Mark Zaleski / The Press-Enterprise
Veteran Casey Grother credits the U.S. Vets program with helping get his life stabilized. The Riverside chapter is set to lose most of its funding this year.
U.S. Vets in Riverside losing funding for disabled housing
By JOE VARGO
The Press-Enterprise
Video: Homeless-recovery program is losing its funding
Disabled veterans could be forced from apartments where they have lived for years when a nonprofit program loses most of its funding this year.
The Riverside chapter of U.S. Vets, credited with turning around the lives of hundreds of current and former members of the military, has been informed that its grant money from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is being cut by more than $400,000, about two-thirds of its budget.
"It's going to be a disaster," said Gina Vaughn-Mays, site manager for the nonprofit organization that operates out of a barracks at the former March Air Reserve Base. "This job is more than just punching a time card. We've tried to create an environment that is stable for our clients. It's the place where many have thrived."
Already, 13 totally disabled veterans living in their own section of the U.S. Vets center have been given notice they will have to pay substantially more rent or leave.
Even if they find government-subsidized housing, it won't come with the free meals, counseling, therapy and camaraderie they've come to know at U.S. Vets.
"I don't believe I'd still be around without this place," said Bruce Barb, 53, a former Navy gunner who suffers from severe leg ulcers, asthma and back problems. "Imagine you're a veteran and you have no place to go and you're at the bottom of the barrel. Then you find a place where people help you get back on your feet. That's a good feeling."
Barb said he was living in his car in Fontana when he heard about U.S. Vets and moved in.
Veteran Casey Grother credits the U.S. Vets program with helping get his life stabilized. The Riverside chapter is set to lose most of its funding this year.
U.S. Vets in Riverside losing funding for disabled housing
By JOE VARGO
The Press-Enterprise
Video: Homeless-recovery program is losing its funding
Disabled veterans could be forced from apartments where they have lived for years when a nonprofit program loses most of its funding this year.
The Riverside chapter of U.S. Vets, credited with turning around the lives of hundreds of current and former members of the military, has been informed that its grant money from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is being cut by more than $400,000, about two-thirds of its budget.
"It's going to be a disaster," said Gina Vaughn-Mays, site manager for the nonprofit organization that operates out of a barracks at the former March Air Reserve Base. "This job is more than just punching a time card. We've tried to create an environment that is stable for our clients. It's the place where many have thrived."
Already, 13 totally disabled veterans living in their own section of the U.S. Vets center have been given notice they will have to pay substantially more rent or leave.
Even if they find government-subsidized housing, it won't come with the free meals, counseling, therapy and camaraderie they've come to know at U.S. Vets.
"I don't believe I'd still be around without this place," said Bruce Barb, 53, a former Navy gunner who suffers from severe leg ulcers, asthma and back problems. "Imagine you're a veteran and you have no place to go and you're at the bottom of the barrel. Then you find a place where people help you get back on your feet. That's a good feeling."
Barb said he was living in his car in Fontana when he heard about U.S. Vets and moved in.
How is this possible? What are they thinking or are they thinking at all? The government had finally begun to get it right on taking care of our homeless veterans and now this?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development apparently must not consider veterans part of a worthy endeavor. Housing veterans who will have no place to go, no counseling, no help, must not be a priority to this branch of the government these veterans served. This is truly pathetic and a slap in the face to the veterans who served this nation.
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