By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
February 8, 2012

When it comes to homeless veteran services, there’s a gap in Kansas City.

To fill that gap, The Salvation Army recently launched the Harbor House program, located inside the newly renovated Missouri Shield of Service (MOSOS) facility, 5100 E. 24th St.

According to the 2011 Veterans Point-in-Time Count, there are 358 homeless veterans in the west central area of Missouri. About 315 of those reside in Kansas City, said Debra Crouch, divisional veterans and recovery services coordinator for The Salvation Army’s Kansas and Western Missouri Division.

“The Kansas City area has the largest percentage of homeless veterans in Missouri,” she added. “According to the most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report, Missouri had a 10.7 percent increase in homelessness. We were fifth (highest) in the nation.”

The federally mandated annual survey, Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) identified the veteran service gaps in Kansas City, Crouch said.

To remodel the MOSOS facility for Harbor House, The Salvation Army secured a $656,110 grant through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.

“One of the unique things about the veteran population is they tend to have a higher representation than the general public in terms of homelessness, mental illnesses and substance abuse.”

Factors adding to their plight include, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), transitioning from military service to civilian life and the general impact of military service, she said.

Medical advances are also creating challenges.

“Because of medical advances, people are surviving serious injuries, which is causing a whole other set of problems,” she said.

In addition to providing a 30-bed facility for homeless vets, Harbor House offers a variety of services aimed at helping veterans achieve stability. Services include case management, transportation, life skills education and 24/7 staff support.

One of the main goals is help veterans transition into permanent housing, Crouch said. In terms of life skills education, that includes providing educational support groups, helping veterans apply for disability and other benefits and providing education in communication skills, stress management, budgeting, debt repair, employment, among others.

“We look at the whole person,” Crouch said. “That’s going to make them self-sufficient and as independent as possible.”