Veterans struggle when coming home
For some Butler County veterans, coming home is a meaningless phrase because they have no homes.
There were 476 homeless military veterans tallied in the county last year, according to Dan Slack, Veterans Administration homeless veteran coordinator at the VA Butler Healthcare Center, 325 New Castle Road. Some may have come from surrounding counties, but most are from Butler County, he said.
“The makeup of the homeless veterans are rolling with time,” Slack said. It used to be predominately Vietnam era veterans, he said, but he's seeing more and more veterans of the first Gulf War or the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan joining the ranks of the homeless.
“Males and females are coming back from multiple tours,” he said. “When they come back into the home situations, they're becoming homeless.
“These are veterans in need. We provide services: medical, mental health, substance-abuse treatment, housing ...,” he added.
Slack said there are programs designed to aid homeless veterans such as the Mechlin-Shakley Veterans Center in Armstrong County, the Tomorrow's Hope emergency facility in Clearfield County and the HUD/VASH program, which seeks to provide permanent housing for veterans in Butler and Lawrence counties.
Slack said just providing housing for veterans is not enough.
Slack said that while the VA can get a homeless veteran into an apartment, often the veteran has nothing, no furniture, no clothing and no appliances.
That's why the American Legion Riders Butler County Chapter and the Slippery Rock American Legion Post 393 started the Veterans in Need program.
“We help them with any furniture, anything to set up an apartment, appliances, microwaves, all of those things, furniture sets,” Damien Hambley, commandant of Post 393 said. “Those guys don't have the money to get those things.”
Hambley said they also try to supply newly housed veterans with nonperishable food items
“Right now, we desperately need stoves, air-conditioning units, fans,” said Al Worsley, president of the Legion Riders Butler County Chapter. The chapter is holding the Bikers for Vets Eighth Annual Benefit Ride Saturday to raise money for the program. He said he expects the event to draw about 200 motorcyclists.
Worsley said the winner of a raffle for a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be announced that day.
Worsley emphasized that 100 percent of the money donated for this program to the Legion Riders “directly benefits the people in this area.”
“All fundraising stays in the local community,” said Worsley, a Butler Realtor.
“We thank everyone that donates and participates in these events,” said Worsley.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Veterans in Need program should call Al Worsley at 724-996-5621
Slack said those seeking aid for homeless veterans should call him at 724-285-2439 or call toll-free at 800-362-8262.
<B>WHAT: </B>Bikers for Vets Eighth Annual Benefit Ride<B>WHEN: </B>Saturday, registration from 9:30 to 11 a.m., departs 11:15 a.m.<B>WHERE: </B>Veterans Administration Butler Healthcare Center, 325 New Castle Road, ending at Lyndora American Legion Post 778’s picnic grove<B>COST: </B>$20 single, $5 passengerFor more information, call Al Worsley at 724-996-5621.
