Friday, May 21, 2010

VA Sec. Shinseki on Homeless Veterans

In the video below, Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki talks about homelessness among veterans, and how the VA is working to end it in the next five years. I was particularly struck by his description of "two images" of veterans: one is of those who served their country on high-performing teams in very difficult and dangerous circumstances; the other is of the 131,000 veterans who are homeless in the U.S.. He said the VA's goal is to make sure that the second image doesn't define the veterans who embody the first image. An eloquent, thoughtful person, and we hope he and the rest of the VA (and our country) is successful.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

New Blog for Washington, DC CVM

The Washington, DC CVM program has just launched (or rather, re-launched) its blog. Look for regular postings about jobs, job fairs, events and other resources in DC. Most of the information posted there is also being sent to DC CVM clients via broadcast voice message and email message (for those clients who have given us their email addresses). If you're a CVM client and you forget to save your voice message, check out the blog!

The DC CVM program is now being co-hosted by 5 local DC agencies in partnership with the CVM National office. If you live in the DC area and are in need of free voice mail, you can contact the following agencies:

Bread for the City:
For SE DC referrals call Lynda Brown at (202) 561-0531.
For NW DC referrals call Julia Eddy at (202) 386-7018 to make a referral.

N Street Village: accepts only female clients.
Call Ann McCreedy at (202) 939-2070 to make a referral.

Friendship Place:
Please call Martina Wright at 202-364-1419 ext 14 to make a referral.

Ida Mae Campbell Wellness & Resource Center: The Center will set aside 10 phone numbers for individuals that are not members of the Center. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12PM-8PM and Saturday, 11AM-3PM
Please contact Gail Banks at 202-684-7015 to make a referral

La Casa (a program of DC Coalition for the Homeless): for clients already connected to programs within the DC Coalition for the Homeless.
Please call Lorraine Garcia at (202) 882-1237 x303 to make a referral.