'Compassion in Action' White House Faith Base Round Table

I can't take credit for finding this. It came in an alert from here.
Faith-Based Meeting Announced
By Night Watch Ministries(Night Watch Ministries)

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to Host 'Compassion in Action' Roundtable on Addressing Needs of America's Veterans
Contact: Rebecca Neale, The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, 202-456-7348



WASHINGTON, July 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, July 22, 2008, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI), joined by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake, will convene a Compassion in Action roundtable titled, "Serving Those Who Have Served: The Vital Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations." Hosted by OFBCI Director Jay Hein, the Roundtable will focus on innovative and effective policies, programs and partnerships that address the needs of America's veterans, highlighting the vital role of faith-based and community organizations in these efforts.

A complete Compassion in Action Roundtable agenda is attached.

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008

WHO: Jay Hein, Director, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

The Honorable James B. Peake, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

WHAT: White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Compassion in Action roundtable

WHERE: The White House

Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB)

Room 450

WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

10:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. EDT

Members of the press should arrive at the Northwest Appointment Gate by 10 a.m. EDT to ensure entry.

NOTE: Members of the press who do not have a White House press credential must fax his or her name (as it appears on his or her driver's license), Social Security number and date of birth on company letterhead to (202) 456-7019 no later than 6 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2008. For additional credentialing or logistical questions, please call (202) 456-7348.

Serving Those Who Have Served: The Vital Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations

10:30 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Jay Hein, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

10:40 a.m. Keynote Remarks

James B. Peake, M.D.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

10:55 a.m. Veterans’ Needs and Solutions

Moderator: Chaplain A. Keith Ethridge, Acting Director, National Chaplain Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Laura Balun, Director, Voluntary Service Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Craig Dykstra, Senior Vice President of Religion, Lilly Endowment

Panelist: Katherine Dunlap, Coordinator, McGuire Outreach Ministry

11:35 a.m. Snapshot of Success

Mark Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

John McWilliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, U.S. Department of Labor

Milton Brown, Service Recipient, Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training

11:50 a.m. Services and Partnership Successes

Moderator: Pete Dougherty, Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Reverend Michael M. Boland, Administrator, President and CEO,

Catholic Charities, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Panelist: Anne Rea, Chief of Operations for Adult Services, Way Station

Panelist: Ruth Fanning, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panelist: Jim Gibbons, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International

12:40 p.m. Call to Action

Mike Vogel, Chairman, 2008 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans
http://christiannewswire.com/news/656667232.html

Which is a great idea considering there has not been very much going on to meet the needs as great as they are. You would think this part would have been updated, but it is the Bush White House after all.

Jim Nicholson
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs
November 10, 2006November 10, 2005May 31, 2005May 5, 2005

Anthony Principi
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2001-2005
November 9, 2004November 10, 2003
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/veterans/

Clicking around on the links, this is what I found.
Faith Base grants section. This is what is there for veterans.

VETERANS
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 73
New Grantee Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program 73
Non-Urban and Urban Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program 73
Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) 74
US Department of Veterans Affairs 81

I know some of my friends are still reluctant to find the need for something like this but consider when you address the connection between mind, body and spirit, there is great healing. The problem is the clergy from all denominations are very reluctant to step up. This could be a very interesting meeting. I hope there are some members of the media there to give a full report on this. It should provide a greater understanding of how far the White House has come in addressing, with all seriousness, the needs of our veterans, or the lack of it.

Nicholson to veterans, you're no different than the rest of the citizens

Nearly $2 billion has been budgeted for homeless veterans’ health care, but $1 billion is earmarked for faith-based programs, such as that operated by the Volunteers of America, to provide per-diem assistance to veterans suffering from addiction and mental disease, Nicholson said.

Half the money went to "faith base" programs instead of the VA programs and shelters already operating for all veterans without any strings attached.

“We’re aware of the influx of homeless veterans here and (are aware of the need for) making more resources available for medical and grant per-diem programs,” Nicholson said. “And we’re constantly looking for good, faith-based sponsors here like the VOA.”

And are they supporting the shelters that operated all over the country? No they are looking for more "faith based" ones to give money to. Nicholson seems proud of this instead of ashamed that the money has not gone to fund the VA but faith base groups.

Veterans vent to VA leader
Homelessness, few resources are big issues

By SAMUEL IRWIN
Special to The Advocate
Published: Sep 9, 2007 - Page: 5B

Page 1 of 2 SINGLE PAGE VIEW
U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson heard praise, complaints and suggestions Saturday from homeless military veterans while touring the Baton Rouge Volunteers of America nine-bed transitional housing facility on West Garfield Avenue.

Nicholson visited with the veterans in the parlor of the old Odd Fellows Lodge a few blocks away from Magnolia Mound Plantation and the LSU campus.

“We (the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) are the agents of a grateful society grateful for people who put on the uniform,” Nicholson said. “But we have challenges to take care of the many living veterans who are no different from the rest of the citizens of our country. We have veterans who have problems.”

This is the other part that made me lose my dinner. Nicholson told this group of homeless veterans, they are no different than that rest of the citizens in this country. No different! No different! Is he out of his mind? I wonder how they avoided beating the crap out of him to show him how very different they are?
go here for the rest
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9669677.html