Pasco organization reaching out to homeless veterans

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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Del, a homeless veteran, is one of the people the resource center hopes to help.

PASCO COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- On the day when the nation honors those who served in the military, a Pasco County organization is reaching out to homeless veterans.

The veterans will have the chance to shower, eat, get a hair cut and even some medical attention. For many of them, it's a relief from reality, and it's something the St. Jude's Homeless Veterans Resource Center wants to make permanent.

Right now, homeless veterans have to make several stops to get everything they need, but organizers at the resource center hope to change that some day soon by instituting one-stop shopping for veterans in Pasco County.

"What our hope is right now is to marry veterans with the right agencies, but someday we want to make sure that they have a one-stop center where we can pick them up at whatever levels and provide for them from point A to B to Z," said Morson Livingston, the founder of the resource center.

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Livingston said making it easier for veterans to get the services they need is the least his organization can do.

"It hurts because myself because I am a veteran and to think that someone who dedicated so much and served this nation doesn't have the basic necessities met is unforgiveable," he said.

Right now, Livingston said the center has no building or funds to house homeless veterans, but they are hoping to secure those funds in the coming months.

On Wednesday, the center is holding an event for homeless vets that will provide them with haircuts, showers and good food. The event started at 11 a.m. at St. Jude's, and it includes a flag ceremony and a barbecue. They are expecting about 500 people to show up.