Noteboom The Law Firm

New Homeless Veteran Telephone Hotline Activated

June 11, 2010 - If you know one thing about Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki, you probably know he intends on eliminating homeless among veterans. In keeping on track with that goal, Sec. Shinseki publicized the existence of a new telephone hotline. More specifically, the hotline provides various resources and emergency help to homeless veterans.

The new National Call Center for Homeless Veterans is hosting the hotline. The hotline will field calls from homeless veterans and provide help to whatever extent possible. Whenever appropriate, hotline representatives will provide callers with help and synchronize access with not only VA services but other available community services.

The majority of callers are asking for help with:

• Food;
• Shelter;
• Clothing;
• Financial Assistance;
• Treatment for medical conditions;
• Permanent housing;
• Veterans benefits; and
• Employment help.

  The hotline is not limited to accepting calls from only homeless veterans. Trained hotline responders man the phones 24-7. Anyone with any interest in discovery what programs and services are available to help homeless veterans such as:

• Family members;
• Community agency employees; and
• Non-VA providers.

 The VA will be able to offer help to homeless veterans with problems ranging from substance abuse to depression to Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The hotline has only been in place since March 2010 and has already received almost 2000 calls. News of the hotline's operation will undoubtedly drive up the volume of calls.

This call center is just the latest effort in eliminating homelessness among veterans and is already fairly successful. Since Sec. Shinseki started his campaign to eliminate veteran homelessness, the amount of homeless veterans has dropped almost 20%.