Volunteers of America Los Angeles's veterans programs are featured on a recent episode of KCET's television program So Cal Connected. The show spotlights the plight of veterans looking for work.
Their piece points out that while Vietnam veterans took 9-12 years to become homeless, veterans from the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are becoming homeless within months. This statistic really drives it home that we are facing an urgent situation in Los Angeles. Veterans are returning home with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and a desperate economy. Action is needed now.
Watch the video of the So Cal Connected show HERE
Our own vets champion Ronnie Boston is interviewed.
According to VOALA's Jim Hlawek, "This piece accurately captures the challenges faced by the veterans in our programs."
You can also check out the accompanying article from the KCET website HERE
It's entitled "Vets Helping Vets" and features an interview with VOALA's Jim Zenner, an inspiring example of a vet helping vets. The article talks about our new Hollywood Veterans Center, a program for vets of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
More than 2 million U.S. troops have deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. Pace, length and number of deployments is unprecedented. These veterans are returning with alarmingly high rates of post-traumatic stress order (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), conditions that make reintegrating into civilian life a daunting task.
Volunteers of America Los Angeles is committed to anticipating the needs of newly-returned soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan and ramping up services to deal with new challenges. Our veterans programs employ innovative approaches and have a long history of comprehensive care for high-risk cases. VOALA has been serving Los Angeles since 1896.
To learn more about VOALA services for veterans, click HERE
To make a donation to help us help our vets, click HERE
