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Each of us has personal resources to be able to draw upon in order to function in society.  Homelessness is a result from a deficit in either one or more of the "Three Personal Resources" listed below.  In order to provide an appropriate response that would be beneficial in helping a Veteran find their way out of homelessness; we would first have to recognize where that deficit has occurred...

 

~ Personal Resources ~

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Relational Resources:

Significant people in a Veteran's life who have become a support system during tough times are a Relational resource; they are parents, family or friends with whom the Veteran has a healthy and positive relationships.  The potential for homelessness increases dramatically when these relational resources are unavailable.

 

Inner Resources:

This unique blend of individual characteristics that makes each person a "One-of-a-Kind" are known as Inner resources.  Temperament, IQ, morals, values and ethics are just a few of these resources.  When Inner resources are damaged or weakened as a result of poor relational resources, then homelessness becomes inevitable.

 

Physical Resources:

The assets that a Veteran owns and has control over—such as material possessions, or a savings accounts —are physical resources.  The amount of "Physical resources" that each Veteran has is determined largely by the quality of their relational and inner resources. The lack of these physical resources is a contributing factor of homelessness but is, instead, the outcome of faulty relational and/or inner resources.

 

~ Outside Resources ~

 

Any type of aid that is provided to a person by non-related sources such as government agencies, non-profit organizations or churches is an outside resource. These Veterans facing homelessness, at times, require outside resources to regain stability.  Yet, if a large amount of these physical resources are provided without addressing the Veteran’s inner and relational resources, then outside resources become an enabling factor that diminishes the Veteran’s will to move toward stability in the long run.

 

Veterans are homeless for a diverse number of reasons.  Unfortunately, there is not a "One-Size Fits All" solution to address all of these reasons.  Listed below are the Six Main Types of homelessness that we have identified in our work with the homeless.

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Homelessness (Short-Term):  When a traumatic event occurs, such as a house fire or natural disaster, people with positive relational, solid inner and sufficient material resources are able to recover in a short period of time; usually within 30 days.

 

Homelessness (Long-Term):  Much like Short-Term homelessness, the loss of a home is the result of an unforeseen event, except in this situation the people who are affected do not have material resources which lengthens the amount of time it takes to recover, sometimes up to 120 days. 

 

Mentally/Physically Limited (MPL) Homelessness:  The MPL Homeless population lacks both relational & inner resources due to mental or physical disability & must rely upon outside resources to provide the goods & services needed to sustain life.

 

Near Homelessness:  Those in the "Near Homeless" category have overextended their personal support systems, which keeps them on the brink of homelessness. Literally “one paycheck away from homelessness”, these Veterans cannot withstand any type of setbacks.  The loss of a job, a roommate, or vehicle can easily push them over the edge.

 

Self-Induced Homelessness:  Self-induced homeless Veterans reject their relational resources by refusing to cooperate or submit to any form of authority.  As a result, they are unable to maintain housing, employment or any type of productive relationship. 

 

Environmentally Dysfunctional Homelessness:  This segment of the homeless Veteran population has experienced a series of traumatic events, often a result of the toxic environment in which they were exposed.  Broken, dysfunctional or non-existent relational resources, that have been severely weakened their inner resources, make it almost impossible for them to sustain any physical resources needed for stability.  Combat Veterans fall into this type of homelessness when their Inner resources are unable to withstand the traumatic events of war.