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FOR JOINING IN.[Veteran Affairs Commission on October 13, 2022.]
AND IT'S 1106.SO THE, UH, VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING IS NOW CONVENED.
AND, UM, WE'LL START OFF, UM, AT THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH, 2022.
THAT WAS OUR LAST, UH, REGULAR BOARD MEETING.
SO HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW? I'VE REVIEWED.
I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE WITH THEM.
SO WE HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
IT'S BEEN SECOND, SECOND MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UH, IS GONNA BE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS STANDDOWN EVENT.
THIS PRE PRESENTATION ON THE DEPARTMENT O OF A VETERAN AFFAIRS STANDDOWN EVENT OCCURRING ON OCTOBER THE 28TH, 2022, AND DISCUSS, UH, COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH, UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO, IS THERE, IS THERE SOMEBODY? YEAH.
CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE A VOICE THAT I DON'T WHISPER VERY READILY, SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS LINDA SOUTH, THOUGH I AM A PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE DALLAS VA.
I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTHCARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAM REFERRED TO AS H C H V AND THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTER, WHICH IS THE C O R C.
UH, ARE ANY OF YOU GENTLEMEN, VETERANS? I CAN'T SEE EVERYBODY.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A FEMALE IN THE MIDST.
I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR ONE EXCEPT FOR CHRISTINA, BUT I'M, I THINK THAT'S A REQUIREMENT TO BE ON THIS BOARD OR THIS COMMISSION.
MRS. SODA, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE VETERANS.
WELL,
THE, UH, H C H V PROGRAM IS THE, ESSENTIALLY THE ENTRY PROGRAM FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAMS HERE FOR VETERANS, HOMELESS VETERANS AT THE DALLAS PA.
AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS, UH, MASTER'S LEVEL SOCIAL WORKERS.
UH, SOME ARE LMS, WS AND SOME ARE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, LCS WS.
THEY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE GO OUT TO THE ENCAMPMENTS WITH, UH, HOUSING SOLUTIONS.
UM, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED AS AN ENTRY POINT FOR THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, UH, INTO HOUSING, UH, THROUGH, UH, I APOLOGIZE, M DHAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO HOUSING FORD.
AND SO WE HAVE A, UH, A WALK-IN CLINIC AT THE DALLAS VA IN BUILDING 71 A.
AND THEN WE DO OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A HOMELESS MOBILE MEDICAL VEHICLE WE REFER TO AS THE HUMVEE, THAT'S THE ACRONYM.
IT IS NOT A HUMVEE, IT IS A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, RENOVATED OR FIXED UP TO BE, UH, AN EXAM ROOM ON WHEELS.
UH, WE GO OUT TO THE ENCAMPMENTS.
UH, I DON'T AT THE CURRENT TIME HAVE A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, BUT THERE WILL BE A PA ASSIGNED TO THAT.
WE'LL HAVE A DRIVER, UH, AND A SOCIAL WORKER THAT WILL BE GOING BACK OUT.
THE ONLY STEP I HAVE GOING OUT ARE SOCIAL WORKERS.
I AM, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY HAMSTRUNG RIGHT NOW STAFFING WISE.
UM, I'M DOWN TO FOUR SOCIAL WORKERS, AND SO WE ATTEMPT RIGHT NOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF VETERANS COMING AS A WALK-IN TO US.
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THAT WE MAINTAIN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS OUR STAND DOWN EVENT.WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY HAD ONE SINCE 2019 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE START EARLY IN THE YEAR PLANNING FOR THIS.
AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE WERE VERY LIMITED TO HOW LARGE A GROUP WE COULD ENTERTAIN WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE PANDEMIC.
SO, UH, WITH THAT THOUGHT IN MIND, THE COMMUNITIES THAT I PARTNER WITH, WHICH RIGHT AT THIS POINT ARE TYLER SHERMAN IN DALLAS, THAT'S WHERE I CONDUCT STAND DOWNS.
WE HAD TO TYLER STAND DOWN ON TUESDAY.
THE DALLAS STANDDOWN HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 29 YEARS.
UM, AND IT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN VARIOUS SITES OVER THAT TIMEFRAME.
UM, MOST RECENTLY WE WERE AT THE SPINAL CORD INJURY GYM HERE ON CAMPUS AT THE VA.
BUT THIS YEAR WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE HOMELESS VETERAN SERVICES OF DALLAS H V S D, WHICH OPERATES THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER DOWN THE STREET AT 4,900 SOUTH LANCASTER.
IT'S THE OLD NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY ON SOUTH LANCASTER.
AND THE VA, IT'S VA PROPERTY, BUT IT'S LEASED.
UH, AND KEN WATERSTONE IS THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS, UH, OVERSEES IT.
BUT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THEM AND WE ARE HAVING THE EVENT ON THE BACK PARKING LOT AT THAT LOCATION.
SO, UH, THIS WILL BE AN OUTDOOR EVENT.
AND, UM, ACCORDING TO THE PROJECTED WEATHER, WE MIGHT HAVE RAIN ON THE THURSDAY PRIOR, BUT ON THAT FRIDAY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CLEAR.
NOW THIS IS TEXAS, SO WE'LL JUST GO WITH WHAT THE WEATHERMAN IS PREDICTING.
UH, WE WILL HAVE THE EVENT OUTDOORS.
I'M ESTIMATING OR GUESSTIMATING BETWEEN 300 AND 350 VETERANS.
THE MOST WE HAVE EVER ASSISTED WAS 600, BUT THAT HAS BEEN BACK IN 2012, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
WE INFORM COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND INVITE THEM TO PARTICIPATE, HAVE A TABLE.
THE EVENT IS TO PROVIDE HOMELESS VETERANS WITH GOODS SERVICES AND INFORMATION AND REFERRAL AND POSSIBLE CONNECTION TO ENTITIES THAT MIGHT BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION AND TABLES SET UP BY VA CAUSE WE HAVE, UH, THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAM THAT HAS A TABLE.
WE'LL HAVE SUICIDE PREVENTION THAT'LL HAVE A TABLE.
WE HAVE HUD VASH COMPENSATED WORK THERAPY.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF ENTITIES WITHIN THE VA THAT WILL HAVE A TABLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, SOLDIERS ANGELS OUT OF SAN ANTONIO THAT PROVIDE US WITH, UH, UH, HYGIENE KITS AND, UH, NON-PERISHABLE LUNCHES THAT WE HAND OUT.
UH, WE WILL HAVE AN ENTITY, UH, THAT'S PROVIDING A LUNCH, A HOT LUNCH.
UH, WE WILL ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE IF, UH, THEY DON'T PROVIDE ANYTHING BUT DONUTS AND COFFEE.
WE'VE HAD, UH, LIKE MCDONALD'S SAUSAGE, BISCUITS, THINGS LIKE THAT DISTRIBUTED.
UM, WE HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, NUMBERS OF PROGRAMS THAT WILL PROVIDE, UH, DIFFERENT HYGIENE ITEMS, UH, RAIN PONCHOS BACKPACKS, UM, ITEMS THAT THEY CAN READILY TAKE HOME FOR OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS INTO THE ENCAMPMENTS.
WE DO DISTRIBUTE BED ROLLS, BUT WE DO NOT DO THAT AT OUR STAND DOWN.
WE GET D O D UH, SURPLUS GOODS.
SO WE HAVE RUCK SACKS, WE HAVE DUFFLE BAGS.
UH, OUR HOTTEST ITEM IS OUR ARMY BOOTS.
I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY YOU GUYS IN THE MILITARY FIND THOSE ATTRACTIVE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU EVER REALLY WANTED THEM WHEN THEY WERE ISSUED YOU THEM.
AND THIS PAST, PAST TUESDAY, I DISCOVERED SOMETHING NEW.
ONE YOUNG MAN RAN UP AND ASKED ME IF WE HAD ANY MORE WHOOPIES.
DO ANY OF Y'ALL KNOW WHAT A WHOOPEE IS? OH, LOOK AT ALL THOSE HEAD SHAKE.
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WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PONCHO FOR THEI MEAN, THE, THE THING THAT WE DON'T HAVE
AND EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE TO DISTRIBUTE THIS YEAR.
UH, AND WE UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS WE'RE DEALING WITH.
WE HAVE HOMELESS VETERANS COMING IN, STARTING NEXT MONDAY.
THEY'LL COME IN AND PRE-REGISTER HERE AT 71 A AND THEN WHENEVER THEY COME, WE GIVE THEM A WRISTBAND.
AND SO WE'VE REGISTERED THEM SO WE HAVE IT DOCUMENTED WHO WE'RE SERVING.
UH, WE DO, IF THEY HAVE A CPR OR OUR MEDICAL RECORD HERE AT THE DALLAS VA, WE ENTER THAT INFORMATION THAT THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE STANDDOWN.
UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DO DISTRIBUTE TO VETERANS THAT WE ENGAGE IN OUR HOMELESS PROGRAM, MEANING WE'RE PUTTING THEM INTO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR OR EMERGENCY SHELTER HOUSING, AND WE'RE IN NEED OF MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH THEM.
WE HAVE PHONES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION.
WE WILL NOT BE HANDING THEM OUT TO EVERY VETERAN THAT COMES IN TO THE DALLAS STAND DOWN.
IF WE FIND SOMEONE THAT WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE ON AN ONGOING BASIS, THEN THAT MAY BE PROVIDED.
UM, WE HAVE ANY OTHER, A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UM, AS FAR AS WHAT YOUR COM COMMISSION MIGHT BE, UH, INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN, I WOULD INVITE ALL OF YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME AND VOLUNTEER.
STAND DOWN WILL BE GOING ON FROM NINE TO ONE.
THEY CAN SIGN UP ON SITE AND DISTRIBUTE GOODS EITHER WITH THROUGH OUR D O D DISTRIBUTION OR THROUGH ONE OF THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE.
UH, WE HAVE ANYTHING FROM COMMUNITY ENTITIES LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY OR VFWS AMERICAN LEGIONS.
UH, WE HAVE ANY NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE TABLES AND DISTRIBUTE THINGS.
UH, WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS, I USUALLY HAVE THE VETS THAT SIGN UP, THEY'RE GIVEN A LIST AND THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH 10 SIGNATURES FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THEY'VE GONE AND GOTTEN INFORMATION FROM TO TURN IN AT THE D O D DISTRIBUTION TABLE.
OTHERWISE, THEY'LL COME IN, SIGN IN, AND COME STRAIGHT OVER THERE AND LEAVE.
AND I NEED FOR THEM TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
SO SOMETIMES THEY NEED A LITTLE INCENTIVE.
SO THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT A STAND DOWN IS.
I KNOW IN THE MILITARY, IT STARTED, I WAS TOLD IN VIETNAM WHEN THEY WOULD BRING THE TROOPS BACK BEHIND THE LINES AND LET 'EM REST RECUPERATE.
IT'S PROBABLY BEEN GOING ON SINCE WORLD WAR I, BUT IT'S DOCUMENTED SINCE VIETNAM ERA.
AND THE STAND DOWNS ACTUALLY STARTED IN 1988 IN SAN DIEGO.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING BUT A ONE DAY EVENT.
ACTUALLY, WE HAD A TWO DAY EVENT, BUT WE HAD AN EMPLOYMENT EVENT THE DAY AFTER.
BUT, UM, WE CONNECT PEOPLE WITH OUR COMPENSATED WORK THERAPY PROGRAM WHEN THEY COME TO STAND DOWN IF THEY'RE INTERESTED, BUT THEY HAVE TO PROFESS AN INTEREST.
AND THEN WE WORK AT GETTING THEM CONNECTED.
DO ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MR. CETO, UH, PETER SMITH HERE.
FIRST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALL THE EFFORT YOU PUT INTO HELPING VETERANS, AND WE ARE ALL HERE FOR THAT EXACT REASON.
TAKING A STEP BACK FROM THE STAND DOWN, WONDERING ABOUT WHAT YOUR OFFICE DOES AND HOW DALLAS CITY COUNCIL CAN HELP WITH, UH, EITHER OUTREACH TO VETERANS, BUT THEN TO HOMELESS VETERANS SPECIFICALLY, AND, AND HOW WE ACTUALLY GO ABOUT, UH, TRANSITIONING THEM INTO STABLE HOUSING, FINDING THEM JOBS SO THAT THEY DON'T GO BACK.
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GOING TO TELL YOU, UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL MECHANISMS THAT CITY OF DALLAS SUPPORTS ALREADY.UH, WE GO OUT TO THE ENCAMPMENTS WITH THEM, THEY PARTNER WITH US.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ENCOUNTERS WITH, UH, TWO PEOPLE WITH GUNS.
SO WE'VE HAD, UH, QUITE, UH, A, UH, AN INTERESTING YEAR AS FAR AS ENCAMPMENTS GO, BUT DISPLACING THOSE PEOPLE.
THEN WE HAVE FUNDING HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS THROUGH M D H A METRO DALLAS HOMELESS ALLOWANCE, WHICH IS NOW CALLED HOUSING FORWARD.
AND I THINK YOU'RE FUNDING SOME OF THAT BECAUSE THEY GET RAPID REHOUSING MONEY TO HELP US GET VOUCHERS TO VETS.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO HOUSE 38,000 HOMELESS VETS NATIONALLY.
AND DALLAS IS WORKING WITH ALL THESE ENTITIES.
UH, WE HAVE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO VETERANS AND FAMILIES, THE S S V F PROGRAM THAT THE VA GRANT FUNDS, AND WE'RE HELPING, THEY HELP TO GIVE RENT SUBSIDIES TO PEOPLE, UH, VETERANS.
AND SO ALL OF THESE EFFORTS, WE HAVE AN ONGOING MEETING EVERY WEEK TO TRY AND COME UP WITH DALLAS ENDING HOMELESSNESS AMONGST VETERANS.
AND THAT'S A VERY CONCERTED EFFORT.
AND THERE ARE MANY LINKS TO THIS EFFORT COMING FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, FRED WELLS, MA, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
AS YOUR COMMISSION, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME ONGOING, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSIONS TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY FOR Y'ALL TO GET INVOLVED.
UH, YOUR STANDOUT EVENT SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING, BUT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, NOT THE STANDOUT EVENT, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF VETS YOU INTERACT WITH A WEEK? GENERALLY SPEAKING? UM, AT OUR WALK IN HERE ON THE CAMPUS OF THE VA 71 A, WE SEE VETERANS FROM EIGHT TO THREE.
I CUT IT OFF SO WE HAVE TIME TO FINISH UP OUR INTERVIEWS, BUT, UM, WE SEE AT THIS BUILDING, SOME DAYS IT MAY NOT BE, BUT, UH, SIX OR SEVEN HOMELESS VETS, BUT WE HAVE SEEN UP TO, TO 25 IN A DAY.
OH, AND YOU, YOU MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS DOES HELP YOU AND INTERACT, ET CETERA.
WHAT DO YOU WISH THE CITY OF DALLAS COULD DO MORE OR DOESN'T DO NOW, BUT YOU WISH THEY DID THAT WOULD HELP YOU? UM, WELL, I
UH, THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, I, IF THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT COME UP WITH A BRIGHT SIDE, THE VA HAS FUNDED THOSE PHONES.
WE HAD, UH, SAMSUNGS INITIALLY, AND NOW WE'RE HANDING OUT IPHONES FOR COMMUNICATION PURPOSES.
UH, AND NOW THE VA CAN DO RIDE SHARE.
SO I CAN ACTUALLY, IF WE MADE A CONTACT WITH A HOMELESS VET WHO IS IN NORTH DALLAS, WE CAN ARRANGE FOR A LIFT TO GO PICK 'EM UP.
AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A PHONE, WE CAN COMMUNICATE AND WE CAN BRING 'EM TO THE DALLAS VA OR WE CAN ARRANGE FOR PLACEMENT AND PUT'EM AT THE SALVATION ARMY OR THE GOSPEL MISSION OR DALLAS LIBRARY.
WELL, WE HAVE BED PROGRAMS, SO, UM, WE HAVE HOW IS THAT BEING MARKETED? DO A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT? UM, WELL, TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT IN TERMS OF GETTING SERVICES FOR VETERANS.
SO, BUT HERE'S, HERE'S THE, THE CLINCHER.
I CAN'T, I AM NOT FOR CERTAIN THAT RIDESHARE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED BY THE VA, LIKE A LINE ITEM.
UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WASN'T CARES ACT MONEY OR SOMETHING BY THE, I KNOW THE PHONES CAME FROM THE, AS I CALL IT, THE PANDEMIC MONIES.
AND THEY WON'T BE CONTINUED ON AN INDEFINITE BASIS.
UM, NOW THAT CAN CHANGE EVERY THINGS CHANGE AT THE VA ALL THE TIME.
BUT, UM, RIGHT NOW, DO YOU HAVE A
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ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF LIKE HOW MUCH THAT, WHAT THE BUDGET IS SPECIFICALLY IN DALLAS FOR THAT? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA.UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, I AM MAKING AN EFFORT, UH, TO, I HAVE IPADS SINCE I AM SHORT STAFFED, I HAVE DETERMINED, I HAVE IPADS THAT I CAN PLACE WITH A COMMUNITY PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ONE STAFF THAT'S GONNA MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH ALL OF THESE IPADS.
IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO CONTACT, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PUT THEM ON THE IPAD AND DO A FACETIME WITH MY STAFF, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ARRANGE.
BUT I CAN HAVE THAT BETTER FACE-TO-FACE THAN JUST A PHONE CALL.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT'S MY NEWEST EFFORT IN OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, SPEAKING ABOUT COMMUNITY, UH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
THEY'RE NOT CALLED PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANYMORE.
THEY HAVE ANOTHER, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I THINK.
BUT THEY DO A LOT OF OUTREACH TO THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.
UM, AND SEVERAL FORMERLY HOMELESS PROGRAM STAFF ARE ON STAFF WITH THEM.
SO I KNOW THEY COVER THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
IT'S JUST, UH, THE SPECIFIC FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS IS TARGETED TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS AND THE ENTITIES LIKE YOU.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD CONTACT WITH CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, CITY OF GARLAND, AND A LOT OF THEM WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY OUTREACH STAFF PARTNER GO OUT WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, UH, COMMUNITY AND THEIR, THEIR PEOPLE GOING OUT AND DOING OUTREACH TO THE HOMELESS.
WE PARTNER WITH DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INC.
UM, MY BIGGEST HA, I'M, I'M HAMSTRUNG RIGHT NOW WITH NO STAFF.
UM, I HAVE, SO THE BEST WAY TO YOUR, OH, EXCUSE ME.
WHEN THE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT GOES OUT, UH, IT WILL BE GOING TO ALTERNATING SHERMAN AND MCKINNEY AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE ALTERNATING AND ONE DAY GO WEEK GOING TO TYLER.
AND THEN THE OTHER TWO DAYS, UH, I HAVE CONTACTED MINNIE'S FOOD PANTRY IN PLANO.
AND, UH, IN THE PAST WE'VE DONE ALTRON STREET SHELTER AND OUR CALLING, THOSE SITES WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE BED PROGRAMS THERE.
I HAVE AN OFFICE AND SOMEBODY GOING TO THE BRIDGE ALREADY.
SO TARGETING THOSE ENTITIES THAT WE, IF, IF WE ESTABLISH A FOOTHOLD, IF WE GET OUT THERE AND WE ARE CONSISTENT IN, WHEN WE GO AND WE BECOME A KNOWN THEN HOMELESS VETERANS, WE WILL GRAVITATE TO THOSE SITES.
AND, UH, I ONLY HAVE THE ONE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT NOW, MY OUTREACH STAFF, THEY GO OUT WITH THE EXISTING STREET OUTREACH PROGRAMS HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS CITY SQUARE.
AND, UM, THEY GO TO OUR CALLING, THEY GO TO THE DALLAS TRANSITIONAL CENTER, WHICH IS THE HALFWAY HOUSE OUT IN HUTCHINS, CUZ WE GET A LOT OF HOMELESS VETS COMING OUT OF THERE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THEM ARE SEX OFFENDERS.
DOES YOUR MOBILE MEDICAL, UH, AND IF YOU ET CETERA, VISIT LIKE ENCAMPMENTS WHERE THERE ARE MAYBE PEOPLE LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE OR, OR A GROUP, DO THEY GO OUT AND VISIT THAT? OH, YES.
I KNOW YOU SAID THEY, THEY MEET THE VA THAT'S AND YOU PARTNER WITH PEOPLE.
YEAH, THAT'S OUR PRIMARY TARGET, BUT WE USUALLY GO OUT WITH, UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE, UM, IT'S HOUSING SOLUTIONS.
AND WHENEVER THEY GO OUT AND TO THE ENCAMPMENTS, THEY GO TO ALL THE PEOPLE IDENTIFY IF THEY'RE VETS.
IF THEY'RE VETS, WE TRY TO PROMOTE THEM TO MOVE INTO HOUSING.
MANY OF THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE TARGETED TO, UH, UH,
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THEY NEED TO CLEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.SO THEY GO OUT MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE ANYTHING'S EVER DONE WITH ANY, ANY OF THE ENCAMPMENTS.
AND WE OFFER HOUSING, UM, MANY OF THE HOMELESS AND SOME OF THEM HOMELESS VETERANS, UH, OR PREFER TO BE OUT AND NOT HAVE ANYBODY TELL 'EM WHAT TO DO.
SO YOU CAN TAKE THE HORSE TO WATER, BUT A ANYBODY ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE ONE, UH, FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
AND I DO ALSO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, FOR THE VETERANS OF THIS NATION.
UM, THE EVENT, THE STANDDOWN IS GOING TO BE OCTOBER THE 28TH, UM, 2022 FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
AND I WILL SEND, UH, CHRISTINA THE FLYER AND THEN SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO ALL OF Y'ALL.
AND THEN SHOULD OUR, THIS BODY NEED TO SHARE INFORMATION, THE CITY OF DALLAS PROPER, THE ORGANIZATION HAS OVER 900 VETERANS WORKING HERE.
SHOULD THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, FATHERS, MOMS THAT ALSO SERVED? CAN I HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION OR DO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT ON FILE? UH, WELL CHRISTINA MAY HAVE IT, BUT, UM, THE VA PROVIDES ME WITH A CELL PHONE AND A VOICEMAIL AND I GIVE IT OUT TO EVERYBODY AND I DO ANSWER IT.
IF I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, I WILL FIND THE ENTITY TO CONNECT YOU TO.
AND I GET A MULTITUDE OF CALLS.
UH, THE VA OUR HOMELESS PROGRAM HAS A VBA VETERANS BENEFITS REP, A HOMELESS COORDINATOR.
AND I GET VBA QUESTIONS ANSWERED CUZ MANY, MANY OF THE VETS, THEY'RE THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICE CONNECTION OR, UH, AIDING ATTENDANCE OR, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, SO MM-HMM.
UM, BUT WE FIND A WAY TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO WHO THEY NEED TO TALK TO.
AND THE STANDOUT EVENT WILL BE HAPPENING AT 4,500 SOUTH LANCASTER ROAD, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, 4,900.
THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
IT'S THE OLD NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. BUILDING
WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SOME OF Y'ALL SHOW UP.
I WOULD LOVE TO PUT YOU TO WORK.
UM, AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE, UH, DON'T HESITATE TO CALL AND I WILL PROVIDE MY CELL NUMBER AND EVERYTHING TO CHRISTINA AND LET HER DISTRIBUTE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR ME, MS. CETO.
BY THE WAY, I'M NOT A VET, BUT I'VE BEEN SLEEPING WITH ONE FOR 47 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GIVE ME ORDERS.
IT'S JUST A REAL PAIN MOST DAYS.
OKAY, UM, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION, UH, UH, BY THE DALLAS VET CENTER AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS BY MR. PER PERCY JENKINS, AN OUTREACH SPECIALIST.
THANK, UM, APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
UM, MS. CRI CHRISTINA, ARE YOU ABLE TO PULL THE SLIDES UP PLEASE? OKAY.
SO WHILE, WHILE THE SLIDES WERE GETTING THE SLIDES UP, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
I RETIRED, UH, 2019, I'M SORRY, 2023
THE FIRST 12 OR SO INFANTRY GUY.
THE SECOND HALF, 12 AND A HALF YEARS OR SO WAS IN RE RECRUITING.
UH, BEEN WITH THE BA SINCE 2014, UH, WORKING A LITTLE WHILE OUT AT THE
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NATIONAL CEMETERY AND THEN OVER TO BIG VA AND THEN NOW OUT TO THE VET CENTER AS A VETERAN OUTREACH, UH, SPECIALIST.SO, SPENT A LOT OF YEARS WORKING WITH VETERANS AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVE A PASSION FOR TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF VETERAN.
SO I, I WANT TO KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS THE VET CENTER.
UH, WE'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
WE'VE KIND OF WENT THROUGH A REBRANDING, UM, PRE COVID OR INTO COVID.
SO OUR LOGO AND WHATNOT HAVE CHANGED SINCE, UM, MAYBE THE LAST TIME SOME OF YOU SAW THE, UH, VET CENTER LOGO.
BUT THE VET CENTER IS A OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH, UM, COMMUNITY BASED CLINIC.
THE VET CENTER'S BEEN AROUND SINCE, UH, VIETNAM, WHICH IS IN LATE 19 78, 79.
CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE VET CENTER PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF WHAT THE VIETNAM VETERANS WAS EXPERIENCING WHEN THEY CAME BACK.
THE ORGANIZATION STARTED OUT AS A PEER-TO-PEER, UM, SUPPORT, UH, PROGRAM.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU FAST FORWARD TO NINE 11, UM, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF CHANGED TO WHERE THE PROVIDERS WILL BECOME MORE, UH, LICENSED PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL WORKERS, UM, LCS WS AND WHATNOT.
UM, WHAT OUR PRIMARY, UM, AND OUR TALK ABOUT THE MISSION STATEMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO WELCOME HOME VETERANS, UM, WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY, UH, AND HAVE PROBLEMS OR MAY EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES WITH READJUSTMENT OR TRANSITIONING BACK INTO, UH, CIVILIAN WORLD.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE VET CENTER MAIN PRIMARY SCOPE IS, UH, RIGHT NOW.
UM, HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KINDA WHAT, WHAT THE SERVICES THAT THE VET CENTER PROVIDE.
UM, WE'RE A READJUSTING COUNSELING SERVICE THAT PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, AGAIN, TO HELP THEM TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE.
UM, WHAT DO WE HAVE, WHAT DO WE OFFER AS KIND OF A FACE-TO-FACE OR GROUP COUNSELING? UM, KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE VIETNAM GUYS, TO UP TO THE, THE NINE ELEVENS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE HEAR A LOT, UM, NOT ALL VETERANS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH ONE OR THE OTHER.
UM, WE'VE, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE PROVIDING VIRTUAL, WE DO IN-PERSON, UM, FACE-TO-FACE AND GROUP, REALLY, JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
AND WHAT THESE GROUP MAY INCLUDE IS, UM, VIETNAM GROUP, A DESERT STORM GROUP, UH, A WOMEN'S VETERAN GROUP, UM, AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
SO IT REALLY JUST DEPEND ON WHAT THE NEED, UM, ARE.
NOW, HOW DOES THIS RELATE INTO FAMILY? I GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT.
UM, BEREAVEMENT, COUNSELING, UM, REFERRALS, MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT I'M DOING HERE NOW AS FAR AS OUTREACH, SUBSTANCE EMPLOYMENT, REFERRALS AND WHATNOT.
SO, UM, WHAT WE RUN A LOT INTO IS, UM, ELIGIBILITY ISSUES WITH, UM, THE VET CENTER.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE DON'T TURN NO VETERAN BACK, REGARDLESS OF THEIR DISCHARGE STATUS OR HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE THEY SERVED THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY SERVE.
UH, WE, WE WILL NOT TURN ANY VETERAN AWAY WHO IS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH, UM, SERVICES.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, PRIMARILY WHAT WE DO SEE A LOT OF IS VETERANS COMING OFF ACTIVE DUTY WHO HAVE, UM, HAD COMBAT EXPERIENCE OR DEPLOYED TO THE MILITARY AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
UH, EXPERIENCED MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA DURING THEIR TIME IN THE MILITARY.
UM, PROVIDE WHAT WE CONSIDER, UH, UM, BATTLEFIELD 9 1 1, WHICH IS WHEN WE GET INTO THE DIRECT EMERGENT MEDICAL CARE OR ARY SERVICES.
SO, UM, IN SOME CASES, UM, YOU MAY HAVE A VETERAN WHO MAY NOT HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT AN INCIDENT MAY HAVE OCCURRED ON AN INSULATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN, UM, TRAUMA SUSTAINED FROM, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, UM, ALSO, UM, UH, UN UH, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES OPERATORS, UM, OF COURSE VIETNAM GUYS AND WHATNOT.
SO, UM, THERE'S PRETTY MUCH, AGAIN,
[00:35:01]
WE, WE TRY AND COVER A, A, A WIDE RANGE OR WIDE SCOPE OF VETERANS, UH, WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SERVICE.AND WE'RE, WE'RE CONTINUING ON NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, THE SERVICE IS EXTENDED TO RESERVE MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.
THE RESERVES AND NATIONAL GUARDS BEEN CALLED UP A LOT LATELY, UM, INCIDENTS REGARDING THE CAPITOL INCIDENT WITH THE BORDER OR WHATNOT.
SO ANY TIME A RESERVE OR NATIONAL GUARD HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED UNDER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THE SERVICES AS WELL.
UH, I KIND OF COVERED A LOT OF THIS ALSO.
UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, UM, ONE THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, THE LAST BULLET TALKS ABOUT DISCHARGE.
WE WILL, LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T TURN NO VETERAN AWAY A LOT OF TIMES.
AND, AND WHAT WE SEEING ARE GOING ON A LOT NOW WHERE YOU HAVE VETERANS, UM, SERVICE MEMBER MIGHT HAVE DEPLOYED 2, 3, 4 TIMES AND THEN THEY COME BACK AND GET INTO SOME KIND OF SITUATION AND MAY GET A DISHONORABLE OR OTHER THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF A MENTAL HEALTH RELATED ISSUE.
ANY TIME THAT THE, THE UNIT OR THE COMMAND FELL TO PROVIDE THAT PERSON WITH CARE AS OPPOSED TO JUST DISCHARGING THEM, THEN WE TAKE THOSE IN CONSIDERATION.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WE WILL NOT, UH, TURN A VETERAN AWAY BECAUSE OF THEIR DISCHARGE STATUS.
FAMILY, I'VE MENTIONED FAMILY, AND WE'RE A FAMILY AND WE'RE, AGAIN, ONE OF THE UNIQUE SERVICES WITHIN THE VA WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERAN ARE ELIGIBLE TO THE SERVICE.
UH, AND THAT FAMILY MEMBER BEING, UH, SPOUSE, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS PARTNER, WE DON'T REALLY GET INTO THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT, IS WHAT THAT VETERAN SAYS THAT THAT VETERAN SAID THIS PERSON IS SIGNIFICANT TO THEM, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICE AS WELL.
NOW, THE, THE, THE, THE FAMILY MEMBER HAS TO BE AFFECTED BY THE VETERAN, UM, MENTAL ISSUE.
LET JUST SAY IF A VETERAN IS DIAGNOSED WITH P T S D AND THAT, UH, FAMILY MEMBER IS HAVING THE EFFECTS OR DEALING WITH THOSE EFFECTS OF P T S D, THEN THAT FAMILY MEMBER CAN COME TO THE VET CENTER AND BE SEEN FOR THOSE, UM, RELATED SYMPTOMS. IF, AND, AND THAT INCLUDES KIDS, CHILDREN, IT DOESN'T MATTER AGE, UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE AGE OF 21 OR BE YOUNG THE AGE, BUT UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
SO AS LONG AS THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE AFFECTED BY WHAT THE VETERAN IS DEALING WITH, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO COME.
UM, ALSO, UM, WE TALK ABOUT BEREAVEMENT.
UH, GENERALLY BEREAVEMENT IS KIND OF A CASE BY CASE, UM, SCENARIO.
OF COURSE, IF WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHERE THEIR, UM, VETERAN PASSED AWAY ON ACTIVE DUTY, THAT IS AN AUTOMATIC, BUT IN SOME CASES WE HAVE, UM, THE SPOUSE OR A WIDOW OF A VETERAN WHO, WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.
IN SOME CASES, IT'S REALLY LEFT UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE VET CENTER DIRECTOR.
UH, IN, IN THIS CASE, AGAIN, WE TRY TO BE, UM, PRETTY INCLUSIVE AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO INCLUDE VETERAN.
AS YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WE, WE TRY TO BE CONTOURS, UM, SERVICES.
SO THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE NEW LOGO, THE NEW BRAND, UM, YOU KNOW, VETERAN TO VETERAN OR SERVICE MEMBER SERVICES.
UM, THIS IS WHAT WE TRY TO BE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS, UM, CONNECTED CANNOT, CANNOT COMRADERY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
UM, THE VET CENTER IS VERY, VERY CONFIDENTIAL.
WE GENERALLY DO NOT RELEASE VETERANS RECORDS TO NO ONE WITHOUT THE VETERAN'S CONSENT.
UM, EVEN IF THE VETERAN IS FILING FOR A COMPENSATION THROUGH THE VA OR SOCIAL SECURITY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH ANOTHER PROVIDER AT THE VA OR CIVILIAN WISE, WE WILL STILL NOT RELEASE THAT VETERAN'S RECORD UNLESS, UM, WE HAVE A RELEASE OF INFORMATION ON FILE.
NOW THE VETERAN CAN COME GET HIS OR HER ON RECORD AND, AND RELEASE 'EM TO WHOEVER.
BUT AS FAR AS, UM, THE VET CENTER, WE DO NOT.
[00:40:01]
UM, NEXT SLIDE.UM, VET CENTERS, THERE'S FOUR IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA.
I'M OUT OF THE NORTH DALLAS OFFICE.
UM, 80 16 GREENVILLE, UM, IS THE ADDRESS.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GREENVILLE AND ROYAL LANE.
THE OTHER VET CENTER IS IN THE MESQUITE AREA.
UM, THERE'S ALSO ONE IN ARLINGTON PANGO AREA AND JUST OUTSIDE THE JOINT RESERVE BASE IN FORT WORTH.
UM, ALL VET CENTERS ARE PRETTY MUCH STAFFED WITH VETERANS.
UH, NOT ALL, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE VETERANS.
UM, AND WE ALSO, UM, USUALLY OFFER TWO OR THREE LATE NIGHTS A WEEK IN MOST CASES.
UH, WE'RE OPEN TO, I KNOW AT THE DALLAS VET CENTER WE'RE OPEN TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS TO 7:00 PM SO AGAIN, JUST BEING COMMUNITY GA UH, UH, BASED AND TRYING TO PROVIDE EXTENDED SERVICES TO HELP VETERAN WHO MAY, UM, NEED THOSE LATE APPOINTMENTS.
THIS IS THE CONTACT, UM, INFORMATION.
THE VET, UM, VET CENTERS HAVE AN EMERGENCY CALL CALL CENTER.
UM, WHAT'S NOT ON THIS SIDE IS THE NEW 9 88, UH, EMERGENCY NUMBER, BUT THIS IS THE NUMBER TO THE, UH, CRISIS CENTER.
UH, USUALLY IF A VETERAN CALL THE CRISIS CENTER, UM, UM, THEY'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT IMMEDIATE, UM, CARE THEN AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN THEY'LL REFER THE VETERAN TO THE CLOSEST, UH, VET CENTER IN HIS OR HER LOCATION BASED ON THEIR ZIP CODE.
THE VET CENTER, WE ALSO HAVE A MOBILE MOBILE VET CENTER UNIT.
UM, USUALLY WE, UM, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE DON'T HAVE A VET CENTER, A MOBILE VET CENTER IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA.
WE HAVE 'EM IN SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON.
UM, WE'RE GETTING ONE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT AS OF YET.
BUT GENERALLY, IF THERE'S AN EVENT, IF, UH, IF THE CITY OF DALLAS OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE AN EVENT, USUALLY JUST LET US KNOW.
UM, THE, THE MORE ADVANCED, UM, WARNING NOTICE WE HAVE, THE, THE MORE LIKELY WE CAN GET THE VEHICLE USUALLY ON LIKE, VETERANS DAY, MEMORIAL DAY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS PROVIDING THEIR OWN VETERAN DAY, UM, SERVICES.
SO, UM, USUALLY WE'RE SET OUT, OUT FRONT DURING THE, THE, THE VET CENTER PARADE, I'M SORRY, THE VET VETERANS DAY PARADE.
SO WE ALWAYS GENERALLY PARTICIPATE, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING OVER THE PAST, YOU KNOW, COUPLE OF YEARS DUE TO COVID.
BUT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS WANTS TO, JUST LET US KNOW.
GIVE US A, YOU KNOW, A HEADS UP AND WE'LL TRY TO HAVE THAT UNIT.
THIS UNIT IS ALSO, UM, WE USE IT TO GO AROUND.
WE HAVE, UM, THE DALLAS VET CENTER.
WE COVER 10 OF THE 40 COUNTIES THAT NORTH TEXAS VA COVER.
AND USUALLY, UM, THAT THIS UNIT IS STAFFED WITH A PROVIDER.
UM, SO, UM, IF WE'RE OUT ATTENDING AN EVENT AND IF A VETERAN IS NEEDING TO TALK TO A COUNSELOR AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT, THEN A COUNSELOR IS STAFFED WITH THIS MOBILE UNIT.
UH, THIS IS OUR STAFF HERE AT THE DALLAS VET CENTER.
UM, JESSE IS, UM, JESSE GARCIA, DAVID DIAZ, MELINDA BOARD.
AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, THREE OF US ARE VETERANS HERE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY MISSING THE OFFICE MANAGER AT THAT TIME.
UM, BUT USUALLY ALL THE VET CENTERS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, ARE STAFF WITH VETERANS.
AND WE, WHAT WE FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COME TO MENTAL HEALTH VETERANS USUALLY, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT THEY MAY, UH, ENCOUNTER WHEN THEY'RE TALKING TO NON VETERAN PROVIDERS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS I THINK, UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO VETERANS, TO BEING ABLE TO JUST RELATE AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER VETERANS, UM, DURING THEIR TREATMENT.
AND HERE'S, HERE'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
UH, IF ANYONE WANNA REACH ME DIRECTLY, UM, CELL PHONE, OFFICE, EMAIL.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO TWO LINKS TO THE DALLAS VET CENTER OR THE NATIONAL VET CENTER.GOV.
UM, ANY VETERAN CAN GO ON THAT LAST LINK, PUT IN HIS OR HER ZIP, ZIP CODE, AND THE LOCAL, THE NEAREST VET CENTER WILL POPULATE.
[00:45:01]
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, UH, SIR.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
YOU SAID YOU DEAL WITH VET FAMILIES, UH, AND NOT, I'M FINDING NOT EVERYBODY DOES.
DO YOU RUN INTO OR INCIDENCES WHERE, UH, THE HOMELESS VET, THEIR WIFE HAS PASSED OR THE VET ITSELF HAS PASSED? AND DO YOU CAN'T GET 'EM BURIED, THEY DON'T HAVE A DD TWO 14 TO GET INTO THE NATIONAL CEMETERY, ET CETERA.
DO YOU RUN INTO THAT? UH, YES, SIR.
WE, WE RUN INTO THAT QUITE FREQUENTLY.
UM, ACTUALLY ON YESTERDAY, I HAD A VETERAN CONTACT ME FROM, UM, THE FAMILY MEMBER OF A VETERAN CONTACTED ME WHERE THE VETERAN HAD PASSED IN NEW MEXICO AND THEY WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE VETERAN BACK HERE TO THE UNITED STATES TO BE PLACED IN A NATIONAL CEMETERY.
SO ONE THING OVER THE YEARS, WE, WE KIND OF STARTED COLLECTING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY PROVIDE DIRECTLY TO US.
UM, ONE OF THE MO BULLETS KIND OF MENTIONED, UH, BEING ABLE TO REFER AND DO WARM HANDOFF.
SO A LOT OF CASES WHERE WE RAN INTO PLACES WHERE A VETERAN HAVE PASSED OR A FAMILY MEMBER OF A VETERAN MAY HAVE PASSED, WHO LIKELY, UM, DOESN'T HAVE DISCHARGE PAPERWORK, DOESN'T HAVE A HOME ADDRESS, AND INSTANCES LIKE THAT, WE GENERALLY WILL REQUEST, YOU KNOW, CONTACT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
WE USE ALL VET CENTER ADDRESS AS THE, UM, ADDRESS TO SEND DOCUMENTATION TO.
UM, AND WE TRY AND, UH, MAINTAIN, UH, A LOG OR A RECORD OR WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO FIND A VETERAN, BUT WE ALSO COMMU, UH, CONNECT, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION OVER TO BIG VA.
AS FAR AS THE HOMELESS VET PROGRAM, THE BRIDGE PROGRAM, ANY OTHER AGENCY THAT WE, THAT WE WORK WITH, WE JUST TRY TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF HERE'S, YOU KNOW, A VET THAT'S IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
UM, EVEN DALLAS COUNTY, UH, VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE.
WE GENERALLY PARTNER WITH THEM ALSO TO HELP VETERANS GET, UM, YOU KNOW, DOCUMENTS AND OTHER SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW IF, IF I PASSED AWAY AND THEY, I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO MY DD TWO 14, I KNOW YOU'LL GO TO THE ARCHIVES TO GET IT.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THE REMAINS UNTIL THEY GET THE DD TWO 14? UH, DOES THE NATIONAL CEMETERY COOPERATE WITH YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO? WELL, USUALLY THEY DO, WE'LL CONTACT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY, OF COURSE, THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND REFER THE VETERANS TO THE NATIONAL, UH, CALL CENTER TO GET THEIR DOCUMENTS AND, AND, UH, SCHEDULE, UM, JUST HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION ON FILE.
A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.
THE NATIONAL CEMETERY USUALLY PARTNER WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL FUNERAL HOMES, UM, TO HOLD A VETERAN REMAINS OKAY.
UH, AND THERE ARE SOME, SOME, UH, FUNERAL HOMES HERE, THE COMMUNITY THAT DOES THAT.
AND EVEN AT SOME POINT THEY'LL JUST GO AHEAD ON AND LAY THE, UH, THE VETERAN TO REST, UM, WITHOUT THE DOCUMENTS.
MAYBE NOT AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY, BUT THAT PARTICULAR FUNERAL HOME THAT HAS REALLY, UH, YES, SIR.
THEY'RE, THERE'S, COULD THEY CREMATE IT AND, AND HOLD IT TILL THEY GOT THE TWO 14 AND THEN MAYBE BARRY, AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A, THAT IS A, A OPTION.
AND, AND SOMETIMES YOU MAY HAVE A VETERAN, UM, THAT PASSES AND THERE IS NO FAMILY, THERE'S NO NEXT KIN, AND THAT'S KIND OF THAT SAME SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO PARTNER WITH A COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME TO GO AHEAD ON AND PROVIDE SERVICE.
AND USUALLY DURING THAT TIME, THEY CONTACT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE PATRIOT GUARD OR SOME OF THE, UH, VFWS WHERE THEY VOLUNTEER, UH, VETERANS THAT COME OUT AND ASSIST WITH A, A BURIAL OR LAND ARREST.
SO IT REALLY JUST, JUST TAKES SOME, SOMEONE TO JUST KIND OF HIT THE PHONE AND START CALLING AROUND AND SEEING WHO'S ABLE TO DO WHAT.
IN MOST CASES, THE, THE, THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE, ARE VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS, BUT WE DO RUN ACROSS INCIDENTS WHERE A TIME OF NEED COMES AND THERE'S NO FAMILY AND THERE'S NO DOCUMENTS AND, UH, WE HAVE TO TRY AND MAKE SOME TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT FOR THE, FOR THAT PARTICULAR VETERAN.
UH, YOUR FACILITY AT, UH, UM, GREENVILLE.
[00:50:01]
VETS DO YOU SEE A DAY? UM, PROBABLY 25 OR 30.WE HAVE REALLY FOUR, FOUR PROVIDERS.
THEY'RE USUALLY BACK TO BACK 5, 6, 6, UM, VISITS PER DAY, PER PER COUNSELOR.
UM, WE'RE JUST LIKE A LOT OF AGENCIES WE DEAL WITH STAFFING AND ALL OF THAT AS WELL.
UM, BUT GENERALLY ABOUT 25 TO 30 A WEEK.
IF YOU HAD YOUR WISHES, WHAT DO YOU WISH THE CITY OF DALLAS COULD PROVIDE YOU WITH ET CETERA, THAT WOULD LET YOU DO MORE OR SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT DOING NOW? WELL, ONE AWARENESS.
UM, AWARENESS AS FAR AS JUST LETTING VETERANS KNOW THAT THE VET CENTER DO EXIST.
WE, WE GET A LOT OF TIMES WHERE VETERANS DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE VET CENTER.
THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER.
OR THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW, THE BIG VA, BUT NOT THE VET CENTER TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING.
THE OTHER THING, WHAT WE ARE THAT WE GENERALLY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IS TO HAVE, UH, WHAT WE CALL CAPS COMMUNITY ACCESS POINT.
AND THOSE ARE KIND OF TO, TO HELP COMBAT SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
NOT ALL WERE, WERE GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG A, UH, DARK LINE, BUT IN SOME CASES, FOR AN EXAMPLE, WE HAD A VETERAN, UH, WHICH WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW UNTIL HE GOT DOWN THE STREET, BUT HE WAS IN A MOBILIZED WHEELCHAIR.
HE GOT DROPPED OFF AT THE, AT THE FOREST DART CENTER, UM, BUS CENTER, BUT THERE WAS NO SIDEWALK TO GET HIM DOWN FOR, TO GREENVILLE TORO, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS.
SO WE ADVISE THE VETERAN TO GO BACK, BUT GENERALLY, IF WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ACCESS POINT, IF THERE'S A NEED ENOUGH VETERAN THAT WILLING TO SHOW UP, UH, FOR THE SERVICES, IF WE CAN GET, UM, A M O U OR SOMETHING, WE CAN SEND PROVIDERS OUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH TO A LOCATION AND WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT WAY.
UM, WE WERE DOING IT AT THE MLK CENTER FOR A WHILE.
I THINK THE MESQUITE OFFICE TOOK OVER THAT ONE.
BUT YEAH, IF THE CITY OF DALLAS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ACCESS POINTS WHERE WE CAN SEND THE PROVIDER OUT A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK, UH, A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK OR A MONTH TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, THAT WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, WHEN I FIRST, UM, RETIRED, UM, WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND I WAS IN A WORK OUT OF A WORK, I WAS A WORK STUDY IN A VET CENTER IN MCALLEN.
UM, UM, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY HANDS-ON.
UH, ONE OF THE FUNNY THINGS THOUGH IS, UH, SOMETIMES THEY GET VET CONFUSED WITH VETERINARIAN AND I HAD A LADY BRING IN A, A TURTLE CUZ SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS AT A VET CENTER.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, I THINK, UH, AS PART OF THE SCHOOL, UH, WE HAD STUDENT, UH, MILITARY OR, YOU KNOW, UH, MILITARY GROUPS, UH, STUDENTS, UM, WHAT DO YOU CALL, UH, COMMITTEES OR, OR YOU KNOW, JUST SMALL, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, STUDENTS AND, AND GOING INTO THE COLLEGES.
I THINK THAT WOULD HELP GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT.
ALSO, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING THAT MOBILE UNIT.
UM, I WOULD PROBABLY GET OFFLINE AND, AND TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING AN EVENT AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP SPREAD THAT INFORMATION OR MARKET WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE OTHERS ARE DOING, BUT THANK YOU.
I THINK, UM, KIND OF THE O OVER THE PAST AND A LOT OF THINGS CHANGED WITH COVID.
UM, PRE COVID, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF DALLAS, UM, I THINK DR.
ROBINSON MENTIONED HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS OVER 900 AND A LOT OF TIMES VETERANS JUST DON'T KNOW.
THEY KNOW VA, UM, BUT THEY SOMETIMES NOT AWARE THAT VA IS BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE ADMINISTRATIONS.
AND A LOT OF TIMES IT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO BE LUCKY TO GET AHOLD OF THE RIGHT PERSON OR THE RIGHT SERVICE TO GET WHATEVER THE NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT VBA, V H A AND NCA ARE ALL SEPARATE.
SO JUST DEPENDING ON, UH, WHAT THE VETERAN NEED.
UM, I THINK DURING CHIEF HALL TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO GO OVER TO THE DALLAS PD AND BRIEF A LOT OF OFFICERS ABOUT WHAT BENEFITS, HOW TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS.
AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO IS THAT VETERANS TRANSITION OFF OF ACTIVE DUTY AND THEY JUST GONE ABOUT THEIR LIVES 10, 20 YEARS LATER, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING MEDICAL ISSUES OR WHATNOT AND JUST DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS OR HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING SEEN.
JUST BECAUSE YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR VA OR VA HEALTHCARE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SERVICE CONNECTION PROCESS.
IF YOU WERE A COMBAT VETERAN, YOU GET FIVE YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT VETERAN CAN
[00:55:01]
BE SEEN, BUT MAY HAVE A COPAY AND WHATNOT.UM, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO VET CENTER SERVICES, WE DON'T REALLY GET INTO ALL OF THAT.
A VETERAN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SERVICE CONNECTED.
UM, WITH VA YOU HAVE TO HAVE 180 DAYS OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE TO BE CONSIDERED A VET WITH THE VET CENTER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU SPEND TWO WEEKS, UM, IN BOOTS AND FOR WHATEVER REASON GOT PUT OUT, IF THERE WERE SOME TYPE OF TRAUMA OR ILLNESS OR INJURY MENTAL HEALTH WISE THAT AFFECTED THAT BE, UH, HE OR SHE CAN COME TO THE VET CENTER FOR, FOR, FOR SERVICES.
SO THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST BEING ABLE TO, UM, PASS ALONG AWARENESS OR LIKE I SAID, PROVIDE, UH, AN EVENT OR DATE, TIME AND PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME OUT AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO THE VETERANS.
I HAVE A QUESTION IF IT'S OKAY, I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING TWO MINUTES BEHIND AND I'M KIND OF A STICKLER WHEN IT COMES TO TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WANTED TO FIRST ASK, WHAT WAS THAT THIRD COMPONENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SEGMENT? VBA V H A AND THEN NCA, NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION.
THE NEXT PART OF MY QUESTION IS YOU, UH, REFERENCED WHEN YOU GUYS, THE OUTREACH SPECIALIST, I REMEMBER IT WAS MIKE AND YOLANDA ROCIO MM-HMM.
SO I'M HOPING THAT ACTUALLY CAN, CAN, UM, START BACK UP BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF THE VET VETERANS.
YOU NAILED IT WHEN YOU SAID AWARENESS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
THAT IS ONE OF OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUES WHEN IT COME TO VETERANS.
IT'S LIKE WE GET OUT OF THE MILITARY AND TRY TO GO ON ABOUT OUR LIVES.
DIFFERENT OBSTACLES THAT WE'RE NOT PREPARED FOR.
AND SOME, IN SOME INSTANCE, WE HAVE MELTDOWNS AND WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT OH, THERE'S A TEAM OF FOLKS RIGHT.
THE FINAL THING THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, UM, AND THEN FOLLOW UP ON IS THE VETERANS OUTREACH SPECIALIST.
AND IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE NATION.
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEE.
SO, BY ANY CHANCE, DO YOU HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANY ORGANIZATION'S HR TEAM? NO.
I REACHED OUT TO, UH, WELL, WE HAD A VETERAN COME IN THE OTHER DAY, UH, WORKED AT AMAZON.
THE NOISE IN THE WAREHOUSE WAS, WAS BUGGING HIM.
AND HE, YOU KNOW, HE REACHED OUT TO US.
BUT, AND NOW BASED ON THAT, WE TRY TO REACH OUT TO, TO, UH, AMAZON HR TO KINDA, UM, ESTABLISH A, UM, A PARTNERSHIP TO WHERE WE CAN KIND OF GO OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, SPREAD AWARENESS OF HOW CERTAIN CONDITIONS MAY AFFECT A VETERAN'S MENTAL MM-HMM.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PARTNERSHIP OR RELATION WITH ANY HR, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT I WANNA SHARE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M A RESEARCHER INDEPENDENT BY TREY.
I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE, LIKE YOU SAID, THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS 900 VETERANS, AND WHILE WE ARE FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH, UM, HOMELESSNESS AND EMPLOYMENT AS A BODY, RIGHT.
I BELIEVE IT'S SO APPROPRIATE AND IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL IF WE COULD EXPLORE, UM, MOST OF VETERANS THAT WORK IN THE WORKPLACE ARE FINE.
BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO, THAT HANDFUL THAT DO THAT WOULD NEED THAT BACKING OR THAT SUPPORT OR THAT, UM, CAP RIGHT.
UH, TO MAKE THEM EVEN BETTER IN THE WORKPLACE OR TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT AS A BODY RIGHT.
TO, UH, UTILIZE OUR VETERANS OUTREACH SPECIALIST.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT THAT, UM, TOGETHER, BUT IT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT TO EXPLORE.
AND, AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'RE FEARING THAT WE ARE FINDING OUT IS IT'S JUST THE FEAR.
THERE'S, THERE'S A STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH EMPLOYEES SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR A FEAR OF IT IMPACTING THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
[01:00:01]
SURE.UM, SO WE DO FIND A LOT OF THAT WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE ARE WORKING WITH VETERANS WHO DO COME IN, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS, WE, WE DO SEE A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS AT THE VET CENTER, AND IT'S ALMOST, UM, LIKE THEY, THEY FEELING LIKE THEY'RE HAVING TO KIND OF SNEAK IN AND GO UNDER THE RADAR MM-HMM.
AND WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE UNDERSTAND RISKS AND WHATNOT.
BUT DEFINITELY I THINK THROUGH AN AWARENESS APPROACH, WE CAN KIND OF COMMUNICATE THAT IT'S OKAY, WE, YOU KNOW, TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A, UM, A CONVERSATION WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER AND MAY NOT NEED TO BE LONG TERM OR WHATNOT.
BUT WE'RE HERE, WE ARE AVAILABLE.
AND THE PANDEMIC HAS, UM, CHALLENGED SOME OF THE BEST OF US VETERANS AND NOT RIGHT.
AND, AND WE, WE, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER GREAT THING.
THE ISOLATION REALLY AFFECTED A LOT OF VETERAN.
AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I EXPLAINED TO A VET, WE KNOW P TS D TODAY AS WHAT IT IS, BUT THE VETERAN DURING MY TIMEFRAME THAT THE, THE TERM WAS BATTLE FATIGUE.
NOT A QUESTION, BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD TAKE UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY SUBCOMMITTEES, MAYBE THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD FORM AS A SUBCOMMITTEE TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ACTUALLY PUT SOME, YOU KNOW, ACTION.
JUST SOMETHING THAT WE, WE REALLY FEEL IT'S A, A NEED FOR.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A MOTION OR WE CAN DISCUSS THAT LATER.
I THINK MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS ADD IT TO THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING AND MAKE A MAKE OFFICIAL MOTION.
AND THERE COULD BE ALSO SOME, UH, DISCUSSION IF THERE ARE OTHER COMMITTEES THAT YOU WANNA ESTABLISH TOO AS WELL, SO THAT, UH, WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON THE AGENDA AND THE DECISION CAN BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN ALSO GIVE INPUT IF THEY WANT TO.
THE RISK TO SUBCOMMITTEES WE DISCUSSED, UH, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED IS HITTING QUORUM.
CUZ IF, IF YOU ADD TOO MANY PEOPLE, THEN WE HAVE TO ADD IT AS AN OFFICIAL MEETING.
SO WE END UP JUST GETTING HERE BECAUSE THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REALLY NECESSARY THAT WE COMMIT, UH, CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THIS.
MAYBE IT'S JUST A TASK THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE ADDED, UM, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF IT, IF IT WOULD BE A O U OR SOMETHING TO BE ESTABLISHED.
BUT I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IT'S NEEDED, AGAIN, WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS HAVING OVER 900 VETERANS AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO OUR VERGE 2023 REBOOT, UM, UH, NEXT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
UM, SO JUST SOMETHING FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IT'S THE, THE CONCERN IS WHEN YOU MAKE QUORUM, RIGHT? SO IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION TOGETHER AND THEY'RE DISCUSSING BUSINESS, THEN YES, THAT HAS TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING.
BUT IF THERE'S LESS, THEN, UH, I HAVE TO CONFIRM OBVIOUSLY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT THERE ARE SOME, UH, WAYS THAT YOU CAN, UH, DISCUSS ISSUES AND THEN REPORT IT BACK TO THE GENERAL COMMISSION.
QUICK QUESTION, MR. JENKINS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE, UM, MIL CASES THAT YOU HANDLED, UH, MILITARY RELATED? YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING HOW MANY, UM, OTHER VETERANS THAT WE SEE THEIR ISSUE IS TIED TO MILITARY? YES.
UM, AND SOME, SOME SHAPE OR FORM.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S MOST OF THEM.
I I'LL SAY MAYBE 80% OF THEM, YOU KNOW, ARE RELAYING TO, UM, SOME EXPERIENCE THAT OCCURRED WHILE THE VETERAN SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, SO THANK YOU MR. JEN CONSENT.
UM, I DO, I I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT, THAT MOBILE UNIT.
[01:05:01]
FINISH UP HERE PRETTY SOON, UM, AS THE REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND STANDING COMMITTEES.AND MR. TAYLOR'S NOT HERE TODAY, SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THAT, UH, I SPOKE WITH, UM, GOSH, I FORGOT WHO IT WAS, BUT THERE WILL BE A VETERAN'S DAY PARADE, UH, THAT'S BEEN CONFIRMED AND I THINK WITH MY COUNCILMAN, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE IN CHARGE OF THE PARADE.
SO THERE IS ONE THAT'S ON THE 11TH, AND THEN I'M GONNA THROW IN MY 2 CENTS WHERE A, AN EVENT THAT WE'RE HAVING IN WEST DALLAS.
WE'RE HAVING A, A VETERANS, UH, APPRECIATION DAY, WHICH I HOPE I HAVE, UH, A MOBILE UNIT OR SOMETHING OUT THERE WITH INFORMATION ON VETERAN SERVICES AND RESOURCES.
AND THEN IS ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, FOR THE VETERANS? I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE QUICKLY, UH, FOR THE NOVEMBER MEETING, WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SCHEDULED.
UM, WE HAVE CHRIS MONTOYA FROM THE HEROES FOUNDATION, AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE'LL HAVE HOUSING FORWARD PRESENT AS WELL.
UM, AND IF, UH, IF YOU THINK IT WOULD BE VALUABLE, I CAN ALSO INVITE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING SUBCOMMITTEES SO THAT, UM, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING WE CAN ADD TO THE AGENDA TO, TO BRING FORTH AND THEN FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE.
UM, YEAH, I DON'T SEE ANYONE WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I THINK THE ONLY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE ADJOURN IS ONE OBVIOUSLY SENT AN EMAIL WITH THE NEW WEBSITE.
SO THAT IS A PLATFORM THAT YOU ALL CAN REVIEW AND SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC.
IT'S HAS ALL YOUR, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WHEN WE MEET, ALSO HAVE POSTED THE REPORTS THAT, UH, YOU ALL HAVE PUBLISHED AND ALSO HAS YOUR LI YOU LISTED AS A MEMBER.
UM, AND IF THERE ANYTHING, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OR EDITED, OR IF YOU WANNA SEE SOMETHING ADDED, UM, LET ME KNOW.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WAY THAT THE COMMISSION SEES FIT.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SHARE IS, SO WE DID HAVE THE W C I A COORDINATOR POSITION OPEN, HOWEVER, UH, OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION HAS REEVALUATED SOME OF OUR STAFFING NEEDS.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY DECIDED WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO KIND OF GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WAY THAT THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS DRAFTED.
WE WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE THAT PERSON STILL PROVIDING SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR YOU ALL AS A COMMISSION.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING SOME OTHER JOB RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO, UH, THAT MEANS I'M GONNA SEND YOU CANCELLATION NOTICE, BUT, UH, YOU STUCK WITH ME FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? OH, OH, THE LAST ONE.
UM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE NAVY, UH, UNITED STATES NAVY.
SO, AND WITH THAT, UM, TAKE A MOTION TO, UH, ADJOURN.