Real Innovation for Homeless Vets

Hey, this here is some real innovation reaching out to homeless veterans, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the JBJ Soul Foundation Chairman, and Jon Bon Jovi. (I think the latter is a rocker, right?)

It's about Project REACH (Real-time Electronic Access for Caregivers and the Homeless) and five finalists have just been announced.

I'll be helping judge those finalists, and the results will be announced during the Health Data Initiative Forum in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS).

One out of every six men and women in our nation's homeless shelters are veterans, and veterans are 50 percent more likely to fall into homelessness compared to other Americans.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki said:

"To achieve our goal to end Veteran homelessness, it is vitally important that we capitalize on innovative ideas from the public and private sector. The developer community has responded quickly and creatively to harness technology to meet the needs of homeless Veterans and their providers."

 

Follow Craig Newmark on Twitter: www.twitter.com/craignewmark

Comments

[Katy Mcdowell]

11:02 PM on 06/07/2012

It would be nice to not go to war in the first place and use all that money for our economy and veterans. I think the government should support the vets when they get back with all they are facing. We work with vets and its like pulling teeth for them to get their promised benefits

[rejco]

10:01 AM on 06/07/2012

The homeless veterans already know where the "Jesus Saves" missions shelters are; and they stay as far away from them as they can....THOSE PLACES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH "JESUS".

[AngelaPeacock]

04:20 AM on 06/07/2012

Found this on "Project Reach" http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2278 I can see this "mobile app" helping in finding resources but I must admit I'm a little flabergasted as to why the VA thinks MOST actual homeless vets actually have smart phones to use this app. Trust me, I know many of them, personally, and nope most of them don't have smart phones, let alone regular cell phones.

[AngelaPeacock]

04:13 AM on 06/07/2012

I agree with Charlie below. What are the project's missions and what kind of innovation?? I'm dying to know if any of the judges have been homeless veterans themselves and what about the PREVENTION aspect???

[Solomon Williams]

08:04 PM on 06/06/2012

The National Homeowners Association in partnership with BidWilly is taking steps to help homeless vets through a grant we hope to receive. We would employ 4,000 vetsvwith your help.

Please help us qualify by taking 60 secs to do the following:

Step 1: Go to www.missionsmallbusiness.com
Step 2: Log in with your Facebook account
Step 3: Search for 'BidWilly' in Orlando, FL and Vote!

[CharlieQuimby]

07:36 PM on 06/06/2012

This post doesn't have any actual content. Get back to us when you can describe the projects.