Regardless of one’s exit training and status, America’s veterans walk into civilian life, and more often than not experience a “wake-up call” between the alternate realities.
First felt by the former soldiers themselves, the next person to embrace the systemic shock is a case manager — someone who’s seen every story, heard every tale, and perhaps has life-changing solutions for day-to-day difficulties.
Take, for example, Hopkinsville’s Pennyrile Regional Veterans Center, where most, if not all, of the organization’s homeless shelter staff either is a dependent of someone who, or otherwise personally has, served in the Armed Forces.
Megan West, who has had at least one enlistment, said she can hold up to 20 cases at a time, and right now has more than a dozen on her desk. She knows she has become part of several veteran’s routine schedule, seeing people three times a week, and notes that monthly financial support from veteran’s affairs can create a predicament.
Seeing clients aged 22 until their late 70’s, she said some have been in the system “a long time,” but it doesn’t change the needs.
She helps veterans file claims for disabilities, work through Social Security efforts and pushes residents toward financial literacy, soft skills and interpersonal training — as stable rent, home ownership and long-term employment somewhere are key goals.
Once they leave, West said there can be clear signs and routes for success.
Originally from Louisiana and a Purple Heart awardee in 2006, Justin Lawrence actually got into case management after his lengthy treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
He served seven years before being forced into medical retirement, and got to Hopkinsville by way of Indeed.com, after finishing up an internship through Austin Peay State University and the Tennessee Veteran’s home.
Success at the PRVC, he said, looks like self-actualization, independence, signing a lease, getting a job and eventually building positive relationships in whatever community in which the veteran wishes to settle.
Lawrence added that key reasons he sees veteran homelessness include addiction, lost pathways and poor choices, but he often sees situations like evictions, a sudden loss of stable income and more as unfortunate possibilities.
VA benefits do stretch a bit further in rural west Kentucky, but he added that both procrastination, as well as federal funding delays, can lead to distress.
Lawrence, West and PRVC Executive Director Jeff Broadbent said they have spent time advocating for affordable housing, and that most VA’s do offer programs to help pay one’s rent.
However, some veterans may have survivor’s remorse or may have “seen some things,” and might resort to drugs and alcohol to cope, leading to deteriorating mental health.
Some veterans also don’t want to reach out for help because of their pride or to save embarrassment, and seek their shelter at the last possible moment.
LOCATION:
Pennyroyal Regional Veterans Center
506 Brown St, Hopkinsville, KY 42240
(270) 887-5099
