“We shall only pass through this life but once, we have honored ourselves and

our families in defending our country and now we need to help our fellow comrades

let us not defer or neglect it, as we shall never pass this way again”.

Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing

Why the DVCH was started and when

American service members face many challenges, both on active duty and after. One of those challenges may be physical disability of some type. And for service members and veterans, in order to classify the disabled, the Armed Forces and Veterans Administration assigns a specific percentage of disability. These disabilities ratings play a critical role in determining which benefits are available to the disabled person.

John S. Lewandowski, the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) Founder/Chairman of the Board is a 100% disabled veteran. His 100% rating is based on the loss of use of his lower extremities due to a service connected injury. And like many veterans confronted with injury, he didn’t know where to turn. It became almost impossible for John to get around his home, so he had to turn to outside help. Little did he know how expensive and time consuming it became, taking more than 2 ½ years to secure a contractor, a contractor that would not take advantage of the special needs construction and accomplish the work at reasonable prices, so in June 2008 he started the DVCH to assist and help our men and women in uniform.

What he did discover is that the Department of Veterans Affairs has a special program for veterans with specific categories of injuries due to service connected injury or illness. He found that if eligible by the VA’s Rating Board, he could have a home built for himself and his family.

To facilitate a comprehensive program that is aimed to be providing affordable and

accessible housing choices for disabled veterans and the at-risk veterans

and their families throughout Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic states. To serve

the veterans who served our country with pride and honor, but returned

home with a debilitating injury and/or are disabled. With the current economy,

we use rapid rehousing program so their homes, utilities, any issues that they

will face not to be homeless. We are seeking to get all veterans and their families

off the streets. Our vision for the future is to utilize available programs such as

VA housing loans, federal and state grants, and other permanent financing tools

to assist veterans in their efforts to realize a dream of obtaining a new, accessible

home and becoming INDEPENDENT once again.

DVCH’s Mission Statement

Who do we Serve

Categories of Specially Adapted Housing Applicants

The following special categories:

• Debilitating injury such as loss of or loss of use of lower extremities • Loss of or loss of use of upper extremities (paraplegic and

quadriplegic)• A need for braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair because of

either:

1. SC loss, or loss of use, of one leg plus SC loss, or loss of use,

of one upper limb, or2. SC loss, loss of use, of one leg plus disabling symptoms

of another SC physical disease or injury.

• Severe burns over greater than 70% of their bodies • Blindness• TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)• ALS and others...

Veterans in the NSVR Area

NSVR - Northern Shenandoah Valley RegionThe State of Virginia presently has 822,300 veterans• Men – 730,000• Women – 92,000

The Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Area:• Frederick County – 7,040• City of Winchester – 1,699• Clarke County – 1, 364• Page County – 2,267• Warren County – 3, 817• Shenandoah County – 4,361

TOTAL: 20, 548

Homeless Veterans in our Region

The result is a group of homeless veterans where 70% have a history of combat exposure with its psychological effects, says Pete Dougherty, a senior policy adviser on homelessness at the VA.

Among all homeless veterans, perhaps 20% to 33% were in combat, he says.

Homeless vets: Number of U.S. veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are homeless or in programs to prevent homelessness:

2006: 1,297 2007: 2,167 2008: 3,495 2009: 5,881 2010: 9,750 2011: 10,476 (through May)

About 13% are women

Source: Department of Veterans Affairs

2012 – 2013 StatisticsVeterans are defined as anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, whether wartime or peacetime. Veterans commonly eligible for VA services include: • Older veterans • Combat veterans • Any veteran who became disabled in the service • Any female or male veteran with military sexual trauma • Younger indigent veterans with an honorable, general or medical discharge • Younger disabled veterans The veterans are predominately African-American and male. Many are aging; however, younger male and female veterans are increasingly utilizing medical services here, especially since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began. Many have multiple medical and psychiatric problems. Some of our veterans have college or graduate degrees, but the majority have a high school degree or less education. There are more female veterans here than at most VA’s. Many of our female veterans are single parents. Common psychological problems include combat trauma, sexual trauma, depression, personality disorders, a myriad of anxiety disorders, and psychosis. Many veterans have addictions and may be dually diagnosed. Our veterans often display remarkable resilience and resourcefulness under very difficult circumstances. They are generally open about their problems and honest with themselves about their need for help.

Women Veterans with DisabilitiesWomen who are wounded in action might suffer amputation, traumatic brain injury,

or other debilitating conditions that need rehabilitation. Many more will likely have mental health needs. In 2006 and 2007, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were among the three most diagnosed conditions for women veterans using Veteran's Administration (VA) health care.

Serving in a combat unit also is extremely stressful. For one, soldiers face the risk of death or life-changing injury. Being shot at, seeing others get hurt or killed, and perhaps needing to wound or kill others are sources of combat stress. Long-term separation from loved ones and family also can be a source of stress.

Women soldiers also are at high risk of military sexual trauma (MST). MST is any sexual harassment or sexual assault that occurs in the military. In fact, 23 in 100 women using VA health care reported sexual assault in the military. And 55 in 100 women reported sexual harassment. MST can affect a woman's mental and physical health, even many years later.

Stress reactions that contribute to PTSD, depression, or other mental health issues can make it very hard to return to "life as usual." The VA has many programs to help men and women veterans recover from war-related injury and trauma, including PTSD and MST.

In 2020, an estimated 1.9 million veterans will be women. Some of these women veterans will have disabling conditions that result from their military service.

The service that DVCH provides does not cost veterans one penny. The service is cost-free to qualifying veterans. That service includes vetting organizations and companies to ensure they meet all the qualifications required for the type of work required.

The vendors or organizations include:• Real Estate agents/certified home counselors and funding institutions• Financial institutions that handle all the matters of financing the project• Builder(s) approved by the Veterans Affair Special Adapted Housing Section. This is extremely important as they know the proper housing requirements. • Administrative staff to take care of all the paperwork that is involved with a service of this type• The local Department of Veterans Affair medical facility to schedule a home visit to see what medical equipment they supply to the veteran, at no cost to the veteran.

DVCH can stage the services, contractors, and other players, so that when the veteran is ready to move forward in the process, then all they have to do is ask. Once ready, the DVCH staff will sit down with them and discuss the options that available to and your family. Anyone ready this document might know of a disabled veteran that might benefit from our services…if so, pass this document on to them. Encourage them to call and connect with us. Then we can do the rest!

Organizations that are there for you as a veteran

1. VSO (Veteran Service Organizations)such as DAV, American Legion, etc.

2. Each VA Medical Center has a VA Regional Representative (Phillip Garvey is at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center)

3. Veteran Service Centers, they are located in each area of the state where you live in.

4. Nonprofit organizations that specialize in assistance to veterans.

5. Check your Internet for organizations that can assist your search for assistance. (Always be careful on scam organizations)

Look around at the veterans you know. Are there any you think may benefit from our program or will benefit due to homeless or potentially becoming homeless? It all begins with information. Pass this information on to them, or send us a note and we’ll follow up for you. Giving back to our veterans is showing appreciation for their service to preserving and protecting our freedom.For more information on the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing’s contact:

Our website is at http://www.DVCHVets.org

If you or anyone that you need assistance with an issue dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs, especially the need for an accessible & affordable housing for you and your family. All veterans or service members that are leaving the military with issues that now require a need to be able to get around in their present home or need to have one built for medically accessibility let us know so we can assist you in your process, and always remember the DVCH does not charge one red cent for our services.

DVCH Staff to assist YOU

John S. Lewandowski, Founder/Chairman of the Board

DVCH National Office Phone (540) 877-1252 Fax (877) 327-4541 Email DVCH123@gmail.com

Linda A. Roseboro, DVCH’s Director, Marketing/Events

DVCH’s National Office Phone: (540) 270-5897 Fax (877) 327-4541 Email: linda.roseboro1@us.army.mil or roseboro@hughes.com

Ronald (Ron) J. Hafey Sr., DVCH’s President, Board of Directors

DVCH’s National Office/Vietnam Veterans of America Phone: (540) 877-1234 Fax: (877) 327-4541 Email: S_Guardian@hughes.net

Duane (Skip) Rogers, Co-Director, Wounded Warrior’s Program

DVCH’s National Office/Able Forces, Inc. Phone: (540) 631-9600 Fax (540) 635-2083 Email: Skip.Roger@ableforces.org