Homeless veterans in Ottawa get helping hand

A couple of months ago, Sgt.-Maj.Jason Pickard noticed two homeless men sittingoutside National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He stopped totalk to themand discovered bothwere former soldiers.

Pickardwas shocked.

"There's no need for themto be on the streetand sitting right outside our NDHQ," he said.

The plight of those veterans inspiredPickardto volunteer withVeteran Emergency Transition Services, or VETS, a national organization that recently set up a chapter in Ottawa. More than 30 volunteershave signed on to help.

Retired lieutenant-general Walter Semianiw, the formercommander of Canadian Forces in Afghanistan,helped startthe the Ottawa chapter of VETSlate last fall.

He said the organization's primary goal is to get former soldiers off the street and into temporary, emergency housing, usually an extended-stay hotel.

The organizationprovides the former soldierswith food, warm coats andboots. Then volunteers focus on finding the veteranspermanent housingand steady employment.

Rock bottom

CBC spoke with one of the former soldiers helpedby VETS in Ottawa.

I walked in the door and broke down and cried.- Veteran helped by VETS

The man, who did notwant to be named, said after his marriage failed and he ran into financial difficulties, and that he was living at the Salvation Army's downtown hostel.

He said hehad hit "rock bottom"when volunteers from theorganization approached him and offered to help get him off the street.

"I was a little skeptical at first," he said, adding that he decided accept their offer to help him find arent-free apartment.

"I walked in the door, and broke down and cried," the former veteran said.

The mannow has a job building homes for a local contractor, andis saving up money forhis own apartment.

Some facing PTSD, addictions

Semianiw said some veterans suffer from more complicated issues, including post-traumatic stress disorderand drug and alcohol addictions, so it may take longer to convince some of them to get off the street.

He said even if a veteran refuses free housing, VETS will still provide peer support and counselling.

The group receivesfunding from Veterans Affairs and private donations.

VETS has so far helped 10 former soldiers in Ottawa, and volunteers said that as long as there are veterans facing life on the street, they'll be there to offer a helping hand.