One of the most poignant stories reflecting that sacrifice is the story of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player for the Arizona Cardinals who after 9/11 decided to forgo the financial stability and fame that being a professional athlete provides and serve his country.  From what I have read, Pat did this not to gain notoriety or additional recognition, but because he felt a draw to serve his country and protect his country from those that had just perpetrated the largest murder of civilian’s in our nation’s history.  By all accounts, Pat was a superb solider, comrade and leader who unfortunately died as a result of a friendly fire incident while he was serving with his unit in Afghanistan. Thursday, November 6^th would have been Pat Tillman’s 38^th birthday and I am sure that his family misses him every day but knows that he died protecting and fighting for a cause that he believed in.

Recently, it has become very popular to attach ourselves to veteran’s issues. Our veterans remain a population that gives up so much to do what they feel is right that we need to not only provide recognition on nationally recognized holidays such as Veterans Day, but also provide the support and services necessary the other 364 days a year.

HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program serves all segments of the homeless population but has and will continue to serve a large portion of Indianapolis’s homeless veterans.  In 2013, HIP served 2,868 clients, 466 of those individuals were veterans.  Of those 466 homeless veterans, 136 were housed in one of our veteran housing programs including intensive case management to work on supportive goal building and achievement.

HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program veteran housing program has enrolled 119 veterans in 2014.  Indiana has the nation’s 4th largest National Guard of the 50 states. As more Indiana veterans become homeless, supporting our nation’s heroes will continue to be an important role. Every day, especially Veterans Day, HealthNet thanks those who are currently or who have served our country and their families for their courage, support and sacrifice.

For more information about HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program or to make a donation, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org. 

Post by Matt Holland

HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program is proud to be part of the newly recognized Professional Blended Street Outreach (PBSO) teams representing 15 social service agencies (including three medical providers and two mental health care providers) recently co-located to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Southwest District Headquarters on King Ave., near W. Michigan St. and N. Belmont Avenue. 

As part of this collaboration, outreach extends also onto the Indy Go bus system and on bicycle patrol.  This team is able to provide many different services and options to those needing services but also continue to form solid relationships with those on the street so that positive steps may be available for those who may not be ready for those at the moment.

This allows better response times for those who are experiencing mental or medical issues on the street and provides for shared information between social service agencies and police.  As a result, we are getting people access to mental health and medical services on the street and working with them significantly earlier to begin the process to get into housing and the additional medical supports they need. 

The PSBO Team supports police officers directly by diverting persons who are homeless (or not a threat) into programs that help with medication and mental/physical health issues.  Camps are areas not generally frequented by or easily accessible to police/fire/EMS support. The PSBO Team provides basic lifesaving healthcare as well as general hygiene materials for those who might not otherwise reach it. 

The PBSO Team has been able to streamline and partner with other City agencies to utilize funds that support mental health and healthcare treatment.  There have been limited efforts previously to expand access and find points of overlap, particularly where services were being provided independently of each other (such as housing, homeless prevention and intervention training, mental health and substance abuse resources, etc.).

When the PSBO Team members working, they will wear a clip-on credential which contains their photograph, name, and a logo.  The PSBO Team is made up of professionals from the following organizations.

• HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program
• Indianapolis EMS
• Adult & Child Mental Health
• Damien Center
• Indiana Department of Corrections Parole District #3
• Horizon House
• Humane Society of Indianapolis
• Eskenazi Health
• Midtown Community Mental Health
• Marion  County Probation
• The PourHouse, Inc.
• Salvation Army
• Wheeler Mission
• Tear Down the Walls Ministries
• IMPD’s Homeless Unit Officers

Watch for updates on our blog as the team gets under way!

To learn more about HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program, visit http://www.indyhealthnet.org/Homeless-Initiative-Program.

HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) has been serving the homeless population in Marion County since 1988 with Health Care, Street Outreach, Walk-In Triage services, Intensive Case Management, Employment & Training as well as Housing services.  All of our services are available to homeless Veterans, as well as to anyone experiencing homelessness.  In 2013, the Homeless Initiative Program served:

• 2868 clients
• 1193 persons in 361 families with 756 children
• 1668 (60%) single men and (40%) women
• 466  or 16% Veterans
• 438 individuals experiencing Domestic Violence
• 1323 (46% of those served) individuals with a diagnosed disability including substance abuse, mental health diagnosis

HIP is located at 1835 N. Meridian St.in the middle of downtown Indianapolis and is accessible via public transportation.  No appointments are necessary and individuals can come in to seek assistance with challenges that they have as they either work to prevent becoming homeless or redirect themselves from this experience.

Our hours are as follows:

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday: 8am to 4:30pm
Wednesday: 1pm to 4:30pm
Friday: 8am to 11:30am

Employment Assessments: Monday @ 9am OR Thursday @ 1pm

For more information about HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program and how you can help, please call 317-957-2275 or visit www.indyhealthnet.org. 

Consequently, as those tasks get completed it is a wonderful time to remember those in greater need than ourselves.

Donations of many kinds impact people in ways that we can not even imagine. Of course, monetary donations are always great as they typically have more flexibility associated with how they are used but also donations of clothing, shelf stable and non perishable food, hygiene items for men and women along with warm winter clothing all are in critical shortages this winter season. In Indianapolis as many as 8,000 individuals may experience homelessness within a given year and many of these individuals do not have the basic needs that are necessary for daily life.

The Homeless Initiative Program is committed to serving these individuals in our community who need assistance by providing Triage/Outreach services, intensive Case Management, medical support to our communities homeless shelters as well as Employment and Training services for those in the search for a career or their next step in the employment process. These basic items listed can go along way to ensuring that these basic needs are able to be met so that each individual served can continue on their path to self sufficiency and reduces the anxiety that many times comes along with not having these items.

If you wish to contribute in any way including volunteering, please contact the Homeless Initiative Program at (317) 957-2275 or drop your donations off at 1835 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46202. To donate online using our safe, secure online giving options, please click here.

We appreciate the exceptional support that our communities provide to these individuals in need and hope you have a wonderful Holiday season.

Items in need:

• Gloves, hats, and scarves
• Wool socks to avoid frostbite
• Hand warmer packs
• Foot warmer packs
• Jeans/long pants for men or women
• Sweatpants/sweatshirts for men and women
• Coats for Adults
•  Blankets

$1,572.

111 hygiene kits.

128 bags containing hats, scarves, gloves, socks, and underwear.

Thanks to the Revenue Cycle Services team at IU Health, HIP had resources to make it a better holiday season for Indianapolis’ homeless.  The hygiene kits arrived just in time to be gifted to 58 men and women living in HIP’s permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals.  The other items are being used by our street outreach team to help those who are homeless get through any cold nights that are in the future (and we know there will be some — it’s Indiana).

The generous cash donation is being used directly for client needs.  An all-day bus pass in downtown Indianapolis costs $4.00.  However, without them clients would not be able to attend counseling appointments or take advantage of employment training or job search opportunities.  Once a client finds a job, bus passes are still needed to get to and from work until they receive their first paycheck.  For families that are fortunate to find employment but are still struggling to move from emergency shelter to an apartment, $450 can be used to help pay one month’s rent or $300 can eliminate a nagging electric bill.

Thank you to everyone who gave during the IU Health team’s fundraiser!

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Helpings drives don’t have to take place during the holidays. Click here to see how you can help today!
Interested in the Open Doors campaign? Find out more.

Next week most of us will scramble to buy cards and flowers for a sweetheart, but we should all look for a way to give our thanks to the men and women who allow us to celebrate each and every day of freedom in our country.

Think outside the “box of chocolates” this year! Write a quick note of appreciation and make a small gift in honor of a veteran in your life through our Open Doors With Care initiative. Proceeds will help homeless veterans in Indy get back on their feet.

Did you know that 17% of our city’s
homeless are veterans?

These are people who sacrificed a portion of their lives to serve OUR families and OUR community.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, veterans who experience homelessness have high incidences of mental health and substance abuse issues, often as a result of conflict-related stress, and high levels of physical disability, due to injury or illness. And, they may lack social support networks.

All of these concerns make it difficult for some veterans to easily return to civilian life after having served. Veterans facing the risk of homelessness also often spend over 50% of their income on housing-related costs.

As one of the largest and most comprehensive programs for the homeless in the state, HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) provides a network of services to treat the whole person, as he or she moves from homelessness into housing, employment and self-sufficiency.

HIP’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) successfully helps homeless veterans everyday who are struggling to adjust back to civilian life. (Read about veterans Ricky Wallace and Jeff Smith.)

Share Some Heart

Your support in helping us raise $10,000 for HIP by March 10 gives our city’s heroes a chance to start again.  And, it’s a great way to show some love for a hero in YOUR life!

Check out our Open Doors with Care page to see how you can help!

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A Recipe for Success!

Our Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) sees many success stories as one of the largest and most comprehensive programs for the homeless in Indiana.  This particular story touches on all of the different tools HIP uses to contribute to the success of their clients.

“Smile, you’ve got a job now…”
(story written by: Karin Romani, Employment Specialist at HIP)

A homeless veteran, Ricky Wallace, came to us for help with housing through our Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program(HVRP).

Ricky Wallace proudly showing off his new job and his new teeth!

Ricky had a decent job in Evansville but moved back to Indianapolis to be closer to his elderly, ailing parents.  He couldn’t live with them as they are in an assisted living facility.  So, Ricky’s first thought was to crash with a friend but that didn’t work out, and he came to us.  We helped Ricky get emergency housing.  But one concern was the job he had just found was a very long drive, and he was worried about his car making it out there every day, especially in the upcoming winter weather.  Karin Romani, an employment specialist at HIP, helped him to apply for and get a better job, closer to home, with more stable hours so he could better assist his parents.  Mr. Wallace is now working for IU Health in the Methodist Café and doing VERY well according to his supervisor.  Throughout the job application process with IU Health, the client came into our office periodically to get assistance, and during two of those times, he complained of excruciating tooth pain.  Going way above and beyond, Nurse Practitioner JoAnn Morris stopped what she was doing, evaluated and treated him on the spot. JoAnn also finagled an emergency dental visit not once, but twice for him.  The first incidence of tooth pain came because of a seriously abscessed tooth, and the time after that was due to another tooth breaking and crumbling.  As a team, we helped Ricky get housed, get proper dental care, apply for and make it successfully through a long application process with IU Health, and in addition, our HVRP team helped him get his car towed and repaired (it died on the last day of his former job way out in Avon).  He can now get to and from his new IU Health job consistently.

Mr. Wallace is truly grateful and we were glad to help a man who we knew deserved it and is truly appreciative of it.  Ricky has always thought of others before himself, but this time he found himself in need and did something about it.  HVRP and other HIP services were there to make sure he got back on his feet so he can help his parents and be a true asset to the Methodist food service team.

To learn more about the services provided by HIP visit our website.  To directly support the Homeless Initiative Program, click the donate button in the right-hand column of our blog!

While Memorial Day marks the start of the summer vacation season, we are also reminded that is it more than just a party. It is a day dedicated to commemorating U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. It is a day of remembrance. Many of us honor the memory of a friend or family member; however, let’s not forget those that fought for our country and are now struggling with the aftermath of certain medical and mental health concerns such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and homelessness.

Consider commemorating the lives of those living and departed by flying a U.S. flag. Or, honor our heroes by honoring those that fought beside them that now need a place to turn for help. Honor them by making a contribution to one of many nonprofit organizations providing health care, housing, job training and mental health service to our homeless veterans.

Almost 1 in every 4 homeless persons is a veteran.  Close to 700 veterans in in Marion County are homeless.  During this Memorial Day Weekend, in the midst of the 100th Anniversary of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, remember that we need to fight for those who fought for us!  It is as easy as donating to our Homeless Initiative Program that includes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

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What are some unique ways that you celebrate Memorial Day?
Any suggestions on other programs that help homeless veterans?
Comment below!

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And, one fact that is not at the forefront of people’s minds when thinking about homelessness is the amount of VETERANS who are homeless. According to National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 23% of all homeless persons are veterans.  Almost 1 in 4 homeless persons served our country and protected our right to live ANYWHERE that we want to live, build any kind of house we want, and to be free in doing so.

It is estimated that there are 700 homeless veterans throughout our Marion County community.  These are 700 people who sacrificed a portion of their lives to serve OUR community.

HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) has a Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) which is a source for comprehensive veterans’ services.  This program is helping homeless veterans everyday who have fallen to low points because of either Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an inability to adjust back to civilian life, or started off well and came upon a tragedy.

There are many reasons why people become homeless, but there should not be a reason why we cannot support at the VERY LEAST those who made a sacrifice to fight for our freedoms. Danny Fenster, who writes for change.org ‘s End Homelessness blog, gives information on the End Homlessness Act of 2010.  Through this act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are able to work hand in hand with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to “provide assistance to homeless veterans in accessing HUD’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.”

You can help too! Help provide homeless veterans with services by visiting HealthNet’s donation page and considering a small donation of $25 to pay for a nutrition pack or a 2-week bus pass.  Help those who PROTECTED us!

Jeff Smith, Marine Corps Veteran

Jeff Smith served in the Marine Corps during the early ‘80s, earning a deployment ribbon and an honorable discharge.  But after the Corps, Jeff fell on hard times.  Alcohol became an addiction—one that destroyed his personal life and nearly destroyed him.  He couldn’t hold a steady job because of the addiction, so he was hustling from day to day just to keep going.

Then he made a bad decision that greatly accelerated a downward slide: He signed a check he had no business signing—just to get some money to eat and pay for some shelter. That act of desperation earned him a felony conviction for forgery in 2007.

Jeff admits today that his arrest was the wake-up call he needed. It forced him to take a hard look at himself and see how far his life had unraveled. Unless he made some different choices immediately, there wouldn’t be anything left to salvage. So Jeff made a Marine’s decision — he faced the truth about his life, his addiction, and his behavior. He asked for help and enrolled into a special substance abuse program for veterans, the R.E.S.T. program (Residential Employment and Substance Abuse Treatment). He stuck with the treatment plan; and by June 2010, he had logged over a year completely free from alcohol. He was proving himself a success—both to himself and to the counselors who worked with him.

Upon achieving this benchmark in his recovery program, Jeff now was authorized to deal with employment issues. And that’s when the Homeless Initiative Program’s HVRP staff met him. Jeff applied to the HVRP career program. After assessment by staff, he was assigned to the HVRP Skills That Work workshop, a weeklong training program that equips HVRP veterans with an eye-catching resume, special job-search and internet computer tools, as well as professional interviewing skills. He completed the workshop, impressing HVRP staff with his commitment and seriousness. Staff found him to be extremely pleasant, humble, and realistic.  Moreover, he wasn’t work shy. He performed every task assigned to him with grace and good humor.

The next step for Jeff was the HVRP Guided Job Search program. For three days each week, he spent several hours in the HVRP Job-Search Room, under the tutelage of staff, working to follow up on job leads. He proved to be responsible and dependable.  So it was with concern and disappointment that staff watched him apply for job after job without a job offer.

He was applying for jobs for which he was qualified, but employers weren’t responding to his applications. HVRP staff suspected that the problem was his recent criminal conviction—the felony forgery conviction from 2007. Most employers require that a felony be at least 5 to 10 years in the past before they will even consider a job application—if they agree to consider it at all. Jeff’s conviction was simply too fresh.

But Jeff was a veteran fighting hard to win his life back. He had proved that. And one of the missions of HVRP is to help veterans like Jeff get that second chance at life. So we took special action. HVRP had developed a relationship with Denison Parking, a local employer that wanted to help veterans. HVRP staff thought that Jeff would be a perfect fit. So HVRP made a special appeal to Denison executives to advocate for Jeff, outlining the successful steps he had taken to change his life. We asked Denison to give Jeff serious consideration for an available maintenance position, despite his criminal history. We also pledged that HVRP would stand with Jeff and would follow up with him after employment to ensure his success.

The recommendation Jeff received from HVRP persuaded Denison Parking to hire him on a trial basis. For three months since, he has earned recognition from Denison as one of its stellar employees. In fact, Denison recently promoted him to a better shift and has entrusted him with greater responsibility. Jeff is grateful for the second chance he’s received, and he’s making the most of it. He is a persuasive example that offering a veteran a second chance simply makes good business sense. And the Homeless Initiative Program’s HVRP staff is pleased to have helped make it happen.

Stories like these happen everyday, but they are not always highlighted because they slip through the cracks.  Help us continue to make these stories happen, Blanket Indy with Care. Our Homeless Initiative Program serves over 2500 homeless individuals in Indianapolis, a simple and quick online donation can go a long way.

Feel free to leave comments/questions below.