County supervisors aim to help homeless veterans
The Board of Supervisors today unanimously agreed tothe formation of a committee to identify strategies for getting RiversideCounty’s estimated 900 homeless military veterans off the streets and possiblyback into the workforce.
Supervisor Jeff Stone brought forward the Veteran Assistance Leadershipof Riverside County (VALOR) concept, which he hopes will lead to the expansionof existing programs and the addition of others aimed at providing support forvets, in the form of job options, drug rehabilitation and other efforts towardsocial normalization.
“It is a black eye for our country, state and county to have veterans –who have put their lives on the line for our freedoms — to be discarded andleft panhandling or suffering alone with substance abuse and other traumas,”Stone said.
Under VALOR, a “no veterans left behind policy” will be implementedusing all available public and private resources, according to Stone.
“We need to find those who want to be helped,” he said. “We can findthem compassionate care, health counseling, whatever is needed to get them backon track again. It is honorable that we take care of our veterans.”
The supervisor noted that the county’s veterans’ services agency hasthree full-time staff members, while neighboring San Bernardino County has adozen.
He recommended, and the board concurred, that staff from eight countyagencies join the U.S. Veterans Administration and private nonprofit veteransorganizations in formulating strategies to expand assistance to homeless vets.
County CEO Jay Orr suggested a number of county employees who could beof service, including Chief Financial Officer Ed Corser, a former U.S. Armymajor; retired California National Guard Col. Tom Freeman, the county’s foreigntrade commissioner; and Purchasing and Fleet Services Director Bob Howdyshell,a retired U.S. Navy captain.
Orr said a report on the committee’s formation would be returned for theboard’s consideration in 60 days.
