www.WisVets.com/HomelessVeterans

Help for Homeless Veterans and Those At-Risk of Becoming Homeless

The Veterans Assistance Program (VAP) helps homeless veterans and those at-risk of becoming homeless receive the job training, education, counseling and rehabilitative services (such as alcohol and drug abuse treatment) they need to obtain steady employment, affordable housing and the skills to sustain a productive lifestyle.

The VAP is designed to break the cycle of homelessness and help veterans transition back into the mainstream of society. The VAP also helps prevent homelessness by providing job training and referrals to unemployed or underemployed veterans who otherwise might end up living on the streets.

The Veterans Assistance Centers partner with federal, state, and local governments, county veterans service offices and representatives from local communities--including veterans service organizations, private charities, community organizations, and local businesses. This extensive coalition produces outreach and a referral network that gets homeless veterans off the streets and into a center for appropriate assistance.

The philosophy of the program is simple:  vets helping vets; a one-stop shop to access needed services; a structured environment with long days and hard work to rekindle the pride and confidence these men and women once used to defend our nation.

The Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs established the VAP in 1994. This statewide "back-to-work" program operates Veterans Assistance Centers, which are "one-stop shops" for the services homeless and at-risk veterans need. With convenient access to nearby VA medical centers, the Veterans Assistance Centers are located at:

• Fort McCoy
• The campus of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King (on the Waupaca Chain O'Lakes)
• The campus of the Southern Wisconsin Center near Union Grove
• The campus of the Northern Wisconsin Center in Chippewa Falls

Incarcerated veterans and their families can learn about programs and resources available to them through A Guidebook for Incarcerated Veterans in Wisconsin.

For more information:

Your County Veterans Service Office can answer questions and help get veterans into the program or contact the VAP Program, or call 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387), or contact the VAP sites directly at:

• Chippewa Falls – (715) 726-2541
• Fort McCoy – (608) 269-0234
• King – (715) 256-1118
• Union Grove – (262) 878-9151

News Related to Homelessness Among Veterans

CNSNews.com News Service – "Veterans Much More Likely to be Homeless Than Other Adults"