Homeless veterans from throughout region can find help in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — The state's first Executive Office of Veterans’ Services secretary visited the Veterans Transition House on Tuesday to learn from its successes providing housing to homeless veterans.

"That's why we're here today. We have a lot to learn from the VTH," said Secretary Jon Santiago.

Santiago met up with officials at the VTH's outreach center at 1297 Purchase St. before taking a tour of the housing units available to veterans in VTH's main campus on that block.

Santiago said VTH's program could "serve as a model for the rest of the state to follow."

Veterans Transition House was founded in 1990, and has provided more than 3,000 southeastern Massachusetts homeless veterans with transitional and permanent housing, as well as comprehensive support services.

New Bedford achieves zero on-street veteran homelessness

Santiago noted the city had achieved zero on-street veteran homelessness over the last three years.

Santiago called that "a testament to all the work" that's being done for veterans in New Bedford.

That work included the virtual redevelopment of an entire city block, from razing the dilapidated former hospital building on Purchase Street to make way for 30 units of veteran housing to rehabbing another distressed property around the corner at 1060 Pleasant St. to provide units for another 20 veterans.

That was part of a $10 million campus expansion begun in 2019, said VTH fundraiser David Guertin Jr. of Vantage in Philanthropy. The Alfiero Outreach Center opened in 2021 at 1297 Purchase St., and is staffed with licensed clinicians.

The VTH offers close to 100 housing units throughout the city, including 50 at the Purchase Street campus, Guertin said.

The average length of stay is 90 days, but can extend up to two years.

There are currently 83 residents, and a staff of 24.

Dedicated staff work credited for successes

VTH Executive Director Jim Reid said dedicated staff work "done day-in and day-out" has yielded the positive results, along with the new facilities.

Staffers also work proactively to step in and prevent veterans from becoming homeless, he said.

VTH Residential Director Leah Berg said their primary focus was helping homeless veterans transition into permanent housing.

Though housing is the primary focus, VTH also offers recovery services, as well. More than 80% of the veterans they work with have addiction problems, Berg said.

The VTH can also help with providing-arranging legal and financial help, she said. "Anything to help folks get back on their feet."

More homeless veterans drawn to VTH

Stepped-up efforts to get the word out that the VTH is available to help has increased referrals, particularly self referrals in addition to those from the VA, she said.

Katie Buckley, outreach director and treatment clinician, said the VTH has added outreach employees.

That includes a "boots-on-the-ground" approach where homeless veterans are contacted in person in local hospitals and encampments.

In the past, five to 10 new veterans might seek help in a given month, she said.

Now it's up to 30 new veterans every month, she said.

Buckley said they offer a seven-bed clinical residential program for up to two-year stays, as well, for mental health and substance-abuse issues.

Executive Office of Veterans’ Services recently created

The state Executive Office of Veterans’ Services was created in 2022 in response to the tragic loss of life at Holyoke and Chelsea veterans homes, Santiago said.

Santiago, a former state representative, is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, and an emergency medicine physician at Boston Medical Center.

The EOVS opened in March, elevating what had been the Department of Veterans’ Services to a cabinet-level secretariat, Santiago said. He added 50 additional people have been hired to improve services.

Mayor Jon Mitchell said the credit for the VTH's successes — including zero on-street veteran homelessness over the last three years — should go to its hard-working staffers.

"They're out there hustling. That's the way they make a difference," he said.

Some VTH vital statistics from fiscal year 2023

• Total transitional and permanent bed nights: 25,881

• Meals served: 14,400

• Employment placements: 35

• Supportive services for veteran families: 96 individuals served

• Projected funding for FY 2024 includes $1.91 million from the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services, $360,000 in donations, $342,000 from the VA, $314,000 subcontracted, and $142,000 under "other."

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 'Model' homeless veterans program is available in New Bedford