Service Providers Report Port Angeles 2009

2009 Port Angeles After Action:
Total seen:                  218
Veterans:                    127 of which 11 were female
Homeless veterans:   39 of which 5 were female
Dental             Saw 27, 10 required urgent care and or prescriptions for antibiotics 

Peninsula Community Mental Health:
Saw 14. Took 10 for action. Primarily addressing resource questions related to mental health options
I thought the stand down was organized and run very well. Great job

Peninsula College:
Had 38 veterans stop by for questions about GI Bill, enrollment, and just general questions about higher education. Please invite us again!

Senior Information:
Saw 27, we gave out a lot of information, brochures, and senior resource directories.

Pro Bono Lawyers of Clallam County:
Saw 22, and took action on all 22.

• Heard back from a veteran at the Port Townsend Stand Down that my advice worked and a creditor stopped harassing him.
• Many requests for Wills and Powers of Attorney.
• Had a veteran say the VA suspended his VA pay due to an outstanding misdemeanor warrant – not right.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Saw 12 veterans and took action on 6.

Healthy Families: Saw 51.
A former client came to tell me that she had been homeless for 3 ½ years.
She now has had a stable apartment for 2 years due to our help.

VA Veterans Benefits Administration:   I actually see quite a few vets.
I saw 28+ vets and took 8 claims for disability benefits.
I also helped 2 veterans to apply for the Non Service Connected pension benefits that will be automatic grants.  Their SSI benefits ($670) will go away, but they will get $985.00 automatically from the VA. 

Work Source: Saw 47, action taken on 15.

Jefferson County Veterans Assistant: Saw 3 and took action on 2.

Housing Center: Saw 23 and gave out applications for housing to 11.
One veteran talked at length with us about the invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach.

Sarge’s Place/West End Outreach: Saw 21 and took action on 2.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW):  Saw 13 and filed 1 new claim.
We spent a great deal of time explaining veterans’ benefits. Felt that stand down ran smoothly and I feel was a great success for the veterans and us.

Art’s Barber Shop: Cut 25 head of hair

Health Screening:
Total services: My numbers from the Stand Down. 63 actually signed in for shots but some got doubles
61 flu shots
4 pneumonia
4 tetanus
                        4 TDap 

• Ed/ John Joseph had 10 consults. 
• Ed picked up a potential glaucoma problem. 
• Also a fellow with a severe weight loss problem that has been going to the Lower Elwha clinic and has a Harborview appointment the end of this month—doesn’t get along with the VA.  Couldn’t do much but talk and gave him a couple cases of nutritional supplements.
• Another had a basal cell cancer on his nose and had not kept his VA appointment but Ed assured him that he should make the trip.
• One knee problem.
• Couple of blood sugars.

Meals Served:              260+

Clothing Room:  140 persons went through the clothing room of which 50 indicted that they
are homeless.

Outdoor Equipment/Survival Gear:  Assisted 52
Additional Comments:
“Thank you for letting me wander around and see how it all works! You guys are organized! Coming from a type-A, super organizer person, I was impressed! Seemed like the biggest glitch was breakfast was late getting underway and thus the volunteers had no time together before the crowds arrived. Just like with a wedding - something always happens no matter how good the plans, so you just deal with it and go on.”
“I definitely agree that the way to go in the store is a personal shopper. The vet has to think about what they really need and the shopper knows where everything is and can help with sizes, etc.” “No hogging of stuff.”
“Maybe set up a few extra tables in the check in building - had the National Guard show up extra and someone took Olycap's table, so if extra we have flexibility”.
“Anyhow, I am doing a paragraph in my November column on the Stand Down. I will continue to ask for donations and it is on my schedule to help next year! If there is anything special you need please let me know.”
“Thank you for all you do for the vets.”
Lorri, Sequim American Legion
 
Several veterans said at intake “good job, “good work”.
My overall impression is that the level of friendly interaction and involvement with other veterans was much higher and more pronounced. It felt friendlier.
Several service providers on their way out expressed thanks for the opportunity to be here and also gratification about the response from the veterans.