MALS Corner By Rita L. Gibson, Director of Development, Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.
Our Opportunity to Support the Veterans Who Have Served Us
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s more military personnel return from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the need for our nation to assist Veterans has become more urgent. One of the most challenging issues facing many Veterans is the inability to obtain or maintain stable housing. Although homelessness among Veterans has decreased overall in recent years, the rates of poverty and homelessness among this population remain unacceptably high.
President Obama and his administration have made a commitment to end homelessness among Veterans by 2015. Tis is an ambitious goal. However, the bar has been set high because it is not acceptable that even one man or woman who has sacrificed for this country should not have a safe and habitable home. Because this problem is a priority, the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) initiated a program entitled Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF). It is in its third year of operation and its focus is to provide grants to organizations that can assist Veterans and their families with overcoming the economic and social barriers that may lead to homelessness or prevent them from obtaining stable housing. MALS’ Fair Housing Center has been fortunate to receive such a grant to help 100 Veterans and their families to gain housing stability. Te service area for our program includes Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale and Tipton counties. Program participants will receive intensive case management and temporary financial supports to help with rent, utilities, transportation, childcare expenses and other costs that are related to housing stability. The chief component of MALS’ SSVF program is the
provision of legal services. Many Veterans need help with securing government benefits, maintaining compliance with child support orders, negotiating with landlords, establishing representative payees, and a number of additional civil, legal problems that pose impediments to housing. MALS is committed to creating a network of volunteers and organizations that will form a continuum of support for Veterans who are homeless or who are in imminent danger of becoming homeless. MALS has formed strong partnerships with the local VA and a number of VA programs that are dedicated to alleviating homelessness. Te SSVF program provides an excellent opportunity for
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volunteer attorneys to join the fight to end homelessness among Veterans. Several years ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs approached the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Homelessness and Poverty regarding the feasibility of establishing a partnership between the two entities that would culminate in initiatives that could effectively address this problem. Not only did the ABA formulate policy regarding its support
of comprehensive strategies to foster the replication of Veterans Treatment Courts throughout the country, it also established a partnership that included the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services that would support the resolution of child support issues that may prevent Veterans from obtaining employment and/or housing. Finally, in recognition of the important role that our legal system plays in the lives of Veterans, the VA created a Veterans Justice Outreach Initiative. Under this program, the VA coordinates the work of hundreds of social workers who work in VA Hospitals to serve as liaisons between the criminal courts, the private bar, and community based agencies to increase the utilization of mental health services and substance abuse programs to decrease the incidences of criminal acts that are committed by Veterans. Trough the SSVF program, MALS plans to coordinate with
the Memphis Bar Association in order to engage local attorneys in service opportunities specifically dedicated to eradicating homelessness among Veterans. In early 2014, MALS will sponsor a kickoff event and symposium for the project. It will be open to the public and attorneys will be encouraged to attend. Troughout the coming year, MALS will also sponsor training events where attorneys will be able to receive free continuing legal education credits and learn more about specific legal issues that Veterans face. If you are interested in volunteering now, please contact us
at 901-255-3427. Remember that our Veterans have served with dignity and courage to ensure that all of us enjoy the freedoms that are outlined in our Constitution. As attorneys, we are uniquely positioned to serve them by offering legal guidance and advocacy. Please join us in our support of Veterans and their families.
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