Community invited to join montana va to walk for health and in support of unsheltered veterans in billings | va montana health care | veterans affairs

BILLINGS , MT — The Fort Harrison VA team is hosting a community Walk & Roll event takes place on May 9, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The annual VA2K event features a short two-kilometer walk

and roll (1.24 miles) and encourages people to live active lifestyles and support Veterans who are unsheltered through voluntary donations of food and new clothing items. The event is

scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and participants can begin the walk outside the Benjamin Charles Steele Building at 1766 Majestic Lane. Live music begins at 12:00 p.m. In

Montana, there was a 56.4% increase in Veterans who were homeless from 2021 (110) to 2022 (172). In 2022, Montana VA was able to help 211 Veterans secure housing. Unfortunately, it is

anticipated that more Veterans and others in Montana’s communities will experience homelessness in 2023 due to housing shortages and rising housing costs. Resources exist to help Veterans

secure housing. Some of these Montana VA resources include: * Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, depression, or

transition from jail can contact the Montana VA Homeless Program at (406) 447-6144 or (406) 373-3927.  Available support includes: * Immediate food and shelter, including both transitional

and permanent housing, * Job training, life skills development, and education, * Support with justice system navigation and community re-entry from jail, * Financial support to prevent

homelessness, * Treatment for addiction and depression, and * Health and dental care. * Veterans may be eligible for financial housing assistance through the Housing and Urban Development

(HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The HUD-VASH program combines Section 8 rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services

provided by Montana VA. These vouchers cover a percentage of a Veteran’s rental costs. Most HUD-VASH participants rent from private landlords and partnerships with public and private housing

providers is essential to the success of this program.   * Veterans experiencing homelessness can call also 877-4AID VET (or 877-424-3838) to connect with a trained VA staff member 24 hours

a day, seven days a week. One-third of Montana VA’s HUD-VASH vouchers for Veterans remain unused by Montana landlords. If filled, these unused vouchers could represent stable housing for

187 Montana Veterans at risk for homelessness. Landlords who are interested in helping Veterans find stable housing through HUD-VASH vouchers can call (406) 447-6000 and ask for the Homeless

Program to learn more. Donations to support Montana Veterans who are unsheltered are welcome, but not required to participate in the VA2K. Donations can be made at Pay.gov - VISN 19

Donation Form (Under “Facility,” select “Montana VA Health Care System.” If a donor does purchase through the above link, the items will be shipped directly to the Fort Harrison VA Medical

Center.   Montana VA Health Care System Montana VA serves over 47,000 enrolled Veterans across Montana—an area roughly 147,000 square miles in size. Veterans are cared for by a staff of

1,400 at 18 sites of care across the state.  One third of Montana VA employees are Veterans. -30-