TESTIMONY OF DOUGLAS A. HAYWOOD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WNY VETERANS HOUSING COALITION TO THE HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEES ON BENEFITS AND HEALTH UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D.C. 9 MARCH 2000
Mr. Chairman, Representative Quinn, Members of the Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of the Staff and Residents of the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition, thank you for this opportunity to add our views to those of many others in support of homeless programs for Veterans. The Coalition is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1987 by a group of Vietnam Veterans to search and develop innovative ways to improve housing opportunities for Veterans and "Continuum of Care" programs for Homeless Veterans and "Special Needs" populations. Since that time, the Coalition has evolved as a major player in the Western New York region in housing development, property management, and operation of "Continuum of Care" programs for "Special Needs" households (about half of whom are headed by Veterans). Currently, the Coalition owns and manages 119 residential apartment units in seven properties in urban Buffalo, New York, including two commercial tenants. In addition, we are in the midst of two major developments totaling over $10 Million for Homeless Veterans and senior citizens. A key element of our organizational structure is our Case Management Team, which oversees "Continuum of Care" programs in "MAYDAY HOUSE" (our appropriately named transitional housing element for Veterans), "PATRIOT HOUSE" (another appropriately-named facility for formerly Homeless Veterans), and for permanent Residents of our properties (again, about half those households are headed by Veterans). Napoleon Bonaparte, arguably the most brilliant of the "Great Captains" the world has ever known, once remarked to his subordinate commanders: "You can ask me for anything – EXCEPT time." Well, this morning, I am asking you for just that – TIME … and, more. First, TIME: We in the veterans community need more time to provide the full spectrum of services to Homeless Veterans to empower them to lead relatively independent lives and fulfill their responsibilities to themselves, their families, and their country. During about its first five years of existence, the Coalition’s VA-contracted transitional housing program consisted of a six-month stay by Homeless Veterans in a secure, comfortable facility that was staffed with dedicated Case Managers. This time afforded Homeless Veterans the best chance for social and economic recovery and independence. Our success rate during this period was about 70% and those who graduated were relatively well equipped to meet life’s challenges and succeed. With the arrival of the new administration and the resulting cuts to the VA’s budget, our six month Homeless Veterans transitional housing program was suddenly transformed into a two month program in which our Staff, the VA’s first line care providers who supported us, and most of all the Homeless Veterans in residence had to really scramble to attain even the most basic requirement before program discharge. Recently, a month has been added to the stay of 12 Veterans entering our program under the VA’s "Health Care for Homeless Veterans" program. However, the nine Veterans enrolled in our transitional housing program under the VA’s "Substance Abuse" program (most of whom are also Homeless Veterans) still are allowed only a maximum of two months before they must leave the facility. Two or even three months of transitional housing is just not enough to afford the Veteran of even a modicum of potential for success. Mr. Peter Collins (an Army Veteran and a current Resident of "MAYDAY HOUSE"), requested that we share an open letter he had written for this occasion: "This program benefits me as no other in that I am encouraged to seek and obtain employment while I am provided food and lodging in a clean, safe environment. I am grateful for the months I have, however, to save enough funds for an apartment, furnishings, food, clothing, and transportation after securing employment is difficult the full six months … greatly increases a Veteran’s chances of becoming a self- sufficient, productive member of society once again." Time, of course, is money. However, when one considers the costs of "recycling" former residents through the program again and again and/or to other treatment programs at other agencies or municipalities, adding three or four months to the transitional housing program in order to better prepare the Veteran for "life after discharge" is well worth the expense. The second item I’d like to address is the use of vacant or under-utilized VA facilities for Veterans Transitional Housing Programs. The aforementioned budget cuts have forced the closing or reduced usage of many VA facilities, particularly buildings at VA medical centers. Utilizing a portion of those facilities for Veterans transitional housing programs is very appealing for a variety of reasons:
One of our development operations is called the "Veterans Partnership Initiative", which will utilize a portion of the Batavia New York VA Medical Center campus as a transitional housing facility and a "Multi-Resource Employment & Service Center" for Homeless and other Veterans from throughout NY State. The VA’s WNY Health Care System, the Rochester New York Veterans Outreach Center, and the Coalition have been working on this project for over two years and last year the VA awarded $1.4 Million for renovation and start-up of the program in 2001. We are hopeful that this is the only the beginning of VA and private sector partnerships to improve housing and employment programs for Veterans. A third major effort in which the Coalition is actively involved is that of providing Veterans training, education, and assistance in securing employment. We are completing our first year of a Department of Labor (VETS) "Title IVC" grant and are optimistic about not only a renewal of this grant, but approval of a "Homeless Veteran Reintegration Project" grant proposal for the above Batavia activity. To date, we have assisted over 150 Veterans under this program. The last point I would like to address is HUD’s "Shelter + Care" program. The Coalition was awarded a five-year $640,000 "Shelter + Care" program grant in March 1995. To date:
Tragically, our request for renewing this program grant (as well as all such requests from other groups in Erie County, New York) was disapproved by HUD last December. In fact, the Erie County grant proposal rejections ALONE equal 10% of all renewal applications that were rejected by HUD for the entire Nation! Such a rejection by HUD of our renewal proposal affects 40 households in Coalition properties and 98 others throughout Erie County. We are in the midst of appealing this HUD decision and have received tremendous bi-partisan support from Representative Quinn of this committee and Representative John LaFalce of the House Banking Committee. We are hopeful that HUD’s position will be reversed and that we’ll be able to continue this valuable program for another five years. If we are not successful, 40 of the Coalition’s households (20 headed by Veterans) could be forced (by their own government, no less) back into the same homeless –and hopeless situations from which they thought they had been rescued years ago. We implore the Congress to provide the funding necessary to maintain the above programs that will continue to allow the VA and not-for-profit care providers to serve those citizens of this country who are most in need. Thank you again for this opportunity to share our concerns and hopes with you in this important area. CURRICULUM VITAE DOUGLAS A. HAYWOOD 95 DeKalb Street Tonawanda, New York 14150 (716) 693-4377 Summary: Experienced manager and leader of diverse populations; mission- oriented professional; Vietnam Combat Veteran. Employment Experience: 1992 – Present WNY Veterans Housing Coalition, Inc. Case Manager, Property Manager, Executive Director 1989 – 1992 American Protective Services Site Supervisor, Senior Field Supervisor 1986 – 1988 Realty World Central Lakes Real Estate Agent 1986 Alexander’s Retail Department Manager 1983 – 1986 United States Army Civilian Employee (Public Affairs, GS-12) 1969 – 1983 United States Army Commissioned Officer (Commander, Staff Officer) Education: 1997 Certified Occupancy Specialist Course 1993 Registered Apartment Manager’s Course 1969 – 1983 Various U.S. Army Infantry & Armor Schools 1965 – 1969 Pennsylvania Military College (B.A. History) Military Awards: Bronze Star Medal w/"V" Device (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster) Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Combat Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge Ranger Tab
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