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SIGN OF THE TIMES: VETS PART OF RISE IN
HOMELESS
POPULATION -- Homeless veteran in Dalton, GA
never knew he had benefits until he suffered
a stroke and found help at the VA.
A “tent city” south of downtown
Dalton is filled with unemployed and disabled residents who wait
for Friday’s rain to move in. (photo: Matt Hamilton) |
Although this story is about the rise in the
homeless population in Dalton, GA, it points out something very important:
VA's outreach programs are in terrible shape.
In the story below we read about a homeless
Vietnam-era vet who didn't know he had any VA benefits. This is
unacceptable.
VA must do more to reach out to all vets,
especially those from the Vietnam-era.
For more about homeless veterans, use the VA
Watchdog search engine... click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sesse
arch.php?q=homeless&op=and
All "Sign of the Times" articles are here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/signofthetimes.htm
Story here...
http://www.daltondailyc
itizen.com/local/local_story_073225508.html
Story below:
Your comments accepted at bottom of
page.
Share story/email link.
-------------------------
Homeless population on rise in
Dalton
By Mark Millican
Dalton Daily Citizen
When Wilbert Waller had an appointment at the Department of Family and
Children Services on North Thornton Avenue, he walked from his “home” — a
homeless encampment on the northeast side of town — no matter the weather.
But a stroke stopped his treks for food stamps and other visits five weeks
ago.
“I wouldn’t accept a ride,” the Army veteran said. “Not when I could walk.
I had to do it myself. I’m used to doing stuff for myself — I don’t want
to depend on nobody.”
Susan Landon, a case worker at DFACS who helps determine a clients’
eligibility for food stamps and Medicaid, confirmed that Waller, 61, would
not accept a taxi ride even if the weather was raw.
“He’s very proud and independent,” she said of the Vietnam-era vet.
But one morning Waller woke up inside his tent and couldn’t move his left
leg. He asked his fellow campers to call 911 and get him to the hospital.
“I don’t know how he ended up at Gordon Hospital,” Landon said, “but the
doctor there said he needed therapy, and that there was a six- to
eight-week window (after the stroke) that he needed to get that therapy to
retain mobility in his legs. But I’ve called and called, and no rehab
facility will take him without insurance or income. There’s just so much
red tape — that’s my beef.”
Although Waller’s release papers say he got out of the military in the
early 1970s, he had never known he could get veterans benefits. That’s why
Landon felt she finally found a ray of hope for Waller when she contacted
the local Veterans Administration office.
“Hopefully, he’ll be able to start drawing benefits, and we can get that
therapy for him before it’s too late,” she said.
Judy Johnson, manager of the VA office in Whitfield County, confirmed that
a medical benefits check for Waller should be on the way “very soon.”
Waller has found temporary housing, and it’s a lot better than living in
the woods, he said.
“During cold weather if we built a fire during the day, the people in the
houses called the fire department and said the woods were on fire,” he
said. “We had to wait until night to build a fire in the burn barrel so
they couldn’t see the smoke.”
click for more information -- a disabled veteran
owned business
For others among Dalton’s homeless population, the future is not as
bright. Just south of downtown at another “tent city,” several inhabitants
spoke of the lack of work in town. “Pappy” Perry is one of the “elders” at
the homeless site.
“I pretty much don’t have anywhere else to stay,” he said. “I can’t afford
rent and I’m disabled. I’m trying to get an ID together so I can get some
(disability) checks started. I’ve been living on the streets for almost 20
years.”
There is no electricity or running water at the bivouac site, which is
supplied by a private property owner who has told the residents to keep it
clean or move out. A shed has been erected with a wood-burning stove, and
there is also a burn barrel. Two local citizens pay for the upkeep of a
portable toilet behind the shed. A ministry nearby offers showers once a
week and breakfast on Sunday.
“People drop off food to us sometimes,” said Perry, 59. “How they find out
we’re down here I’ll never know.”
 Eric
Hudson, an inhabitant in his 30s used a cane and shared that he had
sciatica and a ruptured disc in his back, said the men “hit restaurants”
sometimes and asked for food, and the managers would give it to them. They
also depend on various local ministries for meals.
“There’s nothing here in Dalton to help anyone who’s homeless,” Hudson
said.
Joseph King — whose wife and daughter live with him at the site — said he
could work if given the chance.
“No one would hire me,” he complained. “I can drive a Hyster and work on
coaters (in carpet mills), but I have seizures and they’re afraid I’ll
hurt myself or somebody else.”
When asked how they handled winter temperatures that dipped into the
teens, Hudson replied, “We throw on more cover.”
There is a sense of family in the close-knit group.
“People invite me to come stay with them for awhile, but I always have to
come back here,” said Perry.
“I made a promise to (Perry’s) wife before she died (of cirrhosis of the
liver),” said King, “that I would take care of him.”
King’s wife, Charlotte, said she had stayed at the site for “three to four
years.” She was asked if she would prefer better living conditions with
access to running water and other domestic amenities.
“I can’t really answer that,” she said. “I haven’t given that any
thought.”
She noted there was no homeless shelter for women in Dalton, but even if
there was she would have a “yes and no” dilemma about staying there.
“Yes, I would like to get cleaned up and get out of the cold somewhat,”
she began, “but no, because I want to be here where my family is. And I
consider these other people my family even though we’re not related.”
“Just because we’re homeless doesn’t mean we’re bad people,” Perry said.
“We’re trying to exist just like everyone else. The hardest part is to
have to ask for things.”
Carolyn Marcus, a volunteer at Harvest Mission Outreach, was scouring a
phone book on Wednesday morning looking for a place to stay for Martha
Funk, a homeless woman who just had surgery and can’t work for six weeks.
Funk had been staying in her car, parked on East Morris Street and crammed
with clothes.
“I don’t think anyone realizes how bad it is,” Marcus said. “There needs
to be a homeless facility in Dalton, especially for women.”
Harvest provides meals but is not set up as a residential ministry,
although they try to help homeless people find resources.
At Providence Ministries on South Hamilton Street, the doors are open to
those in “immediate” situations.
“There’s no charge for that,” said program coordinator Brian Croft, “but
it’s for men only. If someone is trying to use us as a launching pad to
get another place, it’s $75 a week.”
Director Roy Johnson said the shelter’s “been running pretty full, but
Calhoun (ministry site) is not running as full as Dalton.”
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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