Upcoming Homeless Veteran Stand Down Bolsters Need for Community Discussion Surrounding Veteran Homelessness

AUGUSTA, Maine (October 19, 2017) – On Saturday, October 21, the VA Maine Healthcare System will be hosting their 20th Annual Homeless Veteran Stand Down. There are varying factors and issues that contribute to Veteran homelessness both in Maine and nationally, which makes events such as these all the more important.

Veteran homelessness is a complex problem escalated by underlying problems such as unaffordable housing, addiction, mental/physical health, poverty, unemployment, and breakdowns in the family and community. The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is committed to working with other agencies and organizations around the state in order to achieve functional zero by the end of 2020, but knows that in order to do so, the issue must be pushed into the spotlight.

“Currently, there are over 100 Veterans in Maine that do not have a place to call home, and unfortunately, there are even more Veterans experiencing near-homelessness, or who are at risk of being homeless in the future,” stated Adria Horn, director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veteran homelessness has been reduced by 47% since 2010. There are fewer than 40,000 homeless Veterans across the country, and 37 communities and three states have successfully ended Veteran homelessness. There is no doubt that similar results can be achieved in the State of Maine, however it will take a coordinated and proactive approach by a variety of agencies in both the public and private sector.

In fact, two organizations in Maine have received the Supportive Services to Veterans and their Families (SSVF) Grant: Preble Street, based in Portland, and Veterans Inc., based in Lewiston. This grant serves Veterans and their families across Maine's 16 counties who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and assists them in finding local, safe and affordable housing that meets their needs.

Aaron Dombroski, Homeless Veterans Coordinator for the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, understands the essential need for a comprehensive approach to the issue. Dombroski sits on the Maine Homeless Veteran Action Committee (MHVAC) – a Joint Standing Committee of the Maine Continuum of Care which includes representatives from the VA Homeless Team, Preble Street, Easter Seals, Veterans Inc., and others utilizing the Homeless Management Information System.

The MHVAC was formed as an action-oriented group that collects, organizes, and shares information pertaining to homeless Veterans in Maine. The MHVAC meets weekly to discuss homeless Veterans by name and provide each of those Veterans with a permanent housing plan. Once a month, these meetings are open to the public and the MHVAC welcomes public discussion and input to help Maine achieve its goal of functional zero.

“This time last year, we could not tell you by name every homeless Veteran, and now we can. In the last six months alone, 61 homeless Veterans have been housed," said Aaron Dombroski. "We’ve made tangible progress but still have a ways to go, which is why a deliberate and continued effort is critical if we’re to achieve our goal.”

The 20th Annual Homeless Veteran Stand Down will be held at the VA Maine Togus Campus located in Augusta. The event is free of charge and will run from 9:00AM – 4:00PM. For more information, please contact Gabrielle Farris at 207-623-8411.

If interested in learning more about Veteran homelessness, please contact Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services Homeless Veterans Coordinator Aaron Dombroski at 207-822-2391.

To learn more about available resources for Veterans and their families, please contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services at 207-430-6035 or visit their website www.maine.gov/veterans.

Additional resources include: Preble Street’s Veterans Housing Services, a program which assists Veterans in finding and maintaining stable housing and can be reached by calling 207-956-6565; and Veterans Inc., a national leader in ending homelessness among Veterans which can be reached at 207-784-0182.

About Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services

The Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services was established in 1947 by the State of Maine and is part of the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. Our mission is to help Mainers who served, and their loved ones, understand and navigate the benefits, services, and programs available to them. The Bureau does this by being a responsive, experienced, and dedicated advocate. The Bureau is headquartered at Camp Keyes and has seven field service offices located throughout the state and a claims office located at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Togus, Maine. The Bureau also operates the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery System which includes four veterans’ cemeteries. For more information about the Bureau or to request assistance, please visit our website at www.maine.gov/veterans.