself is how we plan to make this a reality. The first thing is to invest in property near VA Medical Centers in the states mentioned above. We live in a time in our great nation when the fewest people ever personally know a Veteran who has served.

 

Currently, that plan is that twenty percent of acquired properties will be set aside for Veteran only housing. This still means that we will need eight properties to support two Veteran only Housing options. Over time I want the percentage of Veteran properties to be supported by fewer for-profit properties. Veterans in need will be identified by contacting and working with the local VA Medical Centers and other community outreach sources.

 

For a veteran to qualify for the program, they will need:

 

1. A DD 214 showing proof of military service.

2. Be homeless, in danger of becoming homeless, or living in unstable housing.

3. Be willing to adhere to the program regulations regarding housing.

 

The housing provided will meet all the basic needs and provide an environment that will allow the Veteran to receive the help they need to thrive. The cost to the Veteran will be no more than 30% of their net income. Essentially, if a Veteran earns 1000 dollars a month after taxes, their rent will be no more than 300 dollars a month. Our other properties will be used to offset providing housing to these Veterans. Veterans will utilize the property for a term no shorter than two years once they move into a parcel and longer if needed.

 

What services we plan to offer Veterans:

 

1. Aid in filing for benefits with the VA through local resources. This can include disability, education, and job training resources.

a. When practical, a not-for-profit will be started, funded by the for-profit, to manage all Veteran occupied properties. The not-for-profit will offer all Veteran services near VA Medical Centers.

2. Helping Veterans with the process to upgrade their discharge, if possible, if general or dishonorable, to allow them to receive benefits.

3. Maintain the properties to a high level so that the veterans can feel safe and secure.

4. Working with local businesses to provide employment opportunities for Veterans.

 

I am sure that many more opportunities to expand on this list will present themselves in the future. I will bring back the dignity to these individuals. I want them to thrive and succeed by meeting what they define as success. I want them to understand that they do not have to face their problems alone.

 

I am asking for my initial goal of 500,000 dollars to acquire the property to get at least two Veterans off the street. And yes, I have put forth my savings to start this project and company. I will be utilizing any profits gained to build the network of properties to help more Veterans. Property in most high-need areas is not cheap and substantial resources will be needed to provide service to these areas. I genuinely appreciate any help that you are willing to give. Every dollar earned from the GoFundMe account will go directly to acquiring property to get Veterans off the street. We shall close on our first property at the end of February 2022, taking the first step on a long journey.

 

I thank you for your generosity and support.

 

Ronald Smith

Founder

Vet-4-Vets.com