Employing homeless Veterans: We all have a job to do

VA can provide homeless Veterans with a wide range of services, but employers need to provide them with a chance.

Only 1% of Americans can say that their job was to wear our nation’s uniform. Whether a Veteran served stateside or abroad, in an airplane or a submarine, their role was clear: protect and defend America.

Yet transitioning to civilian life and finding another role can be difficult, especially for Veterans experiencing housing insecurity.

This month on Ending Veteran Homelessness, Carma Heitzmann, national director for Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services (HVCES) with VA, joins us to discuss what VA is doing to connect Veterans to meaningful employment and the relationship between employment and homelessness.

Listen to “S1EP6: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” on Spreaker.

Applying compassion

There is a common misconception that individuals experiencing homelessness could improve their circumstances if they “just got a job.”

It’s true. Steady employment serves as a critical protective factor against homelessness, provides financial stability and helps prevent substance use. Jobs can also help Veterans find a renewed sense of purpose in civilian life and feel more connected to their community, both critical factors in preventing suicide.

However, the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality that so often prevails in American society overlooks much deeper, often invisible challenges.

Finding a job can feel like a full-time job in itself. From crafting resumes and cover letters to finding professional attire and a method of transportation, a Veteran must have a significant amount of time, resources and support to succeed in a fast-moving and competitive job market.

VA ready with support

Mastering this checklist can feel overwhelming for anyone, but for individuals experiencing homelessness, it can be nearly impossible. Jobs often require an individual to have two forms of identification, a mailing address, and a bank account—items often lost or unobtainable for the homeless population.

“It can be really daunting,” Heitzmann expressed.

But Veterans need not face the job market alone. Heitzmann and her team are standing by, ready to help Veterans experiencing homelessness with whatever support, resources and training they may need to find their next mission.

An individualized approach

“Our staff are located at almost every VA medical center. Their role is to help meet Veterans where they are and figure out what needs to happen for that Veteran to get back in the workforce,” said Heitzmann, urging all Veterans to explore the resources available to them.

And while many Veterans experiencing homelessness may experience similar barriers to employment, VA Community Employment Coordinators (CECs) never assume every Veteran needs the same type of support.

“We really take a very individualized approach,” said Heitzmann, listing the types of questions CECs ask Veterans to better understand their employment goals. “What would you like to do? Where do you see yourself working? Do you want to work inside? Do you want to work outside?”

CECs help Veterans prepare for interviews, find positions they are interested in and translate their existing skillsets—either from the military or previous jobs—to be applicable in their new role. They can provide Veterans with a wide range of services but, most importantly, Veterans still need employers to provide them with a chance.

A higher calling: hire a Veteran

“Employment can’t happen in a vacuum,” said Heitzmann. While VA is a primary employer of Veterans across the country, community partners are essential in offering Veterans a wider range of job opportunities. Heitzmann encourages all employers to consider—and prioritize—Veteran applicants.

If a Veteran has gaps in their resume, don’t dismiss them. Instead, ask them about their experience reintegrating into civilian life. Employers can recognize that even if the past few years have been challenging for a Veteran, they are demonstrating remarkable perseverance and vulnerability just by applying.

And if a Veteran’s previous experience does not seem to align perfectly with a job description on paper, ask a Veteran how their experience has prepared them for the role. What prior experience could be more telling of an individual’s ability to think on their feet and solve problems than providing medical care to wounded soldiers in a combat zone or emergency care to victims of natural disasters?

Perhaps the first step is saying “thank you.”

Is there any civilian job that automatically signals one’s loyalty, selflessness and willingness to be a team player as much as serving in the military does?

“The simplest thing to do is to be willing to give a Veteran a second chance, or a third chance,” said Heitzmann.

For our Veterans who have given us all the freedom to pursue our own dreams, extending an employment offer is perhaps the first step in saying “thank you.”

Resources

• Host a Veteran Employment Event Using VA’s Event-in-a-Box
• Explore the Ending Veteran Homelessness Employment Toolkit
• Find your local Community Employment Coordinator
• Understanding the VA Income and Benefits Calculator
• Learn more about VA resources to help homeless Veterans