DAV Chapter fights to end veteran homelessness

DAV Chapter 16 in Prescott, Ariz., started fighting veteran homelessness in their community in 2013 and, so far, has helped more than 50 families find shelter with a 90-percent success rate of finding permanent housing.
DAV Chapter 16 in Prescott, Ariz., started fighting veteran homelessness in their community in 2013 and, so far, has helped more than 50 families find shelter with a 90-percent success rate of finding permanent housing.

Members and volunteers at DAV Chapter 16 in Prescott, Ariz., had been attending community meetings since 2011 to help find ways to combat veteran homelessness, but they found little action had been taken to address the problem.

“While solutions were discussed along with the horrific statistics on veteran homelessness, simply discussing these facts did nothing to solve the problem,” said Chapter 16 Treasurer Denis Lueders. “After two years of listening to this information and watching as nothing was getting done, frustration was evident.”

One of the most difficult aspects of ending homelessness is finding space for families. The members of Chapter 16 recognized this need and took matters into their own hands.

“We took $500 a month to rent an apartment,” said Leuders. “We immediately had a waiting list four to five deep.”

Seeing how quickly a waiting list developed only served as further motivation to increase their efforts and house as many homeless veterans as possible.

“DAV stepped up and purchased one large six-bedroom, four-bath and two-kitchen commercial building capable of housing six families at one time,” said Chapter Adjutant Emmett Whalen.

The building was soon filled to capacity, and Chapter 16 once again faced a problem—the waiting list quickly grew to 10 families. The Chapter was able to raise enough funds to purchase another residence to house homeless veterans, but then they turned their attention turned to a more permanent fix.

“Through collaborations with other agencies in our community we also have started providing critical aspects of what is needed to get people back on their feet,” said Chapter Commander Richard Null. “Everything from how to care for their children, how to write a resume, job searching, how to dress for an interview, how to act in an interview, how to further their educational opportunities—it’s all being addressed. We partnered with Prescott Area Shelter Services and let them run the facilities, as it is their area of expertise. We maintain a landlord-type position with the shelter.”

The Chapter credits its volunteers for the success of their efforts.

“We run off of volunteers,” said Whalen. “They give up four to six hours a day of their time to do anything they can to assist.”

Since July 2013, Whalen said more than 50 homeless families have stayed at the Chapter 16 shelter, which currently holds an incredible 90-percent success rate on getting the families into permanent housing. This fact holds special meaning to Whalen.

“Being homeless myself for over eight years, I am very proud of what we are doing,” said Whalen. “Have we found all of the solutions? Definitely not, but bit-by-bit we are taking on this problem in our community. And through the collaborative efforts of many agencies in our community, we are making a difference.”