2009 DVCH Annual Review: Part Two

More Veterans in Government – On Monday, President Barack Obama signed an executive order aimed at hiring more veterans to work in the federal government.

Under the executive order, twenty-three Cabinet level and lower departments and agencies will band together to form the Council on Veterans Employment. The main purposes of the Council will be to advise and assist the President and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management in establishing a coordinated Government-wide effort to increase the number of veterans employed by the Federal Government. They will advise on how to enhance recruitment and training; serve as a national forum for promoting veterans employment opportunities and establish performance measures to assess the effectiveness of the Council.

MEETING WITH ORGANIZATIONS HAVING ONE GOAL: THE “VETERAN” – Today a group of organizations that have the same goal – that is the veteran met. We all feel that there is a lot of information that the veterans should receive but in many cases have not. The central focus of the discussion centered on “what can we do collectively to help veterans understand the many benefits that they are entitled to received when they leave the military. The following was agenda for the meeting:

Clearly there are many subjects that we feel need the attention of federal agencies and the Congress:

Agenda

I. WELCOME: John S. Lewandowski, President of Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing

II. INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS:

• John S. Lewandowski, Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing
• Skip Rogers, Wounded Warrior Program, 501(c)(3)
• Joe Cunningham, Wounded Warrior Program , 501(c)(3)
• James Thur, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
• Drew Densmore, Senator Mark Warner’s Office, Outreach

Coordinator

• Daphne Mize, VET Outreach, Virginia Employment Commission
• Dave Oliverio, Financial Management Advisor, DVCH
• Delegate Beverly Sherwood, State Delegate for Virginia (Absent)
• Dr. Richard (Dick) Seely Sr, Executive Director, DVCH (Absent)

10. Patricia L. Davis, Director, Program Coordination (Absent)

III. PROGRAM OVERVIEW: by attending organizations (5 minutes per organization):

Mission

Objectives

Programs

Accomplishments

VI. Lunch: (Provided by the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing)

IV. DISCUSSION: On an agreement to jointly approach these issues for improving/resolving the following challenges so service delivery to veterans can be expanded and improved:

• Ways of building public awareness of the services the DVCH and other organizations can provide to veterans
• How best to establish establishing a revolving new home construction fund for use by disabled veterans
• How best to obtain $500,000 to $1,000,000 – or $40,000/disabled veteran – which can be used as down payment and/or to cover closing costs for new or existing accessible housing projects
• How best to get the HUD Reconstruction Provision of the law changed/modified so that this funding regulation allows disabled veterans to build/renovate a home in an economic viable manner
• How best start up small scale apartments and “group homes.” We need operators who can manage a VA Grant and Per Diem program and landlords who will take HUD-VASH vouchers
• How best can we find ways to protect our veterans that have families and are losing their homes through circumstances?
• How best to communicate with the veteran to advise them we are here to help them and to contact us with their concerns and questions on their benefits
• The building of four (4) “Veteran Villages” in the four quadrants of the State, to house veterans and their families similar to a “Veteran Retirement Community”
• To establish a total “One Stop Shop” for all potential veterans, that an information bureau of organizations can handle the needs of that veteran or the veterans family.
• Obtain a list (if possible) of how many veterans in the Northern Virginia area to include how many are disabled and how many are not disabled.
• Develop a protocol with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office, Washington DC to ascertain how we can best disseminate information to the veterans that are out and those that are getting out prior to discharge.

We vowed to continue to work to get all of our veterans into housing. We are forming a Council to help veterans address all of their needs, but concentrating on housing, basic needs, and training.

MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN WOLFE – It was a great honor and pleasure for the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing to speak one on one with (R) Congressman Frank Wolf, 10th District, Virginia. Dr. Richard (Dick) Seely Sr, Executive Director, DVCH and John S. Lewandowski, President, DVCH presented issues that are depriving disabled veterans of down payment and closing cost assistance and other benefits they should be receiving as a result of their great sacrifice for our country. Many do not qualify for Specially Adapted Housing grants because their medical conditions did not fall under the privy of special grants. Most of these veterans are 100% disabled with their conditions. Congressman Wolf spent a great deal of time with us discussing these matters and directed us to speak to other agencies within Congress. Overall, the trip and meeting were fruitful and we thanked the Congressman for taking the time to hear what veterans concerns were.

We will be returning to the Cannon Building as soon as we can to meet with other Congressman and bring issues to their attention, as many veterans feel that no one wants to hear them well I feel that they should and will be heard, if the Disabled Veterans Committee can see the individuals we will obtain as many answers as we can.

OCTOBER 29

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR JAMES W. MOORE – It was slightly overcast but in the 60’s for the official “Groundbreaking Ceremony” for 1Lt James W. Moore and to get his new Special Adapted Home underway. There were special guests and an appearance of two (2) Color Guards, the 1st Color Guard from the Franklin Military Academy, Richmond, Virginia under the direction of SFC Gary McCray (Ret), and COL Stokes, Commandant, the 2nd Color Guard from the Tom Dale High School JROTC, Chester, Virginia under the direction of LTC Sam McNabb (Ret) and SFC Treon Simon (Ret) cadre for the students. Upon the arrival of 1Lt Moore, in a Special Adapted Van that was suited for Lt Moore’s medical condition, provided for the occasion from Ride-Away Vehicles, Beltsville, MD by General Manager, Sul Allyn, and driven by Crystal Snowden.

Mrs. Dessie Moore, Mother of our Veteran and her Grandson Alexander, do the honors of “Cutting the Ribbon” for 1LT James W. Moore.

The other members of the Disabled Veterans Committee who were in attendance were Ms. Patricia L. Davis, Director, Program Coordination, Richard (Rich) L Seely, Director, Home Construction/Design, who the Moore family chosen as their Builder.

November 2009

It was the pleasure of the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing to welcome a new Associate Member – the Virginia Employment Commission, especially with a Veterans Outreach Coordinator name Daphne R. Mize, Ms Mize is a disabled veteran herself and her goals are to help and provide all veterans with the opportunity to better themselves with employment by writing new resumes with them and actively assist them wherever she possibly can by referrals to organizations etc. We welcome Ms Mize and the Virginia Employment Commission.

DISABLED VETERANS COMMITTEE ON HOUSING & SAM SCHMIDT’S PARAYLSIS FOUNDATION “Annual Thanksgiving Meals for Veterans” November 21, 2009

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (November 21, 2009) – The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing today held its annual “Thanksgiving Meal for the Veteran’s”. This event was started by the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing last year and this year the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation partnered to help bring a little ray of sunshine to our veterans, since so many veteran families go without a meal daily, our organization can’t afford to do it daily, but we feel that these veterans deserve a meal of thanks from people who have been there in the trenches and fighting maybe next to them, just to say thanks for being there for us and keeping us safe.

December 2009

The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) & the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) reached out to Homeless Veterans during the “HERO’S HAVEN” Homeless Veterans Stand Down on December 12, 2009

The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Winchester, Virginia participated in the “Hero’s Haven”, Homeless Veterans Stand Down organized by the Martinsburg, VA Medical Center. During the one day program the two organizations joined many other groups to assist our homeless veterans obtain the housing they both need and deserve.

The overall purpose of the “Stand Down” was to offer to eligible homeless veterans: medical screening, employment support and housing services. Its goal was also to involve homeless veterans in rehabilitative activities

John S. Lewandowski, DVCH President/CEO and Daphne R. Mize, Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Employment Commission represented their respective organization on December 12, 2009 where attendees gained access to a whole array of services during the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. sessions. John commented that “The Stand Down allowed more than 100(+) veterans to learn about the potential they have to obtain housing working with the different specialist “, who are on the DVCH staff – experts in finance, grants, real estate, construction, design, etc.

Daphne R. Mize, Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Virginia Employment Commission commented that “All veterans need to come in and register for all that the program can offer such as job referrals, preparation of resumes, and much more”. The event was held at Veterans Administration Medical Center, 510 Butler Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25405

Joint Venture of DVCH and the VEC

“Christmas Gifts for the Veterans”

DISABLED VETERANS COMMITTEE ON HOUSING & VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION

“Christmas Gift for Veterans”

December 22, 2009

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 22, 2009) – The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing today held its annual “Christmas Gifts for Veteran’s”. This event was started by the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing last year and this year the Virginia Employment Commission is a partner. The aim of the program is to bring a little ray of sunshine to our veterans, since so many families go without a meal daily. This program is a labor of love as we feel that these veterans deserve our thanks as they have been in the trenches and have kept us free and safe.

We planned to have the families come to Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing home to help in a Christmas program and that they were to arrive at 1PM. Unknown to them the program was for them, as the DVCH and the VEC pooled together their resources and collected gifts for the families especially for one family whose daughter was the “Special” recipient of the Veteran’s Gift Program.

This is an area that I cover each and every month and we bring our readers up to date on what the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing has accomplished in the lives of the veterans that we are assisting, if I was to place this here in each month it would have created about 30 more pages, so I will only do the most current month.

Now we are going to look at the “Veterans we are helping” Section, so our members, associates and supporters can see what has been accomplish and what we are still waiting to accomplish. Please take note to a question I proposed in one veteran’s are.

VETERAN IN PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA – This veteran is a quadriplegic. His home has to be modified in two areas – doorways and a complete remodel of the bathroom. We are happy to say that the repairs have been finished and the veteran is coming home to enjoy the changes in his home. Thanks to CLJS General Contracting, Wayne L. Johnson-Owner, Sandston, VA 23150, they stepped up to the plate and did the repairs on this veteran home and never charged the veteran anything.

VETERAN IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – This veteran has a small child in school. The veteran suffers from MS and PTSD. We haven’t heard recently about continuing problems she has had with people in her apartment complex harassing her by banging on her door, windows, and air conditioner. This veteran and her child are doing well and are looking forward to moving coming in June 2010 after her daughter gets out of school.

VETERAN IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – Another quadriplegic veteran who has made a decision to build a new accessible and affordable home so he can be more independent. Our designer has drawn plans which have been approved by the veteran. We are so happy that report that a lot in Chesterfield County was selected and the preparations are underway for the permits and site preparation, looking at maybe October for move in, if all goes well. I was so happy that we held the “Groundbreaking Ceremony” on October 29th, 2009 and the home is well underway for the veteran to move into in February or March 2010, weather permitting.

VETERAN IN FOREST, VIRGINIA – This is a quadriplegic veteran that had a MOLD issue in his home and the Insurance Company turned him down for repairing this issue stating that he violated the “14 day Rule” for reporting water damage to them. I was informed by the veteran that he felt some time ago that he had been able to come to a satisfactory conclusion to resolve the problems, but in talking with him a few days ago, the problems have returned and when the contractor came in to install the new roll-in shower that the problem were worse than anticipated.

VETERAN IN WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA – We have identified a lot in the area that the veteran feels comfortable with. We hope to close on the property soon. This veteran is presently being held up on what may turn out to be an old rule of the HUD, concerning income and disabled veterans with caregivers, and we hope by the time that this goes to print they will have come down with a decision for us. We met with State and Federal Congressman to get this old Wavier either changed or waived for this veteran

“In connection with this veteran, we have a new opportunity for him and others to obtain down payment and closing cost assistance working through the Blue Ridge Housing Network and Lorie Noakes. Recently, a new disabled veteran assistance program was approved by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission and recommended to Blue Ridge. The NSVRC allocated $120,000 to help three (3) of our veterans obtain up to $40,000 of down payment and closing cost assistance beginning this summer”. As of today (Nov 29, 2009) they are still awaiting release of the funds.

We met with Congressman Frank Wolf, State of Virginia, and described to him the challenges that veterans have to face on a daily basis with a law that has place many disabled veterans that do not qualify for Special Adapted Housing grants, but are 80 to 100% disabled. The HUD states that the veteran can do reconstruction of a home but it has to be on the same property, which is outdated, as most city lots a specially adapted home cannot be built due to zoning regulations

VETERAN IN STEPHEN CITY, VIRGINIA – Another veteran that has service-connected leg injury and is rated. The family recently received devastating information: the veteran now has a bone spur in the spinal cord region on the left side, hasn’t been able to work, and is now in a wheelchair. This veteran’s case has been reopened by the Department of Veterans Affairs due to a mistake found and he will be re-evaluated hopefully with a positive rating of his diagnosis. We are working with them to get them into a new home, but they have some issues that need to be taken care of before that can proceed, so we will assist wherever we can with this veteran and his family.

NEW VETERAN IN OCALA, FLORIDA – This veteran called us from the website article and said that they didn’t know anyone to help them, her husband had Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), suffered from Iraq/Afghan war and they didn’t know about their rights to get a house they were told no they were not qualify.

This veteran asked us to assist in getting some of their issues taken care o and we directed them to areas that were to be accomplished and haven’t been able to contact them recently, hopefully in the near future we can give you more of any update.

NEW VETERAN IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA – This is a new veteran that has been told about us and wasn’t aware of the program, he was a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran, and was exposure of AGENT ORANGE, and now has been stricken to the point of constant wheelchair, we are going to help them obtain all the needs and will keep everyone posted on how they are progress and hopefully have a Bio on his career in the military. Since our last report this veteran is now within the veteran had made arrangements with the Richmond VA Medical Center to get a Care Physician and then when we get this accomplished then we can pursue other items needed for the home.

We are sorry to announce that this veteran has passed onto a land of freedom from his illness and pain. We know that he is now at rest and we wish the family the very best, and we have informed them to contact us if they need anything that we can help with in getting his estate matters with the military taken care of without problems. For those who may be in the Arlington National Cemetery area on October 5, 2009, he remains will be entombed in the Columbarium at 1400 hours. Family and Friends will meet at the Administration Building at 1345 hours.

NEW VETERAN IN STANTON, VIRGINIA – This is a decorated veteran who has been diagnosis with ALS (Leo Gehrig Disease), and is condition is getting worse; we are visiting him to evaluate his needs. His wife has expressed that they are in need of a ramp and a remodel on the Bathroom area, and maybe more depending on his condition. R. L. Seely Homes, LLC has been to the home and the following items were discussed as to the remodeling of their home. This veteran has been approved for the grant and the plans and paperwork are submitted we are awaiting the final decision, so we can start the work on the home.

NEW VETERAN IN BERRYVILLE, VIRGINIA – This disabled veteran has two children and one is affected with Asperger’s Disease and is facing the worse case scenario of a family with medical issue, the loss of their home due to circumstances beyond their control. As of this date (November 27, 2009) THE VETERAN HAS A PLACE TO RESIDE, BUT IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL December 29th, so they have agreed to settle at a motel until it is ready, we at the DVCH are working with other state officials in getting the family training and assistance in their lives to not have these issues ever harm them again.

NEW VETERAN IN SOUTH HILL, VIRGINIA – This is a veteran that came to the Spinal Cord Injuries & Disorder Expo, that liked with they heard from Rich Seely or Director, Home Construction & Design, and called us to come and start preparations through the VA Regional, Special Adapted Housing Branch to have their home built. They have been doing their home work with their ideas for a home and they have already bought their land, and had the necessary test involved, so most of the immediate work has already been completed. We are happy to report that they have picked a builder and the plans are being reviewed before they are submitted to the SAH for approval and awaiting the grant approval to get started on the construction.

NEW VETERAN IN YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA – This veteran is a patient who has an illness that requires him to be in a wheelchair. He served in the military from 1987 to 2004 and then retired due to illness. The family asked us to assist in the selection of an area and lot and to develop floor plans for the construction of their new specially adapted home. We met with the veteran and his wife and they have selected floor plan for us to adapt to their needs. We are assisting them in purchasing land, finalizing grants applications, making final decisions on the new home floor plan.