The Committee’s Newsletter for November 2009

I want to start off this Newsletter by sharing with you a letter from Congressman Bob Filner, House of Representative’s Chairman; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs during our recent trip to the Capital we spoke with Mr. Juan Lara, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs the DVCH received this extract from the letter from the Chairman:

I am sure we can work together to improve the lives of our wounded warriors.Thank you for your recommendation to improve Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program. I appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your concern. I would also like to thank you for what you are doing to help the veterans of this country such as John A.  Spencer, a 100 percent service disabled veteran, to acquire a new and adaptive home.
You recommendation to exempt veterans from the medium income and amend the reconstructions guideline requirements under the HOME program will be reviewed. As we move forward in the 111th Congress, I am sure we can work together to improve the lives of our wounded warriors.

MARINE CORP BIRTHDAY: On November 10th, the United States Marine Corps has celebrated its 234th Birthday. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing their knowledge to the new generation of Marines. The oldest living Marine is a gentleman in California that will be flown to Maryland to participate in the Birthday:

John L. Hampton, the oldest member of the Joe Rosenthal (San Francisco Bay Area) Chapter of the USMCCCA celebrated his 102nd birthday on May 24th, 2009, making him the Bay Area’s oldest US Marine to celebrate the Marine Corps 234th birthday.  John Hampton served active duty as a Marine public affairs officer during and after World War II and he is still going strong, at the wise age of 102.

On our 234th birthday, first remember those who have served and those
 “ANGELS WHO HAVE FALLEN” – Our reputation was built on their sacrifices.  Remember our families; they are the unsung heroes whose support and dedication allows us to answer our nations call.
TO ALL MARINES AND SAILORS, Know that I am proud you and what you do.  Your successes on the battlefield have only added to our illustrious history.  GENERAL Victor H. “BRUTE” Krulak said it when he wrote, “.The United States does not need a Marine Corps… THE UNITED STATES WANTS A MARINE CORPS.”  Your actions, in Iraqi and Afghanistan, and across the globe, are at the core of why America loves her Marines.

General James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, invites you to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 234th Birthday at the Commandant’s Marine Corps Birthday Ball
November 14, 2009

NOVEMBER 7, 2009: For most of us this was just a typical Saturday, but for about 400 World War II veterans, this was a day they had only thought about and never thought that they would see the Memorial that was built for them. With the help of the Honor Flight Network and US Airways their dream became reality.

Dr Richard (Dick) Seely Sr and his wife Suzanne spent their Saturday afternoon at Reagan National Airport, as they were there to greet and meet many of the veterans and to watch the entertainment that was provided with dancers doing the Lindy-Hop and the Jitterbug. World War II veterans from South Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida and Connecticut, arrived in the morning were swept off to see Arlington National Cemetery, Marine Corp Memorial and then the World War II Memorial before returning to the airport to return home.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing would like to welcome four (4) new members to the Board of Directors, and they are Earl F. Gentile, Yorktown, Virginia, James W. Moore, Chesterfield, Virginia, Frank Williams, Staunton, Virginia and Andrew J. Shepherd, South Hill, Virginia. Per the DVCH By-Laws voting members of the Board will consist of disabled veterans. Welcome to the Board of Directors, your knowledge and experiences with issues to help veterans will be of great interest and value to make this Committee stronger in taking care of our veterans.

NOVEMBER 19, 2009: Today in Washington DC at the House of Representatives, there was a Subcommittee Hearing on “Adapted Housing Grants”, chaired by Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, it presented a lot of information and its 25 pages in length, so I will place the link for you to read it all for yourselves.

http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?NewsID=503

For those who may not know we have a new website and from now on all information will be posted on the website instead of sending you large amounts of information at one time, but an email alert will be sent to you advising you of the posting, so also look on the website www.DVCHVets.org is new and updated as I have said I want all information to be available as we will end this plight of out HOMELESS VETERANS, and get everyone under a roof. The President and Secretary of Veterans Affairs said they will eliminate it in five (5) years.

HOLIDAY FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Ever year the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing and I am happy to announce this year the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, like all of your organization do not like to see our veterans and their families without a good meal, so we are distributing this year on Saturday, November 21, 2009 till we deliver all the packages that we are picking up with a turkey to include a box of fixing and dessert for all veterans that we are working within our Committee and will continue as long as we have food to give out. We feel that we can give and we ask that your organization give or open your hearts in your area and give also.

May time of the Season bring a better understanding and peace to all, so from the Committee and all our members, we say “Happy Thanksgiving to All Veterans and their family and the same wish to all of our Associates members, Supporters and Friends”.

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 step up to the plate and did the repairs in this veteran home and never charge the veteran for 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 HUD release of the funds

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 them in getting some of their issues taken care of 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 worst 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.

At the Expo there were a total on nine (9) new veterans with medical issues that they felt that when they found out what possible could be done for them, it was time for them to get started in getting something they did not have any knowledge of and that was they have grants and funds available to them for adaption of their homes or if not suitable for adaption, then they may qualify for a new custom built (STICK BUILT) home that will meet his requirements

NEW VETERAN IN YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA: This veteran is a Multiple Sclerosis patient served in the military from 1987 to 2004 and then medically retired due to illness and they have asked us to assist in the selection of an area and to develop floor plans. We met with the veteran and his wife and they have selected floor plan for us to adapted to their needs and we are assisting them in getting land that will be suited for their needs, application has been submitted and awaiting the plans to be finalized and submitted.

CONGRESSIONAL REPORT: Recently there was a Subcommittee Hearing that we have now posted on our website and the DVCH has been invited to submit our input to the Subcommittee of Economic Opportunity, held on November 19, 2009. The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing has been in front of this Subcommittee and now you will be able to read our report to the
Chairperson, Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Honorable John Boozman, Ranking Member of the Committee. So look at the website for the current report and then we will inform you when we are in the Congressional report in print.

Well, another month comes to an end and there will be more exciting news from the Disabled Veterans Committee and more news on helping more and more veterans.
God Speed to All,

John S. Lewandowski
President/CEO
Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing