Supportive Services for Veteran Families: The Roads to Support
Sometimes the brave men and women who assume the responsibility of serving in our nation’s military return to few opportunities in civilian life. Their challenges may include finding housing, employment, financial hardships, and the transition from a military lifestyle to one with much less structure. FrontLine Service’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) provides these individuals and their families with the support they need to overcome these challenges.
SSVF services are available to any and all veterans, even if they have only served one day in the military. The SSVF program receives many referrals for veterans and their families through local Veteran groups and often find themselves working quickly with families who are facing eviction or living in group housing, to divert them from the trauma of experiencing homelessness. The SSVF case manager will schedule a meeting with the veteran and the landlord and work to mediate an agreement, allowing the veteran time to pay down their rent in a structured manner. Like many of FrontLine’s programs, SSVF focuses on helping those who are already homeless as well as those who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Veterans and their families have access to medical, substance use treatment, employment services, financial assistance and housing support.
SSVF assisted Nathan, an army veteran who served for 9 years near the Persian Gulf, and his girlfriend, Amy, who were facing eviction from their apartment. Nathan confided in his case manager that after being discharged from the military, he had a difficult time securing employment and was currently unemployed. He and Amy decided to return to school and become truck drivers. They miscalculated the amount of their student loans and were no longer able to pay for their education and rent. And then Amy lost her job.
SSVF case manager, Dorann Boughner, immediately assisted Nathan and Amy, reaching out to their landlord and negotiating with him to avoid eviction. Dorann then worked with both Nathan and Amy, focusing on the steps that they would need to take to finish their truck driving school over the next two months, supporting them to complete their classes, and providing assistance in time management skills. Nathan started working odd jobs around the area to bring in some form of income as they neared graduation. Dorann would routinely check-in, making sure they were on track to finishing their schooling and keeping up with their bills, which they were able to do successfully.
Nathan and Amy were both incredibly proud when they earned their trucking certification and they were able to start working immediately. They are now successfully employed, managing their money and scheduling their routes so that they are able to drive together. With the support and some financial assistance from FrontLine’s SSVF program, Amy and Nathan avoided homelessness and were able to overcome a housing crisis.
During 2020 the COVID virus presented additional challenges. SSVF worked to accommodate veterans and their families while adhering to recommended social distancing and personal protection measures. To provide a safer alternative to staying in a shelter, a high-risk environment for contracting the COVID virus, veterans and their families were housed in hotels, reducing the risk of contagion as well as the daily census in the emergency shelters. In 2020 alone, SSVF assisted 122 veterans in securing hotel rooms for themselves and their families to reduce their exposure to the pandemic. Of those veterans, all but six have secured housing and moved on from the hotel, a true testimonial to the commitment of SSVF staff and the hard work of the veterans and their families.
FrontLine is honored to support the brave men and women of our armed forces in meeting their goals and to help end veteran homelessness.
This story is based on true events with names, images, and identifying information changed to protect the identity of the individual.