(Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) initiative and looks to foster collaboration and information sharing between groups to work towards ending Veteran homelessness. 

Coatesville VA’s Executive Medical Center Director, Jennifer Harkins, opened the event by welcoming community services agencies, local Veteran advocacy groups, stakeholders, county VA representatives, and local political representatives from Chester, Montgomery and Delaware County. 

“We are very proud of the services we provide here in collaboration with the community. We appreciate the support of all the community partners in all three counties who attended the summit today. It truly is important for everyone to work together to provide the best care and support to this nation’s heroes, especially when it comes to our efforts to end Veteran homelessness.”

 
Coatesville VA has housed nearly 600 Veterans through Housing and Urban Development -Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH).

During the summit, homeless outreach social workers from the VA shared the needs of homeless Veterans, identified the barriers they face in obtaining permanent housing, and talked about the work done to resolve those barriers through planning and cooperative action.

Since 2022, Coatesville VA has housed nearly 1,000 formerly homeless Veterans. So far this year, they have housed 132 Veterans. 

A new feature on the agenda introduced by Nicole Chalfant, Acting HUD-VASH Supervisor at Coatesville VA, was a round of community partner speed dating. Representatives spent a few minutes talking about their mission, services, the populations they serve, and their referral process. These quick conversations not only provide introductions but also help them identify gaps in services so they can make better informed referrals.

“It went over much better than the typical briefing format. We’ve gotten really good feedback, and everyone got to ask the questions that will potentially improve how each of us responds the next time we approach a homeless individual.” 

CaTray Parker, a Veteran who served in the Army as a machine gunner, shared his story with attendees. After his service, he went on to a career in maintenance, where his housing was tied to his employment. When he lost his job, he had 30 days to clear out his housing. 

“I was in survival mode. I was thinking about the day-to-day. Waiting for the sheriff to knock on my door and tell me I have to go.”

Approaching the end of those 30 days, he filled out the pre-appointment survey at the VA and found himself marking yes on the question “Are you at risk of becoming homeless?” 

“Within a day, they had a lady reach out to me and put me in touch with the homeless outreach program.” That’s when he met Gina Lucchesi, a Coatesville VA social worker. “She was great. Next thing you know, she just started working the program.” 

Lucchesi helped him identify what mattered to him most and think about the long-term goals he wanted to achieve. “I’m in school now for the IT stuff that I wanted to be doing. I have a place. I live 5 minutes from my daughter, so I can walk her to school every day. This program has been nothing but a blessing.”

Veterans or family members seeking immediate 24/7 assistance for a Veteran at risk of being homeless are strongly encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.