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Our Village, Our News
OCTOBER 4, 2012
Vol. 6 No. 12
Resident makes Capitol Move Bolingbrook resident speaks in Washington D.C. on behalf of veterans By Laura Katauskas Staff Reporter
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elieving it is everyone’s duty to pay back those who have given their service to the country and to every citizen as a result, Bolingbrook resident Eileen Higgins brought her message to Washington D.C. With her background as vice president of Housing Services for Catholic Charities, Higgins traveled with U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert late last month to a legislative hearing on “Housing for Heroes: Examining How Federal Programs Can Better Serve Veterans.” “Our veterans did a service to our country—it is time for us to do our service for our veterans,” said Higgins, who said she traveled to Washington not only to represent Catholic Charities, but because she personally believes it is her responsibility, the responsibility of the government and each
individual to step up and offer veterans the help they need. “Catholic Charities helps veterans at a time when they have reached bottom and we are fighting to have the resources to help them climb back out,” Higgins said. She said it is important to note, that this is a journey— one in which she has walked and will walk with veterans, ensuring they are not lost in the shuffle, not giving up after a point in the right direction and not walking away until that person has a job and a home. “Some of our veterans have issues and become less attractive in that they are homeless or have become incarcerated at times,” Higgins said. “Some may have a deeper, longer journey and we need to stick with them.” And that takes resources. In a hard hit economy, those resources are constantly being cut. Higgins and two veterans, who were formerly homeless,
Submitted Photo
Bolingbrook resident Eileen Higgins traveled to Washington D.C. with U.S. Rep Judy Biggert
spoke to Congress on behalf of the military. Higgins explained her concerns: few affordable housing options, low-paying jobs, and lack of access to mental and physical health care and support. Veterans facing homelessness may have experienced many
conflict-related injuries, both physical and psychological. Reentry to civilian life is often impeded, and the veteran experiences a downward spiral into homelessness. Additionally, employment can be challenging, due to both the current economic climate, as well as the need for training
and transferable skills to enter the civilian workforce. The obstacles that non-profit entities and other service providers face in helping homeless and low-income Veterans secure housing assistance and services from See VETERANS, page 5