Veterans News





Attention Veterans


The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System is now offering local VA Primary Care and Mental Health services in Chinle.  

Services are available Monday thru Friday at the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (Hospital)
You served our Nation, now let us serve you.
Contact us:  Primary Care 928-713-0341
           PTSD/Mental Health 1-800-949-1005 ext. 7086




Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness


Greetings!


The Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness wishes you and yours a warm and beautiful holiday season, with our most heartfelt gratitude for your support.

This year has seen unprecedented challenges for our community, with more in need than ever before - especially our veterans.  It is estimated that more than 2,200 veterans are homeless in Arizona on any given night. And as a result of the Project H3 VETS survey work done this fall, we know that a percentage of veterans on the street who served in Iraq or Afghanistan has more than doubled since last year.    

Thanks to a collaboration with the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, the Arizona Department of Veterans Services, the City of Phoenix Housing and Human Services department, and many other community organizations, Project H3 VETS is prepared to radically change the lives of homeless veterans in the coming year.    
VA Case Manager Jeremy Pottle handing over key to Greg
VA Case Manager,
Jeremy Pottle, hands Greg the key to his new home.

In fact, just this past week we had the opportunity to celebrate Greg Guerra's move
into his own apartment. A three-year veteran of the U.S. Army and former sergeant in the National Guard. Greg had been living on the streets and in shelters for more than a year. Read more about Greg's move.  

It is our greatest wishthat you'll invest in the Project H3 VETS effort to ensure that other vulnerable Veterans like Greg can have their most critical needs met.  Your contribution can transform their well-being, and in many cases, save their lives.  

Contributions will help us secure groceries, household items and other necessities for Veterans as they move into their new homes in the coming weeks and months.  Please help us give back to these men and women that served us.

Donate online or mail your donation to:


Project H3 VETS
c/o The Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness 
3829 N. Third Street, Suite 104
Phoenix, AZ 85012

The Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donation may be tax deductible.   

On behalf of the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness, thank you for the impact you provide to those who need it most.



-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Frost [mailto:jfrost981@cox.net]
Subject: Any help is appreciated
This is retired Military Working Dog Bleck  J219.  Military Working Dog
Adoptions, run by Debbie Kandoll, is working on getting this warrior to his forever home.  If you would like to help with a donation please go to
and to the PayPal link.  Her address is on there as well, if you prefer
mailing any donation.   It isn't often that Debbie asks for help.  This is
one of those times.
Thanks for your consideration and feel free to pass this on to others.  Even
if enough is raised, any funds left over will help bring other retired
canine heroes to their owners in those situations that arise.  The Military
Working Dog Adoption Act does not provide for transportation costs at this
Time.
Jim Frost



Wounded Marine Program
 
Forwarding the attached .ppt to let you know about a program underway in Northern Ohio to assist wounded Marines. This is an example of what can be done when people who care about our warriors decide to take action and truly “support our troops.” If you would like to support the project in any way, even if it is just to send encouragements to the men organizing this effort, please contact either/all Don Keehan, "DJ” Keehan Jr, and Capt. Guy Zierk, USMC, at the addresses below.
“Donald J Keehan” [don.keehan@adv-polymer.com]
"Capt Zierk IOT Guy A" [guy.zierk@usmc.mil]
"DJ Keehan Jr" [djkeehan@adelphia.net]



Job Workshops for Veterans
       
The new Operation American Patriot has partnered with Jobing.com and Banner Health Olive Branch Center to help Veterans and their families with their jobs search. Starting October 11, 2011, Jobing.com will avail their resources to all those who attend the free workshops. The workshops will be held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 1:30-3PM at the OAP Office located at Banner Health Olive Branch Center, 11250 - 107th Avenue, Sun City, Arizona 85351.  This is a free workshop that will help attendees create their resumes, understand the challenges of today’s job market and help to prepare applicants for the interview process.  Jobing.com will certainly help to get the job seeker appropriately marketed using the resources of one of the largest employment social media and websites in the country. Jobing.com has major employer relations and their on-line resources receive over one million hits a week!  To register for these free workshops send an email with your name, address, email and phone number to jerry@oap.phxcoxmail.com  Space is limited to 25 persons per session so pick a date now!                                                            
           Operation American Patriot.org                                                     Veteran help line:                 
                         877-749-2332 - 24/7





Help MOAA End Unfair Compensation Penalties for Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Survivors Assistance "Helping
Our Survivors Through Their Time of Transition"
"It is our mission to make sure Veterans' survivors do not fall through
the cracks as VA's mission to serve those who have borne the battle is
not over when Taps is played.  More information can be received by
calling 202-461-1077 or visiting our Web site at www.va.gov/survivors.
If you would like to write us, contact us at officeofsurvivors@va.gov.


To watch a video on MVD’s returning soldier assistance program, check out the ADOT blog at http://adotblog.blogspot.com.
Follow Art Sloane in the Arizona Republic for veterans' news
Art Sloane is a columnist with the Arizona Republic.  Some of his information is specific to the metro Phoenix area, but there are frequently articles of interest to all veterans.  Of particular note: Arizona Veterans' Service Advisory Commissioner, George Cushing, was elected to serve as the American Legion State Commander and he was also elected as the Vice Chair for the Commission at the July meeting
The following link below should get you to his last blog:  http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/lace85248/








Measure Would Help Reduce Repeat Offenses

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will extend health care to eligible Veterans in halfway houses and other temporary, post-incarceration housing under a new program aimed at cutting back on repeat offenses.
“There’s hard evidence that lack of access to health care, including mental health care, for newly released inmates is a factor in people becoming homeless or returning to prison and jail,” said Jim McGuire, director of VA’s Veterans Justice Outreach Programs. “These are Veterans who otherwise qualify for VA health care.”
A long-standing rule has barred VA from providing health care to Veterans for whom another federal, state or local government has an obligation to provide health care.  Frequently, that means inmates of prisons and jails.
Under the changed rule, that prohibition would be amended and VA would be allowed to provide health care to Veterans in halfway houses and other temporary, post-incarceration housing.
An Urban Institute study in 2008 found that good health care in the first months of community reentry played a key role in easing readjustment and reducing recidivism.
About 29,000-56,000 Veterans are released annually from state and federal prisons, and at least 90,000 Veterans are released each year from city and county jails, according to Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.

1
Veteran Borrowers in Delinquency General Guidance

The US Department of Veterans Affairs urges all veterans who are encountering problems making their mortgage payments to speak with their servicers as soon as possible to explore options to avoid foreclosure. Contrary to popular opinion, servicers really do
not want to foreclose because foreclosure costs a lot of money.
Depending on a veteran’s specific situation, servicers may offer any of the following options to avoid foreclosure:  Repayment Plan – The borrower makes regular installment each month plus part of the missed installments. o Special Forbearance – The servicer agrees not to initiate foreclosure to allow time for borrowers to repay the missed installments. An example of when this would be likely is when a borrower is waiting for a tax refund. Loan Modification - Provides the borrower a fresh start by adding the delinquency to the loan balance and establishing a new payment schedule. o Additional time to arrange a private sale – The servicer agrees to delay foreclosure to allow a sale to close if the loan will be paid off. o Short Sale – When the servicer agrees to allow a borrower to sell his/her home for a lesser amount than what is currently required to payoff the loan. 
Access our website at www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/veteran.asp for additional information on VA loans and to watch videos of veterans who have completed the workout options listed above.
Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure - The borrower voluntarily agrees to deed the property to the servicer instead of going through a lengthy foreclosure process. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Veteran borrowers may be able to request relief pursuant to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). SCRA is intended to ease the economic and legal burdens on military personnel during their active service. In order to qualify for certain protections available under the Act, the borrower must request protection under the Act, and the loan must have originated prior to the current period of active military service. SCRA may provide for a lower interest rate, or prevent foreclosure or eviction up to nine months from period of military service.
Assistance to Veterans with VA-Guaranteed Home Loans
When a VA-guaranteed home loan becomes delinquent, VA provides supplemental servicing assistance to help cure the default. The servicer has the primary responsibility of servicing the loan to resolve the default. However, in cases where the servicer is unable to help the veteran borrower, Loan Guaranty has Loan Technicians in eight Regional Loan Centers and two special servicing centers who take an active role in interceding with the servicer to explore all options to avoid foreclosure.
Veterans with VA-guaranteed home loans can call
(877) 827-3702 to reach the nearest Loan Guaranty office where loan specialists are prepared to discuss potential ways to help save the loan. For more information go to www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans or call (877) 827-3702
Quick Reference Sheet


For Military Retirees and Others with DoD ID Cards:

DoD is removing Social Security numbers from ID cards and replacing the Social Security numbers with DoD ID numbers on all cards as of June 2011. DoD numbers will be uses as Geneva Convention's serial number.
If you are eligible for DoD benefits, there will also be a DoD number on the new ID card.
For information, visit www.dmdc.osd.mil/smartcard.

Great updated VA Health Care informational brochure.  Share with fellow Veterans
Eugene "Geno" Talas, Director
Office of Hopi Veterans Services & Safety Officer

Hopi Guidance Center
P.O. Box 68
Second Mesa, AZ  86043
Direct line: (928) 737-1834   Work cell:  (928) 205-9476

Fax: (928) 737-2667