2008 Woodie Awards
Group aims to aid homeless vets
Patrick Larkin - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Metro
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Vets Helping Vets is "a real loose group of homeless vets," said Leonard McClellan, one of the group's founders.
The nonprofit organization's goal is to aid shelterless veterans and prevent them from dying in the cold, McClellan said.
"Obviously, we failed in that," he said, recalling homeless vet Sonny Iovino's death from hypothermia in early November.
The group was conceived in early October, "long before Sonny died," McClellan noted, and after more than a month of planning and paperwork, the group was in full swing as of Wednesday afternoon.
It has four members, all of whom will work on specific projects. For instance, Tom Kelly, the other founder, is trying to get winter-boot donations.
"This ain't for our benefit," Kelly asserted, explaining that the group was formed "to help the guys that don't got anything," such as those who live in camps under bridges in the area year-round.
Christine Drum, who works with Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness and focuses on veterans in the area, said that a number of veterans in Iowa City were without shelter for the winter, though the number is difficult to judge. Drum said there are several groups of homeless veterans in camps under bridges in the area. These veterans keep to themselves and try to remain inconspicuous, she said.
A statewide study from 2006 by the Iowa Council on Homelessness found that there were 1,257 homeless people in Johnson County, or about 1 percent of the population.
A Nov. 8 study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness found that 26 percent of the U.S. homeless consists of veterans, though vets make up only 11 percent of the population. In addition, the study reports that Iowa has 547 homeless vets and an additional 2,742 with a severe-housing burden, who spend more than 50 percent of their income on shelter.
The study attributes several causes for the disproportionate numbers of homeless vets, including mental and physical disabilities caused by military service, substance abuse, and a lack of services.
The nonprofit organization's goal is to aid shelterless veterans and prevent them from dying in the cold, McClellan said.
"Obviously, we failed in that," he said, recalling homeless vet Sonny Iovino's death from hypothermia in early November.
The group was conceived in early October, "long before Sonny died," McClellan noted, and after more than a month of planning and paperwork, the group was in full swing as of Wednesday afternoon.
It has four members, all of whom will work on specific projects. For instance, Tom Kelly, the other founder, is trying to get winter-boot donations.
"This ain't for our benefit," Kelly asserted, explaining that the group was formed "to help the guys that don't got anything," such as those who live in camps under bridges in the area year-round.
Christine Drum, who works with Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness and focuses on veterans in the area, said that a number of veterans in Iowa City were without shelter for the winter, though the number is difficult to judge. Drum said there are several groups of homeless veterans in camps under bridges in the area. These veterans keep to themselves and try to remain inconspicuous, she said.
A statewide study from 2006 by the Iowa Council on Homelessness found that there were 1,257 homeless people in Johnson County, or about 1 percent of the population.
A Nov. 8 study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness found that 26 percent of the U.S. homeless consists of veterans, though vets make up only 11 percent of the population. In addition, the study reports that Iowa has 547 homeless vets and an additional 2,742 with a severe-housing burden, who spend more than 50 percent of their income on shelter.
The study attributes several causes for the disproportionate numbers of homeless vets, including mental and physical disabilities caused by military service, substance abuse, and a lack of services.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Sara
posted 11/29/07 @ 8:36 AM CST
How would someone make a donation?
stephen-radosevich
Steve R.
posted 11/29/07 @ 4:36 PM CST
I believe Wells Fargo Bank is doing the collection....go there.
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