Local group assists veterans facing homelessness

At a recent meeting in Durango’s, a couple of local veteran organizations found out that honorably discharged veterans that are homeless or struggling with rent have a shoulder waiting for them to lean on.

Sandra Treadaway, Nancie Wittmier and Devon Harris with Volunteers of America explained that the organization has been around for over 100 years and has an office in Missoula where they serve veterans in western Montana, including Mineral and Sanders Counties.

This was news to Elmer Palmer, Western Zone Commander for the American Legion, Scott Burrows with American Legion Post 13 in St. Regis and Herman Berneking from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6238 in Superior.

“You guys are part of the Missoula office territory, and we are visiting with you which hasn’t been done before, that I know of”, explained Treadaway, who is two months into her position at the Outreach Coordinator. “Our help is not only for homeless, but for vets in risk of being evicted because they can’t afford the rent because they lost their job or are in a cash-crisis,” she explained.

Harris, whose department is Supportive Services for Veterans Families went on to share another scenario many are facing.

“Something we’re seeing in our community is people are being evicted, not because of their inability to pay the rent, but landlords are forcing them out when the lease expires because they know they can rent that same space for a heck of a lot more money today.”

If this is the case and to prevent the tenant from becoming homeless, VoA can work short-term with the landlord in paying the increase until the tenant either finds another place to live or a different income to cover the increase.

“Our focus is to build as good of a relationship with landlords as we do with those veterans that we’re helping,” said Treadaway.

Meaning landlords who have veterans as tenants that see there might be trouble with their monthly payments coming, they can refer the vet to VoA before a possible eviction notice his hung on the door. They will pay the landlord arrears going back 6 months and then rent the first month or 2 to keep the veteran current.

“And then we’d begin a tier-down process to wean off slowly hoping a job is now in the spotlight or other benefits so that they can pay all of their rent at the six-month mark,” shared Harris.

Once this milepost is met, they are qualified for a 2-year program of continued assistance known as the Shallow Subsidy Program.

“They are funded through a grant with the VA,” said Wittmier as she nodded toward Treadaway and Harris, “and I’m funded through a different grant with the Department of Labor.”

Wittmier is the Employment Service Coordinator that works with vets who need a job and have a past that might be questionable.

“We get a lot of veterans out of prison and in treatment programs. We’re going to get rid of all barriers that they have in getting them to find a job. We’re going to pay for interview clothing, a driver’s license, work clothing and tools they need. We’re going to cover all of these costs as well as fuel cards to get to the interview and to work or even buy them a bicycle, if that’s what they need,” she described.

This part of the VoA program has been in Missoula for almost three years but the housing portion is over eight years old. A big reason this information is new to the public is because of the pandemic so one-on-one discussions have been hampered and job fairs have been almost non-existent.

“If we can’t help them, we may know of another association that can be of assistance as we work very closely with the VA and other organizations to do what we can for veterans and their families,” smiled Treadaway, who can be reached at (406) 926-3600