Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri Signs Mayors Challenge to Work Towards Ending Veteran Homelessness

Pictured from left to right: Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless CEO Melanie Cordell; Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri; and Van Wolfe, Executive Director of Safe Space and Tennessee Valley Continuum of Care Governing Council member.

Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness set a bold goal to end veteran homelessness in the United States by the end of 2015. Over the last three years, our country has achieved a 24% decrease in homelessness among veterans while facing the worst recession since the Great Depression. On June 4, 2014, as part of the Joining Forces initiative, a growing coalition of mayors, governors, and county officials who are committed to ending veteran homelessness in their communities by the end of 2015 called on additional mayors and local leaders to join this effort.

Through the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, mayors and other state and local leaders across the country are marshalling federal, local, and nonprofit efforts to end veteran homelessness in their communities. Ending veteran homelessness means reaching the point where every veteran has access to permanent housing. Should veterans become homeless or be at-risk of becoming homeless, communities will have the capacity to quickly connect them to the help they need in order to achieve housing stability. When those things are accomplished, our nation will achieve its goal.

On November 3, Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri met with Melanie Cordell, Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless (TVCH) to discuss the Mayors Challenge and outline steps for moving forward with the initiative. To aid the mayor in achieving the goal of ending homelessness among veterans in Jefferson County, Cordell offered the resources of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, which TVCH facilitates for very low-income veteran families. Mayor Palmieri signed the Mayors Challenge and is invested in ending veteran homelessness.

Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri stated: “We owe everything we have to the men and women who have sacrificed, protected and defended us and our nation. It is not only tragic but a sin to have veterans who have given so much go without the very basic needs. In a country as great as the United States there is no excuse for a veteran to go without. I’m proud to be part of something that gives back to those who gave so much for us.” Simply saying thank you or a hand shake is not enough.

The Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless wants the veterans of Jefferson County to know that we are privileged to serve those who once served. Using a Housing First approach, the SSVF program removes barriers to help veterans obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible while opening the door for housing and services to certain veterans who may be ineligible for other VA benefits.  In fiscal year 2014, TVCH served 334 veterans and their families through SSVF.

Resources are now available for Jefferson County veterans who qualify.   Those interested in enrolling for the program may call the TVCH Homeless Assistance Hotline at (888) 556-0791 on weekdays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.