A message from the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services
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MBVS Mobile Homeless
Veterans’ Stand Downs
 With winter fast approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to change the way society can interact in Maine, it has become clear that homeless Veterans need resources now more than ever. To help combat this issue, the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS) will be hosting a series of Mobile Homeless Veterans' Stand Downs throughout the state.
On November 3, the Bureau and partner agencies (VA Maine Healthcare System Homeless Veterans Program, Bangor Vet Center and Mobile Unit, Easterseals Maine, Maine Veterans in Need, Operation Brotherhood, Bangor VFW, Old Town and Bangor Elks Lodges, the Tri-County CareerCenter, and Veterans, Inc.) hosted the first of four Stand Downs,
working with eight Bangor-area homeless veterans and two of their spouses to provide connection to the VA, non-perishable food items, connection to employment, winter clothing, and
a hot meal.
Many thanks to the Maine Department of Transportation for the use of their traffic cones, The Tri-County CareerCenter allowing the event to set up in their parking lot, the Bangor Police Department for technical assistance, Old Town Elks Lodge for delivering a trailer full of non-perishable food items, Maine Veterans in Need for helping coordinate the event, the Bangor VFW for providing a donation of winter gear, 222 Cares for the donation of non-perishable food boxes, Operation Brotherhood for handing out bags of food and personal items, and the Bangor Elks for manning the grill to provide a hot meal during the event.
As we move into December, three more Stand Downs will be held in the following locations from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lewiston Vet Center on December 1; Deering Oaks Park in Portland on December 8, and at the Sanford Vet Center on December 15. All CDC guidelines will be observed for these walk-through events.
For more information or to donate to the event, please contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services Homeless Veterans Team at 207-446-0168 or email rebecca.labonte@maine.gov
and help us assist Maine’s most vulnerable veterans get back on their feet.
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Partner Agencies Working
Together to Make a Difference
 Traditionally, homelessness has often been a forgotten aspect of poverty. Pushed out of sight and out of mind. The image of the stereotypical homeless person living in the street is no longer viable, as one can be considered homeless for a variety of reasons – living in their vehicle, a tent, a camper, in a non-winterized building, or staying with family and friends. In Maine pre-pandemic, we averaged 100 identified homeless Veterans on the by-name list per month. Post-pandemic, we are averaging 140, now that many more Veterans remain uncounted, and in some cases this includes their spouse
and children.
There are also many Veterans who are at risk, meaning one financial event, such as the loss of employment or reliable vehicle to get them to their job may push them into homelessness. You may ask, “What is being done to combat this issue?” One answer is the Bureau’s Homeless Veterans Coordinator, Jarad Greeley, an Iraq War Veteran, and his colleague Rebecca LaBonte. Together, they oversee the Bureau’s mission to advocate for homeless veterans in all of Maine’s 16 counties.
Almost constantly on the go and responding to referrals, Greely recently secured a large donation of non-perishable food, from the President of 222 Cares, Rob Jones, that is being distributed at the Stand Downs. Whether they receive a report of a homeless Veteran camping outside in freezing temperatures or of a Veterans’ family living in a camper with no heat, LaBonte and Greeley, provide compassionate and forthright advocacy to Maine’s homeless Veterans’ community. The MBVS Homeless Team works closely with Maine's other veteran-centric organizations to help combat Veterans' homelessness.
Another tool in the Bureau’s toolbox is the Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance Program (VEFAP), which was created to aid Maine Veterans who suffer an emergency and do not have sufficient savings or access to other financial assistance to resolve the emergency. Examples of assistance may include: Damage to the veterans home due to fire, flood or hurricane that is not covered by insurance; Illness of the veteran or family member that results in hardship; assistance to prevent or resolve the veteran being homeless; and any other condition that puts the veteran at risk of not having the basic necessities of food, shelter, or safety. For more information, or to request financial assistance, please contact one of the following organizations:
EasterSeals Maine
207-828-0754 ext. 1004
www.easterseals.com/maine
American Legion
207-873-3229
www.mainelegion.org
Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services
207-430-6035
www.maine.gov/veterans
MBVS partners with Maine Veterans in Need, a volunteer organization that has set up a network across the state to provide homeless veterans with the essential provisions necessary for day-to- day living – food, clothes, and home furnishings when housing is located for them.
The Bureau also sits on the Homeless Veterans Action Committee (HVAC), a group of Maine-based organizations working together to not only identify Veterans, but to connect them to services. By creating a network that actively communicates, advocates for the best use of resources, and holds a shared vision - notable strides have been made to effectively interact with homeless Veterans and provide them with a means to access stable housing.
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What’s Happening
December 1 – Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the Lewiston Vet Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
December 8 - Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down at Deering Oaks Park in Portland from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
December 14 - A Wreaths Across America State House Ceremony will be held outdoors from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and will feature the Maine National Guard, Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, American Legion Post 20, and Patriot Riders Chapter 2.
December 15 - Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the Sanford Vet Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Wreaths Across America Update - Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Southern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery Wreaths Across America (WAA) coordinator, the Maine Chapter of Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, has decided not to hold a public event this year due to Covid-19. Per Rolling Thunder, Wreaths Across America will transfer all wreaths ordered for 2020 to the 2021 event. The Northern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery event is being coordinated by the VFW and will not be inviting the public. The Augusta Cemeteries will be holding an abbreviated and unpublicized Augusta wreath laying.
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