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Living Life After 50
Vol. 38, No. 6
November 2024
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
St. JoSeph edition Reaching South Bend and SuRRounding countieS
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES — In addition to housing, the center also provides supportive services to aid veterans. The center partners with the Veteran Affairs for health services and referrals while also providing an in-house clinical social work team to provide assistance with disability benefits, food stamps and employment.
MILLER VETS COLOR GUARD — The Miller Vets Color Guard was established in 2009. The color guard is named after Korean War veteran Robert L. Miller Sr., who understood the important of espirit de coeur. The color guard performs at approximately 250 events per year. Photos provided by Miller Veterans Center
MVC
By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer
“While there are a lot of general misconceptions about people who experience homelessness that feeds into stigma, such as the erroneous belief that they are all addicts or are just too lazy to work,” Lani Vivirito, chief resource and veteran’s service officer of the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center, said, “I will say that this community is incredible in its support of homeless vets — they are really able to see them as humans who need a hand up.” The Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center is a male-only 25-bed facility that opened in January 2012. Since the center opened its doors, it has been able to serve over 750 veterans, helping 70% of
HOMELESS VETERANS — Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center is a male-only, 25-bed facility that houses homeless veterans who need help getting back on their feet. Since opening its doors, the center has served over 750 veterans, helping 70% of those move into permanent housing.
...get back HELPS VETERANS on their feet those veterans move into permanent housing. “The truth is that there is no single story to homelessness,” Vivirito explained. “Clearly, a common denominator is financial as most of our vets simply do not have enough income to maintain housing. This might be due to job loss or a divorce and they just need a bit of time to get back on their feet.” Vivirito also suggested, “Or, it could be because they have developed a disabling condition that prevents them from maintaining employment and they need help navigating disability claims through the VA or Social Security, as well as help finding housing.” The center has served Veterans as young as 23 and up to 80. The
center tailors supportive services to each individual Veteran. “We strive to be as comprehensive as possible while also ensuring we are quickly moving them into permanent housing,” Vivirito assured. The center works with the VA for primary and mental health, substance misuse and to refer Veterans to other community-based services. The center also houses a clinical social work team onsite to provide additional mental health and recovery supports, as well as functional supports including assistance with applications for disability benefits, food stamps and employment. “Our namesake, Robert L. Miller Sr., served in the Navy during the Korean War and understood just how important
espirit de coeur — the sense of purpose gained from belonging to a group — was to Veterans who were down on their luck,” Vivirito explained. “He also understood how important it was for all veterans to have access to a Last Salute — the military honors conveyed when veterans are laid to rest.” The Millers Vets Color Guard predates the Miller Veterans Center, having been established in 2009. Today, the Miller Vets Color Guard, a corps of homeless and formerly homeless veterans, provide service to funerals, sporting events, graduations and other veteran service events across the community. The color guard is led by Ed Buras, a Vietnam and Marine Corp veteran, and it provides volunteer services to
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approximately 250 events each year. “We are so proud of the service we provide to the community with the Color Guard,” Vivirito remarked. Over the course of the nearly decade and a half, the accomplishments made by the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center is immeasurable. According to Vivirito, “too many to even begin to recount!” “We have built incredible relationships with community organizations who want to support our Veterans,” Vivirito said. “And we have watched Veterans land their dream jobs, secure their service-connected pensions and reunite with family and loved ones. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve them.”
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