By Maura Weber – Project Director
In October 2013 I was proud to be named the first project director of Legal Aid’s Veterans Relief Project. There are an estimated 1,400 homeless veterans in the Kansas City metro area. Many of these Veterans have legal problems impeding their ability to obtain or maintain stable housing. The Veterans Relief Project began with the idea that if we could help veterans overcome the legal barriers to stable housing, we can help the community get one step closer to ending veteran homelessness in the Kansas City area.
The majority of my clients are referrals from community partners. We work closely with the Kansas City VA Medical Center, the Salvation Army Kansas City, Catholic Charities of Kansas City – St. Joseph, and reStart, Inc. to identify veterans who are in need of legal assistance. In the year since I started working as project director I have assisted over sixty veterans with various legal problems. I also attend various community outreach and Stand Down events to meet with Veterans directly.
Ted served in the National Guard for five years. Unfortunately, his service did not qualify him to receive medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. He has ongoing mental health problems, some of which stemmed from being homeless for over 20 years. Ted was unable to obtain medical treatment because of his lack of insurance and inability to go to a VA Medical Center. Legal Aid’s Veterans Relief Project helped him obtain MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled. He is now receiving regular care, both mental and physical. The community partner who referred Ted to the Veteran Relief Project also helped Ted obtain stable housing, so he is now able to have a safe place to live in addition to obtaining important medical care.
Frank was referred to Legal Aid Veteran Relief Project by a community partner. His child support allotment was unduly high, making it difficult for him to afford rent and utilities in addition to his child support payments. Frank lost his job a year ago and had been unsuccessful finding a new one. Legal Aid represented Frank in court and reduced his monthly child support payments by more than half, which in turn helped him afford his monthly cost of living.
First Lady Michelle Obama, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced the creation of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. Kansas City Mayor Sly James has committed to this program and the goal of ending Veteran Homelessness in the Kansas City community by 2015. I am proud to support this goal and the area veterans.
Frank was referred to Legal Aid Veteran Relief Project by a community partner. His child support allotment was unduly high, making it difficult for him to afford rent and utilities in addition to his child support payments. Frank lost his job a year ago and had been unsuccessful finding a new one. Legal Aid represented Frank in court and reduced his monthly child support payments by more than half, which in turn helped him afford his monthly cost of living.
First Lady Michelle Obama, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced the creation of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. Kansas City Mayor Sly James has committed to this program and the goal of ending Veteran Homelessness in the Kansas City community by 2015. I am proud to support this goal and the area veterans.
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