Veteran Sanctuary
Donation protected
Our nation has a crisis very few acknowledge and even fewer who rise to do something about it. We are failing those who swore to protect and defend us……
According to a report made by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, as of January 2017, there are approximately 40,000 homeless veterans in the United States currently. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, approximately 1,267 of the 40,000 homeless veterans reside in the state of Illinois (Placing Illinois in 9th for largest homeless veteran population). One primary issue homeless veterans (and homeless populations in general) is a lack of sustainable resources and programs to aid/assist their transition back into the community.
These men and women are faceless entities roaming the streets ignored and cast aside. The symbol of a blank dog tag is representative of those who have been forgotten. To further put that into perspective, 40,000 is the mid-range size of a Large town in the United States (So imagine an entire town is missing and forgotten).
Of the 40,000 homeless veterans; approximately 13,000 are from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND).
Another discouraging fact is that there are 1.4 million veterans in the United States currently that are on the verge of becoming homeless as well. To put that number in perspective, 1.4 Million is roughly the population of San Diego. 68% of homeless veterans reside in principal cities; while the remaining 32% reside in suburban/rural areas. 9% of the homeless veteran population are female. 11% of the adult homeless population in the United States are veterans. With 51% of homeless veterans having some disability and 51% suffering from a serious mental illness. 70% of homeless veterans are currently battling substance abuse.
Two-thirds of the current homeless veteran population are Vietnam Veterans (This number is declining due to Vietnam Veteran deaths and the rising increase of modern war veterans becoming homeless).
The organization I intend on creating (Project Sanctuary) will include the four previously mentioned qualities and much more to give these men and women who have been all but forgotten by most a second chance at life. This organization will have the sole mission of helping any and all homeless veterans in the United States (Initial Sanctuary will be in Ilinois).
The 1,267 homeless veterans in the state of Illinois is an approximation as there can be thousands more who are “off-the-grid” and are remaining hidden from the public eye. Furthermore, these estimates are generally based on a “headcount” statistic method that relies on a veteran being counted based on being enrolled in assistance program (This method of counting can lead to counting a veteran several times or a veteran in need not being counted at all due to not being in any system or program). This organization will not only aid/assist those in need and get them back to the life they once had, but will also send out envoys (Locally, statewide, and potentially nationally) to locate and rescue veterans in need.
The funding for this organization will go to the following:
1) Acquisition of all appropriate licenses and certifications to legally house, treat, educate, and assist veterans in need.
2) The acquisition of real estate locations to be converted into Sanctuaries for veterans in need (Including any permits for construction, removal, or lot type conversion).
3) Obtaining the necessary equipment and supplies to begin the program (Beds, clothes, food supplies, medicine, educational tools, vehicles, etc.).
4) Provide a pool of resources to assist in the advertising and securing volunteers and licensed staff.
5) Give the ability to travel and properly communicate with numerous organizations and governmental branches to potentially obtain additional funding for the program/expansion of the program to other locations in the state or nation.
As a disabled veteran, I have personally experienced some of the disparities when it comes to finding aid/assistance when in need. The major organizations attempting to remedy the veteran crisis tend to find themselves overwhelmed and unable to properly assist all in a timely manner. The benefit of the Sanctuary program is to create numerous installations that can inevitably become self-sustaining (Alleviating financial/resource strain on the organization as a whole). The program is structured to sustain itself through incentive programs to have rehabilitated veterans return to the program in some capacity to aid others (Creating a vast community of those with common ground and understanding).
The Sanctuary Project will utilize a 3-Phase progression system to aid those in need
Phase 1 Intake/Evaluation
· Locate/Relocate veterans to Sanctuary locations
o Relocation can be mean finding veterans in need outside the local area and moving them to a Sanctuary facility or transition a veteran to a different geographical location to another sanctuary if the local area/populace is found to be one of the primary causes of their issue(s).
· Evaluate the initial and long-term needs of each veteran
o Construct a Rehabilitation Plan for each veteran
o Properly identify the specific needs/issues impeding each veteran and building a plan to help the veteran succeed.
o Moving at their own individual pace and adjusting plans to suit the progression rate of the veteran or add/remove portions based upon new issues or eradication of issues.
Phase 2 Rehabilitation/Treatment
· Medical Evaluation/Diagnosis
o Each veteran will be examined thoroughly to fully understand the physical, psychological, and sociological issues that need to be addressed and treated.
o Each veteran will have a Rehabilitation Plan that includes their past/current/future issues and challenges and creating a solution plan (with time projection range/feasibility).
o If care a portion of the veteran’s care cannot be met by the organization; third party assistance will be utilized (Hospitals, Private Practice Doctors, etc.) to ensure the full recovery of each veteran.
· Entitlement
o Each veteran will be assisted in gaining access to any/every program that they are entitled to (Obtaining military records, filing disability claims, appealing claims, obtaining enrollment in qualifying programs).
o Each Sanctuary will seek out Federal, State, and Local resources to assist in meeting the goals of each veteran in need.
o Qualifying veterans will be enrolled in VA funded education programs to further assist in the reintegration process.
o Veterans will be given access to numerous forms of education to aid in Job training, Interviews, Job Placement, Education advancement, etc.
o Veterans will be given access to legal assistance to help with previous or current legal issues that have caused or exacerbated their homeless situation.
Phase 3 Reintegration/Placement
o Upon completion of their individual rehabilitation plan, each veteran will be assisted in locating and securing employment, permanent residence, and means of transportation assistance.
o Depending on the nature of the veteran’s choice of education/employment, they will be offered an incentive to return to the organization to further assist others in need (Through staffing, investing, managing, or creating other Sanctuaries).
Phase 4 Permeance/Failure
This 4th phase is situational and is not meant to be a linear step for all veterans. This phase is a limbo phase in the event a veteran is unable to successfully be treated, rehabilitated, or reintegrated.
o In the event, a veteran is unable to complete any phase of the program and after several evaluation periods have passed; a veteran may be placed in a “permanent” treatment system.
o A Permanent Treatment System is essentially an area of real estate that has been acquired and converted to be an isolated self-sustained community for veterans that are unable to reintegrate back into society. These communities will be secluded (If possible) from the main populace and given access to all needed amenities to live out their lives in a community unburdened.
o It is to be noted that if the reasoning behind failing to complete the 3-Phases stems from lack of trying or refusal to adhere to the system, the veteran will be removed from the program and all neighboring veteran programs/organizations will be notified of the veteran’s behavior and conduct.
A breakdown of where donations will go (Initially, once the location is acquired the percentages will shift).
Initial Funding Budget
55-65% Real Estate Acquisition
35-25% Resource and Renovation
10% Daily Operations* (Percentage may increase based on needs)
Locations that have been foreclosed or have sat for long periods of time on the market are ideal for acquiring, converting, and renovating into Sanctuaries.
Former Greeley High School
Price: $150,000* (Negotiable)
Building Size: 39,000 sqft
Lot Size: 3 Acres
Parking: 50 Spaces
Current Zoning: R-6 (Will be converted)
Second Phase Funding (After Location has been acquired and renovated)
85% Resources/Supplies for Veterans
10% Daily Operations
5% Repairs/Emergency Situations
As supplies are obtained and cataloged the amount of funding going toward physical resources will be reduced (ONLY if a large enough surplus of supplies has been obtained) and channeled into upgrading/providing veterans with resources they may need that were not initially budgeted (I.E. Creation of a full gym, Library, etc.). This does not mean funding won’t go to these resources during the Second Phase initially, it simply means that only a minimal amount will be put aside for it until the most critical and crucial supplies/resources are obtained for the veterans.
This project will initially be utilized to solve the homeless/in need veteran population. Upon success of eradicating the crisis, the program will be converted to resolve the civilian homeless/in need population. 100% Transparency should not be optional, it should be mandatory for every organization. If I go to buy socks for veterans at a local store, all of you will know when, where, how many, and how much it cost.
I will do everything in my power to help my fellow brothers and sisters who are lost not in a foreign war but lost right here on the streets of America. Thank you for your consideration.
According to a report made by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, as of January 2017, there are approximately 40,000 homeless veterans in the United States currently. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, approximately 1,267 of the 40,000 homeless veterans reside in the state of Illinois (Placing Illinois in 9th for largest homeless veteran population). One primary issue homeless veterans (and homeless populations in general) is a lack of sustainable resources and programs to aid/assist their transition back into the community.
These men and women are faceless entities roaming the streets ignored and cast aside. The symbol of a blank dog tag is representative of those who have been forgotten. To further put that into perspective, 40,000 is the mid-range size of a Large town in the United States (So imagine an entire town is missing and forgotten).
Of the 40,000 homeless veterans; approximately 13,000 are from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND).
Another discouraging fact is that there are 1.4 million veterans in the United States currently that are on the verge of becoming homeless as well. To put that number in perspective, 1.4 Million is roughly the population of San Diego. 68% of homeless veterans reside in principal cities; while the remaining 32% reside in suburban/rural areas. 9% of the homeless veteran population are female. 11% of the adult homeless population in the United States are veterans. With 51% of homeless veterans having some disability and 51% suffering from a serious mental illness. 70% of homeless veterans are currently battling substance abuse.
Two-thirds of the current homeless veteran population are Vietnam Veterans (This number is declining due to Vietnam Veteran deaths and the rising increase of modern war veterans becoming homeless).
The organization I intend on creating (Project Sanctuary) will include the four previously mentioned qualities and much more to give these men and women who have been all but forgotten by most a second chance at life. This organization will have the sole mission of helping any and all homeless veterans in the United States (Initial Sanctuary will be in Ilinois).
The 1,267 homeless veterans in the state of Illinois is an approximation as there can be thousands more who are “off-the-grid” and are remaining hidden from the public eye. Furthermore, these estimates are generally based on a “headcount” statistic method that relies on a veteran being counted based on being enrolled in assistance program (This method of counting can lead to counting a veteran several times or a veteran in need not being counted at all due to not being in any system or program). This organization will not only aid/assist those in need and get them back to the life they once had, but will also send out envoys (Locally, statewide, and potentially nationally) to locate and rescue veterans in need.
The funding for this organization will go to the following:
1) Acquisition of all appropriate licenses and certifications to legally house, treat, educate, and assist veterans in need.
2) The acquisition of real estate locations to be converted into Sanctuaries for veterans in need (Including any permits for construction, removal, or lot type conversion).
3) Obtaining the necessary equipment and supplies to begin the program (Beds, clothes, food supplies, medicine, educational tools, vehicles, etc.).
4) Provide a pool of resources to assist in the advertising and securing volunteers and licensed staff.
5) Give the ability to travel and properly communicate with numerous organizations and governmental branches to potentially obtain additional funding for the program/expansion of the program to other locations in the state or nation.
As a disabled veteran, I have personally experienced some of the disparities when it comes to finding aid/assistance when in need. The major organizations attempting to remedy the veteran crisis tend to find themselves overwhelmed and unable to properly assist all in a timely manner. The benefit of the Sanctuary program is to create numerous installations that can inevitably become self-sustaining (Alleviating financial/resource strain on the organization as a whole). The program is structured to sustain itself through incentive programs to have rehabilitated veterans return to the program in some capacity to aid others (Creating a vast community of those with common ground and understanding).
The Sanctuary Project will utilize a 3-Phase progression system to aid those in need
Phase 1 Intake/Evaluation
· Locate/Relocate veterans to Sanctuary locations
o Relocation can be mean finding veterans in need outside the local area and moving them to a Sanctuary facility or transition a veteran to a different geographical location to another sanctuary if the local area/populace is found to be one of the primary causes of their issue(s).
· Evaluate the initial and long-term needs of each veteran
o Construct a Rehabilitation Plan for each veteran
o Properly identify the specific needs/issues impeding each veteran and building a plan to help the veteran succeed.
o Moving at their own individual pace and adjusting plans to suit the progression rate of the veteran or add/remove portions based upon new issues or eradication of issues.
Phase 2 Rehabilitation/Treatment
· Medical Evaluation/Diagnosis
o Each veteran will be examined thoroughly to fully understand the physical, psychological, and sociological issues that need to be addressed and treated.
o Each veteran will have a Rehabilitation Plan that includes their past/current/future issues and challenges and creating a solution plan (with time projection range/feasibility).
o If care a portion of the veteran’s care cannot be met by the organization; third party assistance will be utilized (Hospitals, Private Practice Doctors, etc.) to ensure the full recovery of each veteran.
· Entitlement
o Each veteran will be assisted in gaining access to any/every program that they are entitled to (Obtaining military records, filing disability claims, appealing claims, obtaining enrollment in qualifying programs).
o Each Sanctuary will seek out Federal, State, and Local resources to assist in meeting the goals of each veteran in need.
o Qualifying veterans will be enrolled in VA funded education programs to further assist in the reintegration process.
o Veterans will be given access to numerous forms of education to aid in Job training, Interviews, Job Placement, Education advancement, etc.
o Veterans will be given access to legal assistance to help with previous or current legal issues that have caused or exacerbated their homeless situation.
Phase 3 Reintegration/Placement
o Upon completion of their individual rehabilitation plan, each veteran will be assisted in locating and securing employment, permanent residence, and means of transportation assistance.
o Depending on the nature of the veteran’s choice of education/employment, they will be offered an incentive to return to the organization to further assist others in need (Through staffing, investing, managing, or creating other Sanctuaries).
Phase 4 Permeance/Failure
This 4th phase is situational and is not meant to be a linear step for all veterans. This phase is a limbo phase in the event a veteran is unable to successfully be treated, rehabilitated, or reintegrated.
o In the event, a veteran is unable to complete any phase of the program and after several evaluation periods have passed; a veteran may be placed in a “permanent” treatment system.
o A Permanent Treatment System is essentially an area of real estate that has been acquired and converted to be an isolated self-sustained community for veterans that are unable to reintegrate back into society. These communities will be secluded (If possible) from the main populace and given access to all needed amenities to live out their lives in a community unburdened.
o It is to be noted that if the reasoning behind failing to complete the 3-Phases stems from lack of trying or refusal to adhere to the system, the veteran will be removed from the program and all neighboring veteran programs/organizations will be notified of the veteran’s behavior and conduct.
A breakdown of where donations will go (Initially, once the location is acquired the percentages will shift).
Initial Funding Budget
55-65% Real Estate Acquisition
35-25% Resource and Renovation
10% Daily Operations* (Percentage may increase based on needs)
Locations that have been foreclosed or have sat for long periods of time on the market are ideal for acquiring, converting, and renovating into Sanctuaries.
Former Greeley High SchoolPrice: $150,000* (Negotiable)
Building Size: 39,000 sqft
Lot Size: 3 Acres
Parking: 50 Spaces
Current Zoning: R-6 (Will be converted)
Second Phase Funding (After Location has been acquired and renovated)
85% Resources/Supplies for Veterans
10% Daily Operations
5% Repairs/Emergency Situations
As supplies are obtained and cataloged the amount of funding going toward physical resources will be reduced (ONLY if a large enough surplus of supplies has been obtained) and channeled into upgrading/providing veterans with resources they may need that were not initially budgeted (I.E. Creation of a full gym, Library, etc.). This does not mean funding won’t go to these resources during the Second Phase initially, it simply means that only a minimal amount will be put aside for it until the most critical and crucial supplies/resources are obtained for the veterans.
This project will initially be utilized to solve the homeless/in need veteran population. Upon success of eradicating the crisis, the program will be converted to resolve the civilian homeless/in need population. 100% Transparency should not be optional, it should be mandatory for every organization. If I go to buy socks for veterans at a local store, all of you will know when, where, how many, and how much it cost.
I will do everything in my power to help my fellow brothers and sisters who are lost not in a foreign war but lost right here on the streets of America. Thank you for your consideration.
Organizer
Dakota Touchton
Organizer
Peoria, IL
