Veterans Need More Than Homes – One Disruptor is Taking a New Approach

California, at 28 percent, has the largest number of homeless veterans in the country. Florida is the next largest, but the state is a distant second with less than a third of that number.(1) The causes are complex and varied, from substance abuse to mental illness among others, which means that simply finding homes for these unfortunate people is falls short of the solution to the problem. And they range far beyond California – across the nation, more than 37 thousand veterans have been experiencing homelessness according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Homeless Assessment Report.(2) Large, complex problems require complex solutions that tackle the issues from a holistic point of view, from different angles – have the greatest chance at effectively eliminating veteran homelessness permanently.  

Nick Saifan is the chairman of Vendaval Corporation, a firm dedicated to serving the youth, adults, and veterans of his community through free programs. When it comes to veterans specifically, Nick stays apprised of the affordable housing situation in his home state – it’s now at crisis level – which is especially dire for veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life and work. A veteran himself, Nick is keenly aware that veterans face a variety of unique challenges with housing being the biggest. His organization is taking a unique approach that eschews the single-program approach for an all-encompassing one he hopes others will emulate – wholly self-sustaining, mixed-use communities.  

To bring its projects to fruition, Vendaval knew that he would need cooperation across many organizations--local governments, not-for-profits, and retailers--all would be necessary. Nick took his cause to his local legislators, convincing them of the efficacy of high-density housing, which paved the way for Vendaval’s project to go forward. This endeavor would include not just multiple housing units but also free services and retail establishments. Services will include life transition counseling, job placement programs, and on-the-job training. The businesses that move in would have the incentive to hire residents, which would, in turn, provide income to residents, putting them in a position to give back to the community. In so doing, Vendaval's goal is to create an entire community that can take care of itself by taking care of its people.  

Nick Saifan and Vendaval have successfully pushed the idea that homelessness is a problem that is symptomatic of a bevy of issues. His holistic approach, far different from the single-issue approach that only handles a specific aspect of the crisis, is solving this societal problem by enlisting many organizations into a single focus that addresses all parties’ particular goals. It’s his unique approach of all-around cooperation – partnerships that benefit all – that is making the difference. 

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Sources 

1. Bush, Helen. “Despite decline, US military veteran homelessness persists in California.” TheDefensePost, 11 January 2019, thedefensepost.com/2019/01/11/us-military-veteran-homeless-california/.
2. The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. Retrieved 21 October 2021, huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2020-AHAR-Part-1.pdf