Homeless Veterans

From the Air Force Magazine Daily Report

Five-Year Plan: Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on [November 3] unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to end homelessness among the nation’s veterans who make up a comparatively large portion those living on the streets. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Shinseki, speaking at a VA summit in Washington, D.C., said the VA will spend $3.2 billion next year towards that goal and is working to strengthen partnerships with other government agencies and service organizations. “Even in tough economic times, this is still the wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world and no veteran should be living on the streets without care and without hope,” he said. The new initiative will focus both on preventing vets from ever going homeless and removing those already on the streets from that condition. (For more, see the Washington Post’s Nov. 4 report (requires free registration).

His Ministry Featured in the Auburn Reporter

Mark Klass wrote an excellent feature article on His Ministry

Solace from the streets: Ministry helps comfort the homeless, disadvantaged

By MARK KLAAS
Auburn Reporter Editor
Oct 21 2009, 5:53 PM · UPDATED

 Through his tireless work, the Rev. Jerry Larson has seen the sorrow and felt the despair of the human struggle – of those living and dying on Auburn’s lonely streets.

At times, it is too difficult to describe, let alone comprehend the anguish of the homeless and the plight of the disadvantaged. See the full article and comments here.

Mental Health Polices and the Homeless

Mike Johnson, director of the Union Gospel Mission Men’s Shelter in Seattle wrote a great column for the Oct 29 edition of the Seattle Times

Washington’s mental-health policies are killing people

Washington state policy under the Involuntary Treatment Act is leaving too many people with mental illness to fend for themselves, writes guest columnist Mike Johnson. In extreme cases, people are dying, whether they kill themselves, or can’t help themselves or harm others.

RECENTLY, Joseph tried to jump out of a window on the fourth floor of the Men’s Shelter of the Union Gospel Mission in Pioneer Square.

A fellow resident in our addiction-recovery program pulled him back in, and we took Joseph up the hill to the Psychiatric Emergency Room at Harborview Hospital … again. A few months earlier, police stopped Joseph from jumping from an overpass. Despite this history, Harborview informed us they were releasing Joseph after only a couple of hours in care … again. They couldn’t hold him, they argued. See full article here.

Hey all come on out to Solid Rock Cruisers Hot Rod Show at Auburn’s Les Gove Park on the 27th of June.The cars are gorgeous to look at. They have been restored and cover a large number of years that cars were built. His Ministry will be there and all donations will go to help the disadvantaged in the Auburn area. Hope to see you there.

Jerry

Homeless Count Increases in Auburn

From the Friday, February 13 2009 Auburn Reporter:

One Night Count reveals dramatic increase in Auburn homeless

A recent count of the homeless in Auburn revealed a disturbing trend: dramatically more people are living on the streets.

The One Night Count, conducted by staff and volunteers from several agencies, was conducted in the early morning hours of Jan. 30. The teams counted 60 persons sleeping in cars, under roadways and other makeshift structures, an increase of 30 percent from 2008.

See the full article at www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/news/39506439.html