Resident Willie Lebron is starting a group for Latino veterans that will meet at Soldier On once a week to discuss issues that affect the Latino community.
NORTHAMPTON — Willie Lebron spends most of his days at Soldier On in Leeds encouraging fellow residents, specifically Latino veterans who might not speak English.
“I make them feel welcome,” he said.
Lebron is one of 500 veterans per year who come through Soldier On, a transitional program for homeless veterans that provides them with case management and referral services, as well as temporary financial assistance and permanent housing.
“Sustainable and affordable housing for formerly homeless vets is one of our major goals,” said John Crane, the director of case management for Soldier On.
In 2010, the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community was built in Pittsfield. The idea of such communities is to allow veterans who have successfully completed programs at Soldier On to become homeowners within a community of veterans.
“We currently have 39 veterans who own homes in the Pittsfield veterans community, and they will receive the benefits and services they need for the rest of their lives while living among fellow veterans,” said John Downing, president of Soldier On.
Funding for such projects as well as all of the programs offered by the organization come from a variety of sources including the state Department of Veterans Services, the Department of Labor, the Northampton Division of Housing and Urban Development, the Veterans Administration and private donations. In fiscal year 2012 the organization had a budget of $7.5 million to help veterans.
Downing said the ultimate goal is to create more ownership units across the state and then the country that would allow veterans to receive all of their benefits while living in a stable environment.
“About 85 percent of the veterans we serve are dealing with substance abuse, 80 percent have mental health issues, and more than 70 percent are dual diagnosed,” Downing said.
Only 17 percent of homeless veterans have valid driver's licenses, which Downing said sets them up for failure.
“The expectations are for a veteran to make it four to five appointments a week using public transportation in urban or semi-rural areas of Western Massachusetts, and if they can’t keep the appointments, many agencies give up and won’t help them.”
Downing said the programs at the facility are meant to give veterans a sense of self-respect, dignity and hope, regardless of their mental, emotional or physical conditions and regardless of race or ethnicity.
Lebron said that although he wishes there were more Latino staff members, the current staff makes an effort to make Latino veterans welcome.
He is starting a group for Latino veterans that will meet at Soldier On once a week to discuss issues that affect the Latino community.
“When you get here after being on the street, you have nothing, no hope, but after being here, you are stabilized mentally emotionally,” he said. “They are here to help you, but you have to be ready to make the change.”
George Hinckley, Soldier On’s vice president of treatment and services, said Lebron is an example of what the facility wants to do for each resident.
“They have to deal with the substance abuse and mental issues, as well as get training in social skills, then get employment and housing and hopefully come back to participate in peer groups,” he said “There is a sense of credibility that comes from a workshop or a group session led by someone who has been in the same situation. Our most successful groups are led by former residents.”
Lebron’s case worker, Frank Kolasinski, is another example of success. He was a resident at the facility several years ago and was able to successfully complete the program, go back to school and return to work at Solider On helping veterans who are in the same situation he was in.
Kolasinski said he tries to help residents deal with all of the issues that brought them to the facility, whether they are mental, physical or emotional.
“Many of them feel broken and powerless. We try to create an environment where they can succeed if they are ready to,” he said.
The facility treats almost 300 veterans daily and not all of them live on campus.
“We have veterans that just come to participate in a particular group, which is what we are hoping will happen with Willie’s group,” Hinckley said. “People don’t have to come here just because they are in need of housing. We also have many other programs to benefit veterans."