Fayette无毛视频檚 Veterans Billeting program takes homeless veterans off the streets
When Ron Metros无毛视频� uncle returned from serving in Korea, he watched him struggle with his return to civilian life.
无毛视频淗ow much demand do we have for a machine gunner here? So many positions in the military aren无毛视频檛 applicable to civilian jobs,无毛视频� Metros said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 like going from A to Z as far as the world goes, and they all have a pretty tough time transitioning.
For some veterans, the difficulties can lead to homelessness, something Metros noticed was happening in Fayette County.
Nine years ago, he started United Veterans Billeting of Fayette County in hopes of bringing those numbers down. Billeting is a military term for a place of rest and relaxation and that无毛视频檚 just what Metros is aiming for.
无毛视频淧sychologists that deal with this kind of thing agree that a home setting is the best start for (veterans). We just want to get them back into a spot in society where they feel good about themselves again,无毛视频� Metros said.
The home for veterans is a place where they can begin to establish permanency.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e not a flophouse. We don无毛视频檛 give them a bed for the night and kick them out in the morning. We have a living facility; a house that无毛视频檚 been totally remodeled and they stay with us while we work together to find jobs and living arrangements,无毛视频� Metros said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a hand up, not a hand out, and it无毛视频檚 been working.无毛视频�
Metros estimates the nonprofit has a 65% success rate. They无毛视频檝e assisted men in their early 30无毛视频檚 to those in their mid-80无毛视频檚, and just this fall, opened a second home for women and children.
无毛视频淚f you无毛视频檙e a woman and homeless, you end up in a shelter, and your kids end up in foster care. We set this home up to accommodate the mother and children to stay together. I think we无毛视频檙e the first county in the state of Pennsylvania to offer a men, women and children veterans program,无毛视频� Metros said.
The reasons the veterans are homeless are many.
Some may have a substance abuse or alcohol addiction, and Metros gets them to the VA programs for help. Some lost their home in a fire and others were evicted or foreclosed on when they couldn无毛视频檛 pay their rent or mortgage.
Living at the Veterans Billeting home provides residents a roof over their head, food, clothing and a computer. It costs them nothing, but the program depends on the donations of others.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e paying the utilities. We maintain the home and provide everything they need. Those bills aren无毛视频檛 going to stop, so financial donations are the best way to support us,无毛视频� Metros said. 无毛视频淲e do receive furniture donations at times. Both homes are completely furnished, and it无毛视频檚 helpful to have a few pieces to help when they move out, but storing it can be just as expensive.无毛视频�
Everyone involved volunteers their time, ensuring 100% of what无毛视频檚 raised goes to support the programs
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e put a big dent in the numbers (of homeless veterans) around here. It无毛视频檚 something that should never be,无毛视频� Metros said.
Follow United Veterans Billeting of Fayette County on Facebook for more information.