Tennessee Marine Vet sleeps in car VA ran out of vouchers

WONDERFUL UPDATE for this homeless veteran!
"WREG was contacted by a Florida real estate broker, Kim Caliendo, who wanted to help. News Channel 3 passed her number along to Whitfield. She had seen the story online about him living in his car after his roommate moved, leaving him no where to live.

Whitfield tried to apply for housing help through the Memphis VA, but was turned away. They said they didn’t have enough housing vouchers to help him.

He said he’s been trying to get back on his feet and is taking classes at a community college to become an accountant.

Caliendo said she understands Whitfield’s struggle. She once had to live under a lifeguard stand on the beach. So she decided to use her connections with renters in Memphis to call and offer him help." read more about this wonderful story from above link

Disabled, homeless veteran living in car; Memphis VA says it can’t help
WVLT
Jun 18, 2014

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A disabled veteran and father is living out of his car, because he said the Memphis VA will not help him.

Lonnie Whitfield was living with a friend, but ran out of options when that person decided to move.

The VA sent WREG a statement explaining the programs they have in place to help people like Whitfield.

They have vouchers for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and VA Supportive Housing Program, or HUD-VASH as it is called.

However, they only had 380 vouchers for the Memphis and Jackson areas, and said they are currently out.

“This is my place, for right now,” disabled Marine veteran Lonnie Whitfield said sadly, motioning to his small car. “I stay between here, and I have a friend’s house that I stay with from time to time…Wash my personal things or whatever.”

The car is not just a way to get from place to place for Whitfield, it is where he is living.

“I lost my place three weeks ago,” he said. “I have two kids that I share custody with, that stay with their mother, because I can’t do anything right now.”
read more here

Homeless Veterans

Here are additional resources in Tennessee that may provide critical services to homeless veterans.

• Continuum of Care Contacts - The Homelessness Resource Exchange is your online one-stop shop for information and resources on assisting people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
• Veterans Restoration Ministry - An organization for men and women who face life-controlling issues from all wars and assistance for the homeless
• Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc.
  2430 Poplar Avenue, Suite 105
  Memphis, TN 38112
  (901) 452-5678
• Fisher House-Murfreesboro - for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers
• VA facilities in Tennessee
• HUDVet state and local resources
• Operation Stand Down, Inc. - referral, counseling, employment, housing information; phone (615) 248-1981.
• Tennessee service providers - from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans' Service Provider Network.
• Next Stage, Inc. - provides basic educational training for occupational skills, outreach, housing and referrals to homeless and under-served veterans
• VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Homeless Walk In Clinics - assists with mental health or addiction issues, halfway housing programs, permanent housing, employment and aftercare support. In Nashville, visit Monday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and Tuesday through Friday at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Room A 444 at 1310 24th Ave., South, Nashville 37212. Get directions.
  Nashville Campus-all services (615) 327-4751
  York Campus-Murfreesboro (615) 864-6000
  • Nashville Homeless Services - Nashville Campus, call 615-873-7933 or 1-800-228-4973.
  • Veterans Re-entry Program helps Vets leaving incarceration get back into the community by providing pre- and post-release services – Nashville, call 1-800-228-4793.
  • In partnership with the public housing authorities, the HUD and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) voucher program provides a limited number of rental assistance vouchers. Veterans can call 1-877-424-3838 to find their local hospital to apply. Veterans can contact the HUD-VASH program directly, or obtain a referral from a case manager in another VA program, from a community program, or other referral sources. VA health centers in Tennessee are seen here.