Put a Stop to Veteran staying and going hungry in New Orleans. Hunger in New Orleans among the senio

Health,Education & support

On countless times Veterans show up for free hot meals and grocery bundles in New Orleans East. Many Veterans have no support. Many senior citizens have no support. Home bound and just no support. There is one specific non-organization, which has been serving for 15yrs fighting hunger. They are the best! They provide mobile units and do whatever it takes to fight hunger in this area. They are simply a cut above the rest. They started provided food to the hungry years ago. This place is no food bank. They need support. Others in the area are putting a patch on the hunger issues and limited in there capabilities. This organization is putting the best foot forward daily. Support is needed.

Too many veterans are falling short of support. Many veterans are sad, broken, tired and left out. This organization sees them often. Many of them are non-tech savvy. Finding out things are no like it used to be as you know. Older generation Veterans are lock in a world of their own. No one is reaching back enough. Even the newer generation Veterans is clueless. Many have no DD-214 or those in my late father’s age group. Have no proof of service; dating back to the early 50s. Trust me I have some contacts in order to obtain info. Well the veteran has to have something. That is the issue. Those or many that do not. This is a barrier. The archive personnel need that veteran to fill out the paperwork. This is another issue. Getting Veteran’s in is an issue because no real connection or advocate for them to get them in. No real effort in majority of cities to go out and seek veterans either. They become discouraged when they go to VA and the best they can get is sorry you need to have proof. These veterans are living on the streets. No idea where to start. No home or resting area for them. I have seen one place in California that has a house complex. This is missing to have. These non-organization platforms can support by cooking or providing the food. Renting apt complexes or warehousing would decrease a lot of this. Atlanta was making strides for some sort of initiative to fight homeless.

Veteran never forgets what service means. They are just looking for a little more than what has been a broken standard for the last 30yrs.  If a veteran finally makes it to a VA; they believe they are going to get some support; short or long term. The only thing that happens is long term waits for everything. Not even a meal to remember! Then the veteran never returns and really feels worse than initial visit.

 Countless times I have heard from Veterans saying that you will get no help at the VA. The last 30 years I have heard that at my age of 15. I still went in the service and achieved my goal. In hopes that 30yrs later things would be much better.

I am a Veteran. 21yrs I was in and have a clear understanding of how it works. 12 Mar 2014. I applied for a benefit that I still have 3 months of the benefit. Regardless of different programs if it’s for education and achieving a particular skills or qualifications. Then you’re approved. I was approved but funding ran out or was cut. Funny part to all of this is I am still learning a trade/skill; that is in high demand. That they approved in Dec 2013 and knew I am not done with it yet. I asked for 3 months of funding to finish this program. Continued to be A student. Now they are basically saying you can’t finish what you started. Well you can but you have to pay for it. Or they would if I was less skilled. Same skills I had coming in the program. So I was under skilled to learn this new trade they approved me for. I was over skilled to get help paying for the last 3 months of it under this other program. Even when they offer it for a veteran to learn new skills/trade or what your interests are. Too many moving parts at the VA and not right.

Too much power is put in one counselor hands. Not downgrading the position. It’s just not right. Just like a rating for disability at the VA. Several people have to agree or disagree on the rating. In this case one person makes the decision and that is it. I was approved by them for a program and it's not over was my story.  Same department approved it months ago. I asked to support me through the end of the program that you approved me for regards of the funding behind it. I said all of this because I have 3 months eligibly remaining and 3 months of program remaining.

I met the counselor. She told me in a 45 second meeting that I was denied because I was qualified. I went 50 miles, waited 3months for appointment. Wasted 2 hours, get 45 second meeting; then on the way out. I get pointed out to the 2^nd floor, where the denial boards meet or were at. The meeting was Thursday, by Friday at 1pm. I had a denial letter with appeal instructions. Mail takes at least 2days. You tell me if I was already denied even before I went in.

David sends