Hero of the Week: Operation Delta Dog - Saves Shelter Dogs and Trains them for Veterans with PTSD

There's an organization called Operation Delta Dog who helps shelter dogs AND Veterans! Their mission: “We rescue homeless dogs and train them to be service dogs for veterans living with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST)." How great is this?! Helping animals in need to help humans in need. To find how you can donate, get involved, or just find more info go to Operation Delta Dog’s website. Today's blog shares some information about the organization.

Operation Delta Dog  - https://operationdeltadog.org/

Two big problems, one great solution.

Our Mission Operation Delta Dog is 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization dedicated to reducing veteran suicide rates by rescuing homeless dogs and training them to be psychiatric service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and military sexual trauma (MST). By bringing together veterans and rescue dogs, we aim to provide healing, support, and a new lease on life for both.

Our Story Founded in 2010, Operation Delta Dog was born in attempt to alleviate the epidemic of Veteran suicides and overflowing animal shelters at the same time. We recognized the incredible bond between veterans and service dogs, and saw an opportunity to not only support veterans but also save dogs from high-kill shelters all over the country. Since then, we’ve trained countless dogs and helped numerous veterans regain their independence, peace, and quality of life.

What We Do We rescue dogs from shelters and train them to become highly skilled service dogs that assist veterans in their daily lives. Each dog is carefully matched with a veteran, and the training process is customized to meet the unique needs of both. Our program is provided at no cost to Veterans because we believe that they have given enough.

Our Impact Our work has directly impacted the lives of veterans dealing with symptoms of PTSD, TBI, and MST, helping them overcome challenges like anxiety, depression, and isolation. Veterans who graduate from our program report improvements in their quality of life, including better sleep, increased social engagement, and an overall reduction in PTSD, TBI, and MST symptoms.

Why Service Dogs? Service dogs provide more than just companionship. They are trained to perform specific tasks that help mitigate the symptoms of PTSD, TBI, and MST. From interrupting nightmares to providing a calming presence in stressful situations, these dogs offer life-changing support to their veterans.

How You Can Help There are many ways to get involved with Operation Delta Dog. Whether you donate, volunteer, or attend one of our fundraising events, your support directly impacts the lives of veterans and dogs in need. Explore our Get Involved page to find out how you can make a difference today!

WEBSITE: https://operationdeltadog.org/

GOOD NEWS! -Rhode Island Latest State Poised To End Veterans' Homelessness

    We have deep appreciation for the sacrifices and dedication shown by our veterans and active military men and women. Thank you for your service.

 As everyone has heard, Veterans have not been getting the care and attention they deserve, but there are things being done to correct that. This article from the Associated Press indicates that several states have already helped end veteran homelessness. It's a program between by both President Barack Obama's administration and Zero: 2016, a campaign run by the nonprofit group Community Solutions. Story below. 

Rhode Island Latest State Poised To End Veterans' Homelessness 

By MICHELLE R. SMITH Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rhode-island-veterans-homeless_563f938de4b0307f2cadd1d3?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

Posted: 11/08/2015 01:29 PM EST | Edited: 11/08/2015 01:37 PM EST

John Nordell via Getty Images
 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — For more than two years, Don Perrault lived without a home as the Vietnam veteran struggled with depression and personal setbacks that at one point left him with nothing to do but take a therapeutic 7-day walk to New Jersey — then walk back.

Now, after living out of a shelter where he shared a room with six other men, he has a home of his own under an ambitious push to wipe out homelessness among veterans in Rhode Island.

"It helps a little bit with your mind, your mental aspect," Perrault, 60, said. "It's hard for a person who is homeless to have dignity."

The efforts that have secured Perrault a newly renovated one-bedroom apartment — complete with new furniture and even a TV — for a rental voucher and $25 per month for rent and utilities are part of a national push to end homelessness among veterans by the end of the year. The goal has been spurred by both President Barack Obama's administration and Zero: 2016, a campaign run by the nonprofit group Community Solutions

In August, the federal government declared Connecticut the first state to end chronic homelessness among veterans. New Orleans, Houston and a handful of other communities have also reached the goal.

Nearly 50,000 veterans were homeless nationwide before the effort began, Community Solutions estimated.

Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Mexico, all part of the campaign, are on track to reach the veterans goal, said Community Solutions spokesman Adam Gibbs. One strategy all three states are using is a list of names, he said.

In Rhode Island, every person who comes into the homeless system is given a "vulnerability survey," which asks a series of questions about their history and assigns them a score based on how likely they are to die on the street. Then, advocates create a list of all the people who are homeless with the most vulnerable people listed on top, by name. 

A committee meets weekly and goes down the list to try to find housing for each person. If a person has a problem that's standing in the way of getting an apartment, such as a criminal record, the committee tries to come up with a solution.

The state is also using a "housing first" strategy, which prioritizes getting people into permanent housing, said Eric Hirsch, a professor of sociology at Providence College, who chairs the Zero: 2016 campaign in Rhode Island. In the past, people would be placed in temporary housing and have to get substance abuse or mental health counseling or jump through other hoops before getting a permanent place to live, Hirsch said.

Now, they get the apartment first and are then "surrounded" with services that they can then choose to use. Many decide on their own they want the help, he said. Hirsch said his research and research by others shows 85 to 95 percent of people placed in permanent housing were there a year later using this approach.

A big help has also been a dedicated stream of money from the state, and more money set aside for things like rental subsidies, said Jim Ryczek, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.

Advocates say they don't expect to eliminate homelessness completely, but that their goal is to make sure if people become homeless, they have a permanent home within weeks, rather than months or years.

Rhode Island advocates last year estimated that 4,067 Rhode Islanders used a homeless shelter at some time in 2014, out of a population of around 1 million people.

The Zero: 2016 program's next goal is to end chronic homelessness in a several states and cities by the end of next year.

In Rhode Island, the project will be using the same model they have used for veterans. They have already found homes for 176 chronically homeless people since January, out of an estimated 400 chronically homeless. They also plan to focus on housing families.