THE SUB ZERO MISSION

RE-EMPOWER A HOMELESS VETERAN RE-EMPOWERING VETERANS OUR MISSION GOES FAR BEYOND PROVIDING WARM CLOTHING OR SIMPLY REFERRING INDIVIDUALS TO THE VA. AT THE SUB ZERO MISSION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY DELIVERING LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, RATHER THAN TEMPORARY RELIEF. WHILE WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY HELPED HOUSE 31 INDIVIDUALS, WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, ADDICTION, AND ISOLATION-ISSUES THAT OFTEN LEAD TO VETERANS RETURNING TO THE STREETS. IT'S CLEAR THAT LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES ADDRESSING THESE DEEPER CHALLENGES AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS BREAK FREE FROM THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD WITH THE HOMELESS VETERAN RE- EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (HVRP), OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED ON VETERANS DAY. THIS WASN'T BY CHANCE-VETERANS DAY SYMBOLIZES HONOR AND GRATITUDE, MAKING IT THE PERFECT OCCASION TO LAUNCH A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SERVE AND UPLIFT THOSE WHO'VE SERVED US. A DREAM REALIZED THE HVRP HAS BEEN A DREAM IN THE MAKING-16 YEARS OF DEDICATED WORK, INTENSIFIED FOCUS, AND PLANNING OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. HUNDREDS OF HOURS WERE SPENT MEETING WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS, CONSULTING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, DRAFTING DOCUMENTATION, CONDUCTING LEGAL REVIEWS, DELIVERING TRAINING, AND REFINING PROCESSES. NOW, THE SUB ZERO MISSION HAS TAKEN THE NEXT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY: A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T JUST KEEP VETERANS OFF THE STREETS BUT EMPOWERS THEM TO TRULY REBUILD THEIR LIVES-IF THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP ALONGSIDE US. THIS MILESTONE REPRESENTS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER IN THIS MISSION'S JOURNEY-A SEASON OF TRANSFORMATION, AND A POWERFUL STEP TOWARD HELPING THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH. WHAT WE KNOW THE VA OFFERS EXCELLENT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS, SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED EMPLOYEES WITH UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE. HOWEVER, ITS LARGE BUREAUCRACY OFTEN ALIENATES AND OVERWHELMS SOME VETERANS SEEKING HELP. THE SYSTEM CAN ALSO BE SLOW, AND WHAT IT LACKS IS A CONSISTENT, DIRECT OUTREACH PRESENCE THAT BRINGS RESOURCES TO VETERANS WHERE THEY ARE. MANY VETERANS STRUGGLE WITH SELF-CARE, NAVIGATING REPETITIVE PAPERWORK, OR ATTENDING APPOINTMENTS THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THEIR WORK. THE VETERANS WE ENCOUNTER ON THE STREETS HAVE OFTEN GIVEN UP ON THE VA, BRISTLING AT ITS MERE MENTION. FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, STEPPING ONTO THE PATH OF VA ASSISTANCE REQUIRES ENCOURAGEMENT AND DEDICATED SUPPORT. IN THE PAST, WE TRIED TO BRING VETERANS OFF THE STREETS, AND WHILE MANY SUCCESSES WERE INITIALLY ACHIEVED, THEY OFTEN RETURNED TO THEIR PRIOR CIRCUMSTANCES. HARD LESSONS WERE LEARNED-BUT THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE PLAN AS WE ENTERED THE SEASON, WE CAREFULLY DEFINED OUR OBJECTIVES AND CRAFTED AN EXECUTION PLAN BASED ON HUD DATA. KNOWING THERE WAS AN INCREASING HOMELESS POPULATION BUT A DECREASING NUMBER OF HOMELESS VETERANS, WE ANTICIPATED THAT FINDING VETERANS FOR THE PROGRAM WOULD BE MORE CHALLENGING. OUR APPROACH INVOLVED PHASED OUTREACH DURING THE SUB ZERO MISSION'S SEASON: 1.INITIAL PHASE: DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE SEASON, WE FOCUSED ON FINDING VETERANS IN THE STREETS, WOODS, BRIDGES, AND ALLEYS. 2.SECOND PHASE: IF THIS APPROACH DIDN'T RESULT, WE SEARCHED INTAKE SHELTERS LIKE 2100 LAKESIDE OR VALOR HOME AFTER MID-SEASON (AROUND FEBRUARY). THESE SHELTERS EVALUATE INDIVIDUALS AND ATTEMPT TO CONNECT VETERANS WITH RESOURCES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, WE ALSO WELCOMED REFERRALS FOR EVALUATION. EXECUTION OBJECTIVES FIRST OBJECTIVE: IDENTIFY VETERANS AMONG THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND CONFIRM THEIR VETERAN STATUS USING THE SQUARES SYSTEM. IF QUALIFIED, OFFER THE PROGRAM AND BRING THEM BACK AFTER THE OUTREACH MISSION TO ENROLL IN THE HOMELESS VETERAN RE-EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. SECOND OBJECTIVE: IF A VETERAN CANNOT BE CONFIRMED, REFUSES THE PROGRAM, OR DOES NOT QUALIFY, ENROLL THEM IN THE CONSTANT CONTACT PROCESS, MANAGED BY THE VETERAN OPERATIONS TEAM. THIRD OBJECTIVE: THROUGH CONSTANT CONTACT, WORK TOWARD BETTERMENT: "IF DEPENDENT ON THE VETERAN, ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THE TASK. "IF RELIANT ON EXTERNAL GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, ADVOCATE AND ACT TACTFULLY ON BEHALF OF THE VETERAN TO SECURE HOUSING. "PERSIST WITH PATIENCE AND ACCURACY TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES. BETTERMENT REPRESENTS MAKING MEANINGFUL, POSITIVE CHANGES THAT LEAD TO A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE AND MORE FAVORABLE OUTCOMES FOR THE VETERANS WE SERVE.