Women Veterans and the plight of Homeless Women Veterans …who we are Presented to PA CARES By Sandra A. Miller, Director, Residential Facilities The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center

Women in the Military

Women have “officially” been serving on Active Duty since 1901 “Unofficially”, we have been serving since the American Revolution Women first recruited during the Civil War as nurses, without military status Army Nurse Corp was established in 1901 Navy Nurse Corp was established in 1908

Prior to the 1980s, women, by regulation, could only be 2% of total Active Force  Only 10% of that 2% could be Officers  Women Officers could not command men As of 2009, over 14% of current Active Forces are women  15% of Active Force are Women Officers  14% are Enlisted  20% of New Recruits are women

1980  First congressional hearings on sexual harassment in the military  DoD adopts Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines 2010  Problem still exists Not a “gender specific” issue Military Sexual Trauma

The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center Our mission is to provide employment, training, and related education services to all honorably discharged Veterans. Also, to provide social and human services counseling and referrals to less fortunate veterans experiencing barriers in finding their way back into the mainstream of society

Veterans Resource Assistance Veterans Benefits Counseling VA Disability Compensation Claims Emergency Food and Clothing Employment and Training Services –Computer Applications Training –Computer Repair A+ Certification Training –Targeted Training in the Green Economy for Female Veterans –Job Readiness Workshops –Job Search and Placement The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center

Homeless Veteran Services –The Perimeter – A Day Service Program –LZ II – A Male Veteran Transitional Residence –The Mary E. Walker House – A Female Veteran Transitional Residence –Subsidized Permanent Housing –Emergency Shelter Referrals –Homeless Advocacy Project –Legal Counseling Referrals The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center

The Mary E. Walker House Our mission is to offer a safe, supportive environment where Women Veterans stay, living in harmony with others, while they endeavor to attain personal growth and enhance life skills, in order to re-establish themselves as members of a community and regain ownership of their lives

The Mary E. Walker House Established through a VA Homeless Grant & Per Diem opened on January 3, 2005 Named after Dr. Mary E. Walker, the only woman to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor Women Veterans can stay for up to two years All female staff Case Management services to assist in developing and implementing action plans Ensure access to medical and mental health services, including gender related care and treatment

The Mary E. Walker House Facilitate outpatient aftercare consults and therapy with VA clinicians and therapists Increase budget understanding and increase savings Improve capacity for and/or quality of employment Assist with application for additional income such as Social Security, VA Pension or Compensation Discharge planning

The Mary E. Walker House Increase ability to access affordable permanent community housing Provide access to and encourage participation in programs that assist in addressing military sexual trauma, domestic violence, and sexual or physical abuse In keeping with Dr. Walker’s reply when told to give back her Medal of Honor, we try to teach the women to say “NO”

The Mary E. Walker House What’s In the Numbers

Age at Entrance FY10

Level of Education FY10

Branch of Service FY10

Era of Service FY10

Ethnicity FY10

Substance of Abuse FY10

Disposition of Discharge FY10

Length of Stay FY10

Voluntary Discharge FY10

Non-compliant Discharge FY10

Drug or Alcohol Discharge FY10

Mental Health Diagnosis FY10

Medical Diagnosis FY10

Challenges Women are coming in with more mental health issues They are “sicker” than their male counterparts With the upcoming, new veterans we anticipate a changing population  Child bearing age  Dependent children  Combat PTSD  Inpatient – “we want what we want and we want it now” mentality

The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center Sandy Miller, Director, Residential Services 1400 Blackhorse Hill Rd., LZ II, Building 6A Coatesville, PA Phone:(610) or (610)