Homeless Veterans Fellowship
(Veterans Helping Veterans and Our Community)

THE BIRTH OF HVF

The Homeless Veterans Fellowship was founded in April of 1989 by an all volunteer board of Vietnam veterans and community professionals determined to do what they could for those who served our country. It had become important to develop a positive program for homeless veterans to help them move toward self-sufficiency.

The program initially was allocated office space in the Marion Hotel, a low cost Single Residential Occupancy (SRO). The program then relocated to an office site on Washington Blvd. Since 1997, the Homeless Veterans Fellowship has resided at 541 23rd St. and consists of three buildings which house office space as well as units for 32 residents in transitional housing.

THE PURPOSE OF THE HVF

The purpose of the HVF is to provide a comprehensive range of services to assist the homeless veteran in Utah in move from transitional housing to independent living by providing:

1. Substance-free, zero-tolerance, stabilized transitional housing.
2. Acquisition of skills and knowledge necessary to obtain suitable employment.
3. Acquisition of life skills necessary for independence and self-sufficiency
4. Employment development and placement in suitable occupations which maximizes the resident's income potential
5. Substance abuse counseling to promote maintained abstinence from drugs and/or alcohol.
6. Mental health counseling to assist residents to process issues that may impede their ongoing development.

MISSION STATEMENT

Like the aid stations that are placed strategically behind combat zones, the HVF stands poised to receive veterans who are wounded and hurting and who need support and treatment as they transition to their new and healthy role in our community.

The HVF is a community-based aid station founded and administered by veterans. It provides transitional housing and support services to homeless and threatened veterans in Utah in order to transition them to self-sufficiency. The goal is reintegration into society of men and women, currently excluded from the benefits of productivity and self-sufficiency as a result of the physical and emotional wounds they carry.

• It is our compassion that drives our caring for needy veterans as well as our relationships with each other.
• We believe in the philosophy of being "our brother's keeper".
• We believe in the military commitment of duty, honor, and country.
• As a privately-supported agency, we are open and accountable.

The HVF is a private, non-profit corporation organized to provide transitional housing, psychotherapy, substance-abuse counseling, case management, employment guidance and community referral services to homeless veterans, committed to improve their social and economic stasis.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Visit the links above to learn about HVF's services.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 1, 2004) - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made 3 new awards to Utah organizations: The Homeless Veterans Fellowship, in Ogden, First Step House, Inc. in Salt Lake City , and Catholic Community Services of Utah, also in Salt Lake City. These grants are among 80 new awards to public and private nonprofit organizations to support their efforts to assist homeless veterans.

"VA continues to play -- and must play -- a key role in providing health care to homeless veterans, through its own facilities and programs and through partnerships with community-based providers," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.

Currently, an estimated 6,000 veterans sleep each night in beds already funded under VA's Homeless Providers Grants and Per Diem Program. Over 1,580 community-based beds, provided by public and private nonprofit organizations in 29 states and the District of Columbia, will be available with this new round of per diem awards.

"These are the men and women who served our nation during its greatest times of need and who now live without shelter or food or medical care," Principi added. "They are our country's forgotten heroes, who have every right to live the American dream."

While there is no definite measure of the number of homeless veterans, it has been estimated that approximately 200,000 veterans may be homeless on any given night and twice as many veterans experience homelessness over the course of a year. It is estimated that one-third of the adult homeless male population and nearly one-quarter of all homeless adults have served in the armed forces.

"We want to take the lead in providing health care and benefits for homeless veterans," said Pete Dougherty, who serves as VA's homeless coordinator. "Throughout my travels I have seen firsthand programs that are helping in a meaningful way to reconstruct veterans' lives and reunite families. It takes a network of partnerships to provide a full range of services."

To combat veterans' homelessness, VA initiated the Grants and Per Diem Program in 1994, and since then has provided more than $171 million in grants and per diem payments. More than 180 organizations applied this year for VA's per diem funding.

VA has the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country and is the only federal agency that provides substantial one-on-one contact with the homeless. In many cities and rural areas, VA social workers and other clinicians conduct extensive outreach programs, clinical assessments, medical treatment, alcohol and drug abuse counseling and employment assistance.

For more information on VA's homeless programs see http://www.va.gov/homeless/. <http://www.va.gov/homeless/ >

People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm

Congratulations to Reginald Burnaugh, Director of the Homeless Veterans Fellowship and the other great, great staff people at First Step House and Catholic Community Services who work so hard to serve of fellow veterans who have fallen on hard times and need a leg up.

VETERAN AFFAIRS HIGHLIGHT

In April 1998, the first State Veterans Nursing facility was opened by Utah Governor Leavitt and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Gober and LDS First Counselor, Thomas S. Monson. The State Veterans Nursing Home has an 80 bed capacity and was fully occupied in June 1998. The State Veteran Service Organization fully participated with contributions to furnish each room, which amounted to approximately $600,000. The State Director of Veterans' Affairs served on the nursing home's Oversight Advisory Committee during its three year planning, design and construction phase and will continue to serve on the Legislatively mandated Operational Advisory Board of Directors

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 98

In May 1998, a grant in the amount of $410,000 was awarded to the Ogden community-based Homeless Veterans Fellowship (HVF) Transitional Facility from U.S. Housing and Urban Development and the state. The money will be used to purchase two apartment complexes expanding services in this crucial program.

The office continued to work with U.S. Department of Veterans´ Affairs Federal Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans Issues and VA's Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-Regional Management Advisory Council to give input and make recommendations on health care.

The first annual Veterans´ Day Celebration, provided by the Salt Palace management and Salt Lake County was organized and held by the office's Patriotism Committee. Guest speakers included U.S. Senator Robert F. Bennett and Salt Lake County Commissioner Brent Overson. In 1999, a parade in Salt Lake City is being proposed.

The office participated in and supported the Third Annual Homeless Veterans "Stand Down" with Salt Lake City's U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Offices, Medical Center, Utah Veteran Organizations, Hill Air Force Base, and various retail, private professionals, LDS store house and the Department of Defense surplus resources. This year a total of 180 volunteers served approximately 300 homeless veterans and their dependents with health screening, legal assistance, employment referrals, personal hygiene needs, and other needs.

The State Office of Veterans´ Affairs contributed to and promoted the National Conventions of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Survivors of the Battleship Utah, each held in Salt Lake City with combined attendance of more than 70,000 visitors.

Three office publications were developed and distributed throughout the state during the year: Veterans´ License Plate Sales Information brochure and posters; State Veterans´ Benefits pamphlet, and Utah Veterans' Services Guide.

Initiated development of a Telenet program with the VA Medical Center providing mental health access and consultation for Ogden HVF homeless residents.

Coordinating with Director of VA Medical Center to conduct a Regional Native American Veterans Conference for the Fall of 1998.

FISCAL YEAR 1997 HIGHLIGHTS

Homeless Veterans Fellowship Transitional Program Assisted in securing $210,000 to expand this program. Purchasing plans are under way for an additional 16-20 units of housing for low income and single parent homeless veterans.