Working with the Chamber of Commerce, local business and community leaders, trade unions, community colleges and technical schools, the Patriot’s Path Foundation is developing broad support for our objective of streamlining veterans into the workforce at the highest levels consistent with their abilities and desires.

 

Once a veteran has been introduced to the Foundation and a mentor has been assigned, the next step is to determine the veteran’s existing job skills and interests as well as identifying opportunities for skills enhancement through on-the-job or more formal training.  This is accomplished through several interview/discussion sessions.  Then, working with both the veteran and his mentor, a “Workforce Integration Plan” is developed.

 

Many veterans will qualify for educational benefits as a result of their service and the Foundation will work with them to take advantage of those benefits if they so desire.  For others, the Foundation is developing several programs to assist them financially if they wish to improve or broaden their skills through attending classes at institutions approved by the Foundation.

 

In collaboration with Blue Ridge Community & Technical College, the Foundation will operate a fully equipped computer skills classroom and learning lab.  This facility and its classes will be available to veterans while they are in treatment at the VA as well as after treatment is completed.

 

The Foundation does not “find” jobs for veterans.  Our goal is to ensure that the veteran enters the job market with the highest skills possible and to identify to the veteran those employers who understand and support the Foundation’s objectives.  It is up to the veteran to take the initiative to seek out the employers, fill out the applications and go through any required interviews.

 

Keep in mind that the veteran’s “Touchstone” mentor is an integral part of this entire process.

 Perhaps one of the most challenging life skills facing veterans in early recovery is that of effective money management.  Many veterans coming through treatment have never had a bank account, have used payroll check cashing services and paid their bills, if they paid them, with money orders or cash.

Working with veterans in small groups and then with individual veterans and their mentors, the Foundation assists veterans with understanding and applying the basics of everyday money management.

The process may begin while the veterans are still in treatment and living at the VA.  At that time, their expenses are usually limited to cell phones, clothing, some transportation, entertainment and meals outside the VA.  Also, once they are employed, veterans often purchase TVs or stereos while still at the VA.

 

Many do not give much thought about how they will acquire a vehicle or how much it will cost them to live once they leave the VA.  Some have never had a place of their own and still others have, more or less, lived in a series of institutions for years.

 

Our approach is not one of esoteric financial planning involving Roth IRAs and asset allocation models that are meaningless, but rather, one that focuses on everyday issues and pitfalls.

 

The process begins with identifying any existing financial obligations that the veteran may have. i.e. alimony, child support, etc.  Next, we calculate the veteran’s projected monthly income based on current employment.  Then, working with both the veteran and his mentor, a “Pre-discharge Budget Plan” is developed.  This Plan covers the period until the veteran is discharged from treatment (approximately 5 months).  Among other things, it addresses:

 

¨      Existing financial obligations

¨      Saving for a vehicle down-payment

¨      Auto insurance

¨      Weekly gas expense

¨      Saving for substantially increased housing and living expenses post-discharge

 

This “Pre-discharge Budget” will be reviewed with the veteran on a periodic basis by both his VA counselors and his “Touchstone” mentor.  As circumstances dictate, adjustments may be made to the budget.  How well a veteran adheres to the budget will be one of the considerations when the veteran seeks to participate in additional Foundation programs.

 

As veterans progress toward their discharge from treatment, a more comprehensive “Post-discharge Budget Plan” will be developed utilizing a similar process.  However, this budget includes food, rent and, where it applies, cable, water, electric, heat, etc.  This budget covers 12 months post-discharge and will be reviewed periodically by the veteran and his mentor.

Upon entering the Substance Abuse Treatment Program at the VA Medical Center, the vast majority of veterans do not own a vehicle and have a low or non-existant credit score.

 

Initially, this is not an issue since the VA provides whatever little transportation that may be required.  However, as veterans progress through treatment, transportation requirements increase significantly and the VA does not have the resources, nor is it their mission, to meet all of those needs.

 

During the later phase of treatment, while still residing at the VA, veterans are encouraged to attend off-site Twelve Step meetings as often as possible, ideally on a daily basis.  Many of these meetings are at places and times not well served by public transportation.

 

Approximately five months prior to completing treatment, the VA requires veterans to seek employment in the local community.  Again, many employers are located in areas not served by public transportation.  And, those employers who are accessible by public transportation are often those providing lower paying jobs.  Thus, without their own transportation, many veterans are seriously constrained in their efforts to seek viable employment which can be very demoralizing.

 

The Patriot’s Path Foundation recognizes the significance of how not having a vehicle impacts a veteran’s ability to attend recovery meetings, find and maintain gainful employment as well as having mobility once completing treatment at the VA and is living in the community.

 

Working with local automobile dealers, the foundation is developing a program to assist veterans in acquiring affordable and dependable basic transportation.

 

Highlights of the program are:

 

¨      Low purchase price

¨      Low down payment

¨      Payment frequency tailored to veterans’ payroll cycle (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.)

In Greek mythology, “Temenos” was a safe place where warriors could lay down their swords and shields and heal without fear of vulnerability.

 

In addition to effective money management, one of the greatest challenges facing veterans as they complete their course of treatment in the structured environment at the VA Medical Center is the transition into a safe and affordable housing environment that is conducive to their continued recovery.

To meet that need, the Patriot’s Path Foundation maintains a network of small (3-6 people) residences throughout the community.  All residences are fully furnished and include living and dining rooms with complete kitchens and laundry facilities.  Each house has cable TV, a computer with Internet access and each veteran occupies a private room.

 

Moving into a “Temenos” house is a veteran’s first step on the journey to independent living.  Rents are modest and all utilities are included.  No security deposit is required and only the first month’s rent is necessary in order to move in.  The typical length of stay is 6-12 months.

 

Residents live in a relatively unstructured environment; “house rules” are minimal – mostly common sense.  Veterans are subject to random drug & alcohol testing at all times and continued active participation in 12 Step Recovery Programs is required and monitored.

 

The Foundation sponsors a variety of activities such as cookouts, trips to sporting events, fishing & camping weekends as well as other indoor and outdoor activities.  These activities bring together veterans living in the various houses as well as those still in the more structured environment of the VA Medical Center.  We firmly believe that these activities are fundamental in fostering a strong sense of “family & fellowship” among the veterans we proudly serve and, in so doing, greatly enhance their chances of continued recovery.

 

 “Helping others” is a key component in almost all recovery programs.  In that context, it most often refers to helping those who are in recovery or are seeking help with their substance abuse problem.  In that regard, veterans are most frequently advised and guided by their Twelve Step program sponsors.

 

The Patriot’s Path Foundation believes that there is another very important aspect of “helping others” and that is community service.  By participating in the “Pay It Forward” program, veterans not only demonstrate their gratitude for the benefits they are receiving from the Foundation, but, they are contributing in a meaningful way to the betterment of the community in which they live.

 

All veterans receiving benefits from the Patriot’s Path Foundation must participate in the “Pay It Forward” program.  Working with the veteran and his mentor, and taking into consideration work and Twelve Step meeting schedules, a required number of monthly hours of service is agreed upon.

 

The Foundation is partnering with a wide variety of community service organizations such as:

 

 ¨      United Way 

 

 ¨      Habitat for Humanity

 

 ¨      American Red Cross

 

  ¨      Community Parks & Recreation departments

 

  ¨      Local church and civic groups

 

Veterans may choose where and when they fulfill their monthly requirements based on their own schedules and interests.

As previously described, the Patriot’s Path Foundation attempts to take a holistic approach as it assists veterans in their quest for a better life.

 

Perhaps the foundation’s most ambitious endeavor to date is the “Veteran’s Independence Project”.  Utilizing funds from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), the VA and other public and private sources, the foundation will acquire groups of houses, (4-6 @ a time) in each market we serve, that are in need of refurbishment.  Each house must already be multi-unit residential or be easily converted structurally and without zoning issues.

 

Under the supervision of an experienced construction Project Manager and licensed contractors, the Project will employ veterans who are physically able and interested in learning a construction trade.

 

Veterans are eligible to apply for this program once they have been assigned a “Touchstone” mentor and have completed the Workforce Integration process.  They must also be physically cleared by the VA medical staff.  The Project will provide daily transportation to/from the jobsite(s) for veterans who are still residing at the VA.  Veterans can expect to earn above average wages while employed by the Project.

 

The most obvious result of the Project is a number of affordable one (some two) bedroom apartments throughout the community that will now be available to veterans as they become ready to move beyond the “Temenos” house environment.  Having satisfactorily resided in a “Temenos” house for a minimum of six months, a veteran becomes eligible to apply for housing under the Veteran’s Independence Program.

 

Unlike “Temenos”, these apartments are not furnished.  Rents are at the lower end of market rate and some utilities may not be included.  In addition to the first month’s rent, a one month security deposit is required.  The foundation may provide a rent subsidy of $100 @ month for the first year.  Maximum length of occupancy is two years.

 

Beyond creating an inventory of apartments available to veterans seeking to maintain their recovery and to improve their lives, this project achieves the following:

 

¨      Employs veterans at a living wage in an alcohol & drug free environment

 

¨      Teaches valuable job skills

 

¨      Instills pride of accomplishment and reinforces teamwork

 

¨      Improves neighborhoods

 

¨      Increases the Foundation’s equity in the properties which can then be utilized to further expand the project.