It is estimated
that over 17,500 homeless veterans are
living on the streets, in their cars, or
isolated rural areas of Florida on any
given night. Unfortunately,
homelessness is often the large price
veterans pay for experiencing the harsh
reality of war. A lack of affordable
housing, unemployment, drug and alcohol
abuse problems and the lingering effects
of combat related physical and mental
illnesses such as Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder are contributing causes for the
homelessness of veterans. The extended
and repeated deployments of veterans
returning from Iraq (Operation Iraqi
Freedom) and Afghanistan (Operation
Enduring Freedom) are also causing
disabling conditions. These effects may
be compounded by a lack of family and
social support networks. Volunteers of
America of Florida serves homeless
veterans through our Housing, Health,
Training, Education and Employment
Services. As part of this innovative
program, veterans are placed in a
supportive housing environment, offered
basic job and employment skills
training, linked with community health
resources as well as veterans-only
benefit resources, service organizations
and support groups.
Integrating compassion with our highly
effective programs, our work throughout
the state of Florida touches the mind,
body, heart — and ultimately gives
homeless veterans the spirit to reclaim
their lives, overcome barriers, and live
healthy, successful lives.
Volunteers of America of Florida’s
Veterans Mobile Service Center
Volunteers of
America of Florida continues outreach to
expand its capacity to elevate the human
spirit. The Florida Veterans Mobile
Service Center (MSC) is a program “on
wheels” that allows the team to go where
the need is greatest.
The 40-foot state of the art vehicle,
owned and operated by Volunteers of
America of Florida, has well-equipped
medical and dental examination rooms,
bunks and satellite communication links to
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Volunteers of America of Florida partners
with the Department of Veterans Affairs
forming a team that works with homeless
veterans as the vehicle makes its stops on
the streets and in rural encampments
throughout Florida. The MSC
facilitates the team's efforts to reach
out and serve the immediate needs of
homeless veterans providing much needed
emergency items such as food, clothing,
and personal hygiene packets as well as
performing health screening assessments,
checking VA benefits eligibility, offering
counseling, and assessing housing, mental
health, substance abuse, employment,
educational and vocational needs. In
addition to crisis intervention and short
term counseling, the on-site MSC links
veterans with other community services
that will increase the potential for the
veterans to find safe, healthy,
independent living conditions.
Click here to view the Florida Mobile
Service Center Schedule.
Please click on
the map to
find contact
information
for Veterans
Program
locations.
