Agents: Homeless vets need counseling, job aid

LYNN – Homelessness among Massachusetts veterans has declined 26 percent in the last several years, said Lynn?s veterans director, who thinks the trend will continue if the state and federal governments sustain programs that help vets.Veterans Director Michael Sweeney said federal assistance helped his office assist almost 40 local veterans by helping to cover housing costs and provide social services such as counseling.?It?s a combination of psychiatric services and any other help to get them on the path to sustainable living,” Sweeney said.Sweeney, an Army veteran, said homeless veterans range in age from military personnel leaving service in Afghanistan or who served in Iraq to older veterans. Combat stress-related problems and a tough job market throw some veterans into homelessness, Sweeney said.?The city, through my office, tries to keep people off the street, but the economy is hitting people square in the teeth,” he said.Sweeney applauded this week?s push by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray to whittle down the ranks of homeless veterans in Massachusetts over the next three years. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the state wants to reduce the number of homeless vets by 1,000 by 2015 in part by making 700 new federal housing vouchers and 300 new residences available to homeless veterans.?The state is putting a lot of resources toward an effort aimed at ending veterans homelessness,” Sweeney said.Swampscott Veterans Director James Schultz said job creation is a key to reducing homelessness, but said some veterans initially need help addressing problems they may have brought home with them from a combat theater.?Counseling is a huge thing, but we?re starting to address all those problems,” he said.Three Peabody veterans and their families receive housing assistance combined with social service support, said city Veterans Director Christopher Tighe.Tighe and Sweeney said Massachusetts stands alone in providing aid to veterans with incomes ranging from $1,800 to $2,500 a month and savings ranging from $3,000 to $7,000.?You?d be surprised how many fall into this category and how many seniors are out there who have outlived their savings. There are people living on $600 a month; if it wasn?t for their housing they would be on the street,” he said.Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].