From the Brentwood Community Council
The new ‘safe camping’ program at the VA is a success. The VA is moving homeless Veterans from the street into programs and housing quickly and they currently have excess capacity as vets rapidly transition to services. Veterans are welcomed with their tents, spouses and belongings right off the street. Categorized as a ‘low barrier to entry’ program, Veterans enter the safe camping program and receive services, meals and sanitation in a Covid-spaced environment; they are not required to be sober upon entry to the program, which has been a stumbling block for many. The safe camping program provides a way to transition from homelessness to accepting services, which is a tough jump for those suffering from PTSD and other ailments. If a homeless Veteran wishes to accept services, even for one night, the program is available.
If you’d like to support Veterans who’ve made the leap from homelessness to help, here are some options at the VA:
- $15 Buys 3 meals for a homeless Veteran on a Saturday or Sunday
- $22.50 Buys 5 days of Breakfast for a Vet**
- $70 Buys a Sleeping Bag Coat
- $330 Buys a Move In Kit for a Veterans New Home
- **Lunch and Dinner, Monday – Friday, is donated by Brentwood School
Please click on this link for Village for Vets, the VA permitted, non-profit provider of services at the Safe Camping site, to purchase any of these items.
