New subject: [PSNA] Aiding veterans

24 May 2015


      On 5/24/15, 1:45 PM, "Kelley, Craig" <ckelley@cambridgema.gov> wrote:
...
Massachusetts requires every town to have a Veterans' Services Officer,
but Cambridge is fairly rare in having not just a full-time person in
that position but an entire (though small) department devoted to serving
veterans.  Any of the three people who work there would be able to answer
questions and provide assistance, but there are residency and other
requirements I can't explain in detail that guide what sort of assistance
this department can offer.  The staffers are:
Stephen A. Vesce, Director
Jeremy J. Halsdorff, Manager of Benefits and Services
Siobhan Stoney, Administrative Assistant
They can be reached by phone at 617-349-4761 or via email at
veterans@cambridgema.gov.
If our Department of Veterans Services cannot help for whatever reason,
Boston has a large veterans' resource called the New England Center for
Homeless Veterans.  Their website is http://nechv.org/.
The Center helps veterans in a variety of ways and since everyone's
status is different in so many ways, ranging from type of discharge (I
think they help vets regardless of the type of discharge, but I am not
sure how that works) to type of need (they offer various types of
housing, medical and training opportunities), I can't give any better
advice than for vets, or their service providers, to check out the
website and contact them.
More information on the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services is
here:  http://www.mass.gov/veterans/.  There are a wealth of state
resources for all sorts of veterans, not just those in such dire need.
On a related note, the City's Memorial Day Parade starts tomorrow
(Monday) at 9:30 on the Cambridge Common and goes through Harvard Square
and up Mt. Auburn, ending with a ceremony at the Cambridge Cemetery
around 11:30 and then an informal lunch at the the VFW post in West
Cambridge.  It's a really fun parade to watch (and also fun to
participate in!) and is a poignant reminder of what the day is really
about.  Learn more at:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citynewsandpublications/news/2015/05/memorialda
yparadeandobservance.aspx
Thanks a lot.
Craig
All emails to and from this email address are subject to the Public
Records Law and may be made available to members of the public.  Anything
you do not want subject to that law should be sent to me at
Craig@CraigKelley.org.
-----Original Message-----
From: PSNA [mailto:psna-bounces@lists.portersquare.net] On Behalf Of
Louise Parker
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 6:59 PM
To: psna@lists.portersquare.net
Subject: Re: [PSNA] PSNA Digest, Vol 78, Issue 18
Sally,
How kind of you to reach out on behalf of this man.  Cambridge actually
has
a Vet services center:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/VET/
And here is a link for all the Veteran's Service Organizations (VSOs).
They
are  not government organizations but do work with the VA and can help
Vets
navigate the system.  Many can also provide a social support network.
Depending on his age and when and where he did his service, one of these
might be most appropriate:
http://www.va.gov/vso/VSO-Directory_2013-2014.pdf
Finally the Harvard Law School provides pro-bono legal services:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical/clinics/hlab.html
I hope one or more of these is helpful.  It so wonderful that you are
taking
the time to help this man.  Our Vets deserve so much better than what they
get.
Louise
-----Original Message-----
From: PSNA [mailto:psna-bounces@lists.portersquare.net] On Behalf Of
psna-request@lists.portersquare.net
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 4:43 PM
To: psna@lists.portersquare.net
Subject: PSNA Digest, Vol 78, Issue 18
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Today's Topics:
1. Porter Square neighbor in serious trouble (Sally Eaton Arnold)
  2. Re: Porter Square neighbor in serious trouble (Judy Clark)
  3. Cambridgeport Sharing Economy Panel (Joseph Poirier)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 22 May 2015 21:27:15 -0400
From: Sally Eaton Arnold <sallyaeaton@gmail.com>
To: Porter Square Neighbors Association <psna@portersquare.net>,
  "Cheung,	Leland" <lcheung@cambridgema.gov>, 	"Kelley,
Craig"
  <ckelley@cambridgema.gov>, Bruce Arnold <byaweb@gmail.com>
Subject: [PSNA] Porter Square neighbor in serious trouble
Message-ID:
  <CAEw+56djqxzRLYF3LZ7J7zM=fohiaZE7-2Nknr99YQDKnjH2NA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
*This evening, I was clipping hedges on the corner of Russell and Mass Ave
in preparation for a big gardening project when a man came along and
started
to chat. He was friendly and made a joke about the hedges.  After a few
minutes, I realized that he had probably had a few drinks.  He has a
broken
arm from having been jumped by 5 young men in Central Square recently.
These
people ran when people crossed the street to help and were never caught.
He
was pleasant and I chatted as I clipped away.  Suddenly, he blurted that
he
has advanced lung cancer. I inquired about whether he has family. He does
not.  He gets his health care at the clinic on Mass.
Ave.  *
*So this fellow has nobody.  If I were in that situation, I would probably
drink myself into oblivion. I have his name and address.  What city
services
can help him?  He hasn't yet written a will and could probably use help
with
that.* *I was struck by his complete helplessness. Are there any agencies,
any charities, any neighbors to help?*
*He is also a vet.  Happy Memorial Day to all.*
*Sally  *
*Sally Eaton Arnold*
*(formerly Sally Ackerman Eaton)*Cambridge, MA
*978-505-3753*
*SallyAEaton@gmail.com* <SallyAEaton@gmail.com>

FW: [PSNA] Aiding veterans

Ruth Ryals

Margaret Levin

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