'This gave me hope'

U.S. Army veteran Gretta Denny came to The American Legion’s Veterans Benefits Center in Florida on Jan. 14 a few weeks away from being homeless. She left it with a strong sense that homelessness will no longer be the case.

At the center, Denny met with Legion homeless veterans specialists Mark Walker and woman veterans specialist April Commander, who offered her guidance and options, and then connected her with a a Department of Veterans Affairs employee who was able to give her several resources to use in order to get housing. Walker and Commander both told Denny they'd follow up with her, so the veteran left the center with a smile on her face and a feeling that things are going to be OK.

“At the end of January I was going to be homeless, basically,” Denny said. “This gave me hope. It’s a relief. It’s not the ‘hurry up and wait.’ I was greeted very nicely and escorted to someone who was very helpful.”

Denny had been renting a house for eight years but said the woman who owned the house was going through a divorce and increasing the rent to a price Denny could no longer afford. She’d not found any help so far in finding a new place to live.

“When you’re single, female, you don’t have kids, you don’t count,” Denny said. “The (VA staffer) helped me out a lot. She called a bunch of contacts for me – ones I didn’t know about because I don’t have a computer. (She) got me a lot of information, and I’m supposed to get a lot of phone calls (today).

I was surprised. Everyone else I called said the same thing: Do you have kids? Are you an alcoholic? Are you a drug addict? They were like, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you.’ So I just gave up.”

Denny was one of 89 veterans who came to Day 1 of the center at the Bay Pines VAMC in Florida. Legion staff worked alongside VA workers specializing in health care and benefits. Flu shots also were available during the 12 hours the center was open.

Another veteran, Legionnaire James Stewart, drove 170 miles to attend the Legion’s town hall meeting Jan. 12 and told Legion staffers his situation. A post and district service officer who is a member of Post 117 in Palm Bay, Stewart has been waiting on a ruling on the appeal he filed in 2012.

“I got a call (Jan. 13) like they promised me about my case … and suggested I come over and bring my military records,” Stewart said. (Legion service officer Ron Abrams) was a big help. He got everything straightened out, and one of the (VA) rating officers has the statement of claim to clear everything up and hopefully move everything forward.”

Stewart said seeing the work the Legion is doing in his home state gave him a great sense of pride. “I’m an advocate for The American Legion because I know at our national level they’re working very hard to protect veterans and make sure the VA is doing its job correctly,” Stewart said. “I think what The American Legion is doing is keeping the VA honest.”

The center will be open again today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bay Pines VAMC, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd.