Women Veteransand the plight of
Homeless Women Veterans
…who we are
Presented to PA Women Veterans SummitBy Sandy Miller, Director, Coatesville Residential Facilities
The Veterans Multi-Service Center
Women in the Military
Women in the Military Women have “officially” been serving on Active
Duty since 1901 “Unofficially”, we have been serving since the
American Revolution Women first recruited during the Civil War as
nurses, without military status Army Nurse Corp was established in 1901 Navy Nurse Corp was established in 1908
Prior to the 1980s, women, by regulation, could only be 2% of total Active ForceOnly 10% of that 2% could be OfficersWomen Officers could not command men
As of 2014, over 15% of current Active Forces are women15% of Active Force are Women Officers14% are Enlisted20% of New Recruits are women
1980First congressional hearings on sexual
harassment in the militaryDoD adopts Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission guidelines 2014
Problem still exists Not a “gender specific” issue
Military Sexual Trauma
The VeteransMulti-Service Center
Our mission is to provide employment, training, and related education services to all honorably discharged Veterans. Also, to provide social and human services counseling and referrals to less fortunate veterans experiencing barriers in finding their way back into the mainstream of society
• Veterans Resource Assistance• Veterans Benefits Counseling• VA Disability Compensation Claims• Emergency Food and Clothing• Employment and Training Services
– Computer Applications Training– Computer Repair A+ Certification Training– Targeted Training in the Green Economy for Female
Veterans– Job Readiness Workshops– Job Search and Placement
The Veterans Multi-Service Center
• Homeless Veteran Services– The Perimeter – A Day Service Program– LZ II – A Male Veteran Transitional Residence– The Mary E. Walker House – A Female Veteran Transitional
Residence– Subsidized Permanent Housing– Emergency Shelter Referrals– Homeless Advocacy Project– Legal Counseling Referrals– Supportive Services for Veteran Families
The Veterans Multi-Service Center
The Mary E. Walker HouseOur mission is to offer a safe, supportive environment where Women Veterans stay, living in harmony with others, while they endeavor to attain personal growth and enhance life skills, in order to re-establish themselves as members of a community and regain ownership of their lives
The Mary E. Walker House Established through a VA Homeless Grant & Per
Diem opened on January 3, 2005 Named after Dr. Mary E. Walker, the only woman
to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor
Women Veterans can stay for up to two years All female staff Case Management services to assist in
developing and implementing action plans Ensure access to medical and mental health
services, including gender related care and treatment
The Mary E. Walker House Facilitate outpatient aftercare consults and
therapy with VA clinicians and therapists Increase budget understanding and increase
savings Improve capacity for and/or quality of
employment Assist with application for additional income
such as Social Security, VA Pension or Compensation
Discharge planning
The Mary E. Walker House Increase ability to access affordable permanent
community housing Provide access to and encourage participation in
programs that assist in addressing military sexual trauma, domestic violence, and sexual or physical abuse
In keeping with Dr. Walker’s reply when told to give back her Medal of Honor, we try to teach the women to say “NO”
The Mary E. Walker House
What’sIn the
Numbers
Age at EntranceFY13
Under 25
25-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
6
20
24
27
42
79
60
29
5
2%
7%
8%
9%
14%
27%
21%
10%
2%
Age
Level of EducationFY13
No Diploma GED High School Diploma Some College College Graduate0
5
10
15
20
25
0
2
25 21
5
Level of Education
Num
ber o
f Res
iden
ts
Branch of ServiceFY13
Army; 30Navy; 14
Marines; 3Air Force; 5Coast Guard; 1
Army Navy Marines Air Force Coast Guard
Era of ServiceFY13
Korea
Vietnam IC
Vietnam Era
Persian Gulf
OEF/OIF
Other
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
0
0
8
11
16
18
0%
0%
15%
21%
30%
34%
Residents
Perio
d of
Ser
vice
EthnicityFY13
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
18
28
3 31
34%
53%
6% 6%2%
Res
iden
ts
Substance of AbuseFY13
Drugs Drugs & Alcohol Alcohol No Drugs or Alcohol0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
6
19
9
1911%
36%
17%
36%
Resi
dent
s
Disposition of DischargeFY13
Drug/Alcohol
Voluntary
Non Complian
ce
Deaths
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
9
36
7
1
17%
68%
13%
2%
Length of StayFY13
0-90 91-180 181-270 271-360 361-450 451-540 541-630 631-8000
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
6
31
0 0 0 0 0
19
10
3 32 2
1
3
Drug or Alcohol Related Non Drug or Alcohol Related
Length of Stay
Disc
harg
es
Housing at Discharge FY13
Hospital, 41, 15%
Shelter/SRO, 18, 7%
With Friends, 67, 25%
Own Apartment, 118, 44%
With Family, 1, 0%
Other, 23, 9%
Hospital Shelter/SRO With Friends Own Apartment With Family Other
Income at Discharge FY13
Part Time; 20; 7%
Full Time; 76; 28%
Disability/Pension; 82; 31%
Other ; 89; 33%
Deceased; 1; 0%
Day Jobs Part Time Full Time Disability/Pension Other Deceased
Mental Health DiagnosisFY13
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
134153
35
155176
90
151
287 2 7
2340
46%
52%
12%
53%
60%
31%
52%
10%
2%1%
2%
8%
14%
Resi
dent
s
Medical DiagnosisFY13
0
5
10
15
20
25
10
15
23
2
19
5
223%
5%
8%
1%
7%
2%
8%
Resi
dent
s
Challenges
Women are coming in with more mental health issues
They are “sicker” than their male counterparts With the upcoming, new veterans we anticipate
a changing population Child bearing age Dependent children Combat PTSD Inpatient – “we want what we want and we want it
now” mentality
The Veterans Multi-Service Center
Sandy Miller, Director, Coatesville Residential ServicesLZ II Transitional Residence & The Mary E. Walker House1400 Blackhorse Hill Rd., Building 6ACoatesville, PA 19320
Phone:(610)466-7881 or (610)380-0704
Email: [email protected]