Bill Would Give Medals For Veterans Hurt By Agent Orange

From The Desk Of Congressman Jefferson Van Drew

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Van Drew (R-2nd) introduced the Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal Act alongside his colleague, Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), to honor our nation’s veterans who have suffered from long-term side effects from Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

“Exposure to Agent Orange has left thousands of brave veterans with lifelong

Crisis:

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Everything from food to clothing to toiletry items is supplied to families who move into the housing provided by Family Promise. The expectation is that clients will limit their spending to personal cell phone bills and car insurance payments.

“Right now, our host sites are from Waretown to Little Egg Harbor,” said Golla. “To become part of the program, someone either has to have reliable transportation of their own or have a friend that will drive them. I’ve had someone tell me they needed to ride their bike every day, and I was fine with that as long as they could get around for the whole time they were in the program.”

Participants in the temporary housing part of the program generally begin with 30 days of assurances they will have a roof over their heads. During that time, case managers help set and achieve goals for the immediate future. Those who use drugs or alcohol are not accepted as part of the Family Promise model. Failure to comply with the contracted rules can result in removal from the program.

Future affordability for housing acts as an essential concept as those provided services need some kind of income to get out on their own. This could include a job, Social Security benefits or a pension.

“The market has been extremely challenging when it comes to finding housing,” Golla acknowledged. “The average family is in with us for three to six months until health impacts. Honoring the sacrifices they made in the defense of democracy right here at home, and across the world, is the least our country can do,” said Congressman Van Drew. “As members of Congress, it is our duty to continue supporting and honoring these veterans, and ensure that their contributions do not go unnoticed. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to recognize these selfless individuals, and I thank Congressman Courtney for joining me in leading this effort.”

“The PACT Act made some long-awaited progress in extending care and benefits to thousands of newly qualified veterans im- they finally get into some kind of housing.”

Family Promise has the ability to accept four or five families at the same time. Those seeking transitional shelter from the non-profit must show evidence that they want to get out of their situation. At least one family member must be a child under the age of 18 in order to qualify for the program. Buses transport students to their previous school districts for a feeling of continuity.

A Family In Transition: Shakira, Xavier and their children Shakira, Xavier and their children became homeless after a gas leak and rodent infestation deemed their apartment uninhabitable.

Family members initially took in the couple and their two sons and two daughters, aged 11, 7, 6 and 3. Shakira felt helpless as she continued to look for alternative housing options and learned of Family Promise from Ocean County Social Services.

“They were the only ones who called me back,” said Shakira. “The kids were still in their old school, and it was far to go back and forth from West Creek. The case manager told me the only way it would work is if we moved the kids to schools down here. I basically didn’t have any other choice.”

Shakira and her family were accepted into the Family Promise program at the end of January. Sundays are moving days as the six stay together to move on from church to church for overnight accommodations.

Some of the churches cook them meals at a set dinner hour. Other times, the family pacted by Agent Orange during the course of their service, but there’s still much more that needs to be done to ensure that every veteran gets the care they deserve. While we press that work forward, we should ensure we’re doing all we can to support and express our nation’s gratitude towards veterans with established Agent Orange service-connected injuries. The Agent Orange Service Medal Act would take a big step towards doing that, and would help provide America’s veterans and their families with a tangible token of our nation’s enduring gratitude for their service and sacrifices. I’m glad to join Congressman Van Drew as a co-sponsor of this bipartisan bill, and I will never stop working to provide our veterans and their families with the full range of heads to the Day Center where they can sit at the table in a regular kitchen that feels like home.

Meanwhile, the quest for new living quarters hasn’t been an easy one. The family is on waiting lists for some complexes and having a difficult time finding affordable housing. Market rate rentals start at $2,300$2,400 and even the less than optimal homes are scooped up quickly.

“Family Promise has really been here to open some doors for us,” Shakira said. “Because of them, my family and I have shelter. We have somewhere warm to stay, somewhere we can take a shower, and although it may not be ours, it feels like it is. I am so grateful for that.”

Ocean County’s Homeless Numbers regarding the extent of homelessness may be grossly underestimated. A statewide snapshot of 2022 counts appeared in a report prepared for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. The numbers at that time estimated a total of 6,663 homeless households, many with children under age 18. Ocean County’s homeless population comprised approximately 5 percent of the state’s total count at the beginning of last year.

Homelessness is a plight that can afflict families due to an array of unpredictable and often unfortunate circumstances. For instance, the very foundation of people’s lives can be uprooted if a landlord decides to sell or loses ownership through foreclosure. Similarly, an unexpected illness or injury