VA Announces New Grants to Help End Veterans’ Homelessness

May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced two new grants to support Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s goal of ending Veterans’ homelessness in 2015.  Under these new programs, homeless providers can apply for funding to enhance the facilities used to serve homeless Veterans, and acquire vans to facilitate transportation of this population. 

“Those who have served this Nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope,” said Secretary Shinseki. “Homeless prevention grants provide community partners with the opportunity to help prevent and end homelessness on the local level. This is a crucial tool to get at-risk Veterans and their families on the road to stable, secure lives.”

Approximately $22 million in rehabilitation funds will be available to current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees as part of the effort to increase the useful life of the facilities previously funded under the program.  VA expects current Grant and Per Diem grantees will apply for funding to rehabilitate their current project location and enhance the safety, security and privacy issues associated with the homeless Veteran populations they serve.  A maximum of $250,000 is available per award and the award will not be more than 65 percent of the estimated total cost of the rehabilitation activity.  VA has established funding priorities to support its oldest capitally funded projects.

In addition, approximately $2 million in funds will be available for current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees to assist in the acquisition of vans in order to facilitate transportation of Veteran participants to medical appointments, employment opportunities in the community, and facilitate grantees’ outreach activities.  The maximum award for a van will be $35,000.  The amount of the award will not exceed 65 percent of the total cost of the van.

Applications for both awards are due to the Grant and Per Diem office by no later than 4 p.m. Eastern time on June 28, 2013.

This funding is available under VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program for current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees.  The Grant and Per Diem Program provides community-based organizations with funding to develop and operate transitional housing and supportive services for homeless Veterans.  The Grant and Per Diem Program has over 15,000 operational transitional housing beds nationwide.

The 2012 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, prepared by The Department of Housing and Urban Development, estimated there were 62,619 homeless Veterans on a single night in January 2012 in the United States, a 7.2 percent decline since 2011 and a 17.2 percent decline since 2009. The AHAR reports on the extent and nature of homelessness in America. Included in the report is the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count, which measures the number of homeless persons in the U.S. on a single night in January 2012, including the number of homeless Veterans.

Additional information is available at http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp or contact the Grant and Per Diem National Program Office at 877-332-0334.

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VA Announces New Grants to Help End Veterans’ Homelessness

May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced two new grants to support Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s goal of ending Veterans’ homelessness in 2015.  Under these new programs, homeless providers can apply for funding to enhance the facilities used to serve homeless Veterans, and acquire vans to facilitate transportation of this population. 

“Those who have served this Nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope,” said Secretary Shinseki. “Homeless prevention grants provide community partners with the opportunity to help prevent and end homelessness on the local level. This is a crucial tool to get at-risk Veterans and their families on the road to stable, secure lives.”

Approximately $22 million in rehabilitation funds will be available to current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees as part of the effort to increase the useful life of the facilities previously funded under the program.  VA expects current Grant and Per Diem grantees will apply for funding to rehabilitate their current project location and enhance the safety, security and privacy issues associated with the homeless Veteran populations they serve.  A maximum of $250,000 is available per award and the award will not be more than 65 percent of the estimated total cost of the rehabilitation activity.  VA has established funding priorities to support its oldest capitally funded projects.

In addition, approximately $2 million in funds will be available for current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees to assist in the acquisition of vans in order to facilitate transportation of Veteran participants to medical appointments, employment opportunities in the community, and facilitate grantees’ outreach activities.  The maximum award for a van will be $35,000.  The amount of the award will not exceed 65 percent of the total cost of the van.

Applications for both awards are due to the Grant and Per Diem office by no later than 4 p.m. Eastern time on June 28, 2013.

This funding is available under VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program for current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees.  The Grant and Per Diem Program provides community-based organizations with funding to develop and operate transitional housing and supportive services for homeless Veterans.  The Grant and Per Diem Program has over 15,000 operational transitional housing beds nationwide.

The 2012 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, prepared by The Department of Housing and Urban Development, estimated there were 62,619 homeless Veterans on a single night in January 2012 in the United States, a 7.2 percent decline since 2011 and a 17.2 percent decline since 2009. The AHAR reports on the extent and nature of homelessness in America. Included in the report is the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count, which measures the number of homeless persons in the U.S. on a single night in January 2012, including the number of homeless Veterans.

Additional information is available at http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp or contact the Grant and Per Diem National Program Office at 877-332-0334.

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There are three VA medical centers named for United States presidents.

In our first of three stories on these hospitals, we focus on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt campus of the Hudson Valley Healthcare System in Montrose, New York.

This week marks the 63rd anniversary of the opening of the hospital on May 15, 1950. It was front page news.

More Beds Needed After World War II

By 1944, VA operated eight hospitals with 8,034 beds in the state of New York. With the influx of returning World War II Veterans, more hospital beds were needed and sites near New York City were of particular interest. The government purchased the Boscobel land for $125,000 in April 1945. It was one of the last hospital sites selected by VA’s longest tenured administrator, General Frank T. Hines.

Four months later, in August 1945, General Hines was replaced by General Omar Bradley as VA Administrator. Bradley was charged by President Truman and Congress with modernizing the VA. In his brief two-year tenure, he made groundbreaking changes, including changing the look and location of Veterans hospitals.

Some of the most apparent differences between Bradley-era VA hospitals and those of the past were their locations, architecture, and scale: sites were selected in urban areas in proximity to medical schools, “skyscraper” hospitals were built up instead of sprawling outward to utilize a smaller footprint, and most were large with 1,000 plus beds. Montrose had nearly 2,000 beds.

President Truman Dedicated Hospital to FDR

President Harry S. Truman on September 26, 1945 officially designated the planned hospital at Montrose as the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Veterans Administration Hospital. It was the first VA hospital named after a U.S. president. This commemorative act took place less than six months after President Roosevelt’s death on April 12, 1945.

The new VA hospital at Montrose was uniquea hybridthat incorporated elements of World War I hospitals along with new components that Bradley wanted in World War II hospitals. Out of 72 hospital projects, Montrose was “the only departure from a ‘main building’ design.” Its rural setting was more typical of World War I-era hospitals, but its planned 2,000 beds made it one of the largest World War II-era hospitals at the time.

Construction of Montrose was slow moving, due initially to post-war inflation. Groundbreaking took place on February 12, 1947. Montrose officially opened on Monday, May 15, 1950, when the first patients were transferred from Halloran Army Hospital in New York City.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Campus, 2010

Mansion Disassembled and Moved

One of the interesting stories about the site involves the Boscobel Mansion.

In 1944, the Veterans Administration took an option on the Revolutionary War-era estate, known as Boscobel, situated on the banks of the Hudson River roughly 40 miles north of New York City.

Originally, the historic Boscobel mansion house stood at the current location of Building 29 at the FDR Montrose VA Hospital, overlooking the Hudson. It was completed in 1808 for the Morris States-Dyckman family and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the country.

The mansion was meticulously taken apart and rebuilt further up the Hudson to make way for the new VA Hospital being built to serve America’s newest Veterans from WWII. The Wallace family of Reader’s Digest fame, long-time residents of the Hudson Valley, paid for the move and restoration efforts.

FDR VA is also home to the unique Veterans Sculpture Garden overlooking the Hudson. Sculptures of busts of Veterans from every war America has fought in are on display in this magnificent historic and well-visited meditation garden.

The molds for the busts have been replicated twice and are on display in the Westchester County Lasdon Park Veterans Walk and Memorial, and in the East Orange VA Hospital Museum.

The busts were all created by Nils Anderson, an artist who was a WWII Veteran and patient at FDR VA in the PTSD program, who completed the project through his art therapy program at Montrose. Nils Andersen was a famous artist prior to his difficulties that led him to VA and praises VA for having saved his life.

The garden also features ornamental trees and plantings and is used by the community, patients, visitors and staff.

Eleanor Roosevelt speaks at 10th Anniversary

Eleanor Roosevelt on the 10th Anniversary

Eleanor Roosevelt addressed the 10th Anniversary Voluntary Service Awards Program on Friday, May 20, 1960, at the Franklin D. Roosevelt VA Hospital in Montrose.

Her appearance was part of a four day 10th Anniversary Observance at the FDR-Montrose Hospital, which is today named VA Hudson Valley Health Care System-FDR Montrose Campus.

(Special thanks to Michael Stern, Psychologist and Acting Public Affairs Officer with the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System.)

VA Mandates Overtime to Increase Production of Compensation Claims Decisions

May 15, 2013

Latest Initiative aimed at reducing the backlog

WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing effort to accelerate the elimination of the disability compensation claims backlog, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing today that it is mandating overtime for claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices. This surge, which will be implemented through the end of fiscal year 2013, will be targeted to eliminating the backlogged status of claims. The additional overtime hours that will be worked during this period will be used to help eliminate the backlog with continued emphasis on high-priority claims for homeless Veterans and those claiming financial hardship, the terminally ill, former Prisoners of War, Medal of Honor recipients, and Veterans filing Fully Developed Claims.

“VA is dedicated to providing Veterans with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “This increased overtime initiative will provide more Veterans with decisions on their claims and will help us achieve our goal of eliminating the claims backlog.”

This is the latest effort in support of the Secretary’s plan to reduce the backlog. Last month, the VA announced an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer.   On April 19, VA began prioritizing claims decisions for Veterans who have been waiting the longest, by providing provisional decisions that allow eligible Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits quickly.  With a provisional decision, a Veteran has a year to submit additional information to support a claim before the decision becomes final.  More information can be found here.

“We’re committed to getting Veterans decisions on their claims as quickly and accurately as possible,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “We need to surge our resources now to help those who have waited the longest and end the backlog.”

Claims for Wounded Warriors separating from the military for medical reasons will continue to be handled separately and on a priority basis with the Department of Defense through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). On average, Wounded Warriors separating through IDES currently receive VA compensation benefits in 2 months following their separation from service.

Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov.

More information about filing Fully Developed Claims is available at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/transformation/fastclaims/.

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Draft Gulf War Task Force Report Released

May 14, 2013

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Report Redefines How Care and Services Are Provided to Gulf War Veterans

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the Department’s Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force will publish a comprehensive draft report in the Federal Register for public feedback and comment.  The report describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs has been, and will continue to address the concerns of Veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.

“We know Gulf War Veterans are experiencing critical long-term medical issues that are complex and difficult to label,” said Shinseki.  “VA has learned a great deal over the past 20 years about identifying, diagnosing and treating Gulf War Veterans, and we will continue to evaluate our research and clinical findings to ensure we keep providing world-class health care and benefits for Gulf War Veterans.” 

Over the past several years, the Task Force has refined an integrated roadmap to better synchronize efforts and improve care and services to Gulf War Veterans. VA is working towards these efforts becoming a part of the culture and operations.

This year’s report continues to focus on efforts to improve health care for Gulf War Veterans including innovative enhancements to clinical care.  The draft report identifies seven specific areas where VA will strive to improve services for Gulf War Veterans.  

The seven areas focus on important components of health care, such as Veteran-centric approaches to specialty and primary care, delivering Veteran benefits, and improving open communications with Gulf War Veterans.  The Task Force also developed plans to improve linkages between specialty knowledge and services at the basic point of care to address treatment for chronic multi-symptom illness, an ongoing concern of Gulf War Veterans, their families and their providers.

VA continues to support ongoing efforts by providing clinical research and development, which is outlined in the recent, first-ever released Research Strategic Plan on Gulf War Illnesses.  This plan will be used to help refine clinical practice and clinical education throughout VA. VA continues to strengthen partnerships to enhance medical surveillance related to potential health impacts on Veterans from the environmental exposures on today’s battlefields.

VA and the Department of Defense recently approved a research project to develop a long-term exposure record to collect and share deployment and exposure data between the two Departments, a model informed by lessons learned in earlier Gulf War studies.  “This decades-long research and continuing partnership has not only transformed the care and services to Gulf War Veterans, but has also made us smarter about how we care for Veterans of all eras.” said Shinseki.

Today, VA is seeking public comments on the draft Task Force report before final publication. The public notice and instructions for how to submit electronic and comments via postal mail will be posted at www.regulations.gov, and the draft written report will be open for comment for 30 days. In addition, VA recognizes that a great number of Gulf War Veterans use the Internet on a daily basis to share their ideas and concerns, so VA has also created a public discussion board on the seven focus areas at: http://vagulfwartaskforce.uservoice.com/.  To view the report without making recommendations, please visit VA’s website at: http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/Draft_2012_GWVI-TF_Report.pdf.

 

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Inside the brain — MRI scans are just one measure VA researchers are using to gain a glimpse of brain changes that signal Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)

Research Week Salutes VA Pioneers

From inventing the implantable cardiac pacemaker to helping develop the brain-computer interface, VA Research has been improving the lives of all generations of Veterans for nearly nine decades.

VA Research has been part of numerous advances in treating heart disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, mental health disorders, and many other conditions and diseases that affect Veterans.

 VA Research has been improving the lives of…Veterans for nearly nine decades. 

This year, VA showcases the extraordinary work of VA researchers nationwide through National VA Research Week, May 13-17.

This year’s theme, “VA Research Inspires,” has in turn inspired a fount of creativity nationwide as VA medical centers ready for what promises to be an exciting week of activities and learning. Open houses, poster displays, presentations, award ceremonies and other events will feature the numerous advances and discoveries made by VA Research.

Former Navy sailor Ronald Mortenson, 67, had surgery seven years ago at the Baltimore VA Medical Center to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was part of a VA study comparing two ways to fix the problem. Read Ronald’s story.

Veteran Research Volunteers

Of course, none of these research breakthroughs would be possible without the Veterans who have volunteered to participate in VA studies. Whether it’s helping to find cures for illnesses or helping to improve VA health care for all Veterans, those who volunteer to take part in research deserve special thanks.

To learn more about VA Research and events marking this year’s National VA Research Week, visit www.research.va.gov and www.facebook.com/VAResearch.

St. Louis to Host National Veteran Small Business Conference Aug. 6-8

May 10, 2013

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Help for Veterans Who Own Businesses

WASHINGTON – The National Veterans Small Business Conference, the government’s premier event for Veteran-owned small businesses, is coming to St. Louis’ America’s Center, on Aug. 6-8, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced today.

“VA is committed to bringing more Veteran-Owned Small Businesses into a public-private partnership to help them grow and succeed,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This event is a unique opportunity for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to connect directly with government procurement decision makers and business partners.”

During the conference, Veteran-owned business owners will receive information, tools, tips, techniques and how-to instructions to start, build and expand a small business idea into a life-changing reality.

Veterans will be able to attend a wide variety of classes on business operations with more than 200 breakout sessions on how to start and grow a business and successfully compete for federal contracts.  They will also have the opportunity to discuss business and contracting issues with key procurement decision makers from the federal government and private sector.

Finally, Veterans will learn how to get the Veteran-owned business certification needed to compete for federal contracts; outreach to veteran communities; and target networking to discuss government procurement and contracting requirements. 

There are 26 million small businesses in the United States.  Of these, 3.6 million are Veteran and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned businesses. Together they employ over 1.8 million workers and generate over $1.6 trillion in revenue. VA assists Veteran-owned businesses with everything from small business start-ups to large defense contracts.

The VA St. Louis VA Health Care Systems (VASLHCS) provides inpatient and ambulatory care in medicine, surgery, neurology and rehabilitation, as well as over 35 subspecialty areas.  The medical center has approximately 10,000 inpatient admissions per year and over 625,000 outpatient visits each year.  It is a two-division facility that serves Veterans and their families in east central Missouri and southwestern Illinois providing ongoing care to over 57,000 veterans each year.  The VASLHCS is the tertiary referral center for VA Medical Centers in Marion, Ill., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., providing inpatient acute care as well as outpatient care.

VA invites all interested persons and businesses to attend.  More information is available at www.nationalveteransconference.com and www.va.gov/OSDBU.

 

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