Q&A
Discussion on mental health services and counseling for veterans at Borden Avenue shelter
1:49:53
ยท
117 sec
Council Member Robert F. Holden engages in a discussion with Joe Bello, Timothy Pena, and others about the mental health services and counseling provided to veterans at Borden Avenue shelter. The conversation reveals discrepancies between official statements and veterans' experiences.
- Holden suggests that veterans may need various services, including mental health support and workforce development
- Timothy Pena, a veteran, shares his experience of not receiving counseling from the shelter
- The discussion highlights concerns about the shelter's approach to mental health services and potential conflicts with VA benefits
- There appears to be a disconnect between the shelter's claimed services and the actual experiences of veterans
Robert F. Holden
1:49:53
So Yeah.
1:49:54
We can ask that.
1:49:54
That that's a good question.
1:49:56
Is this only for Borden?
1:49:57
And we'll find that out quickly.
Joe Bello
1:49:59
Yeah.
1:50:00
And that yeah.
1:50:03
That's it.
1:50:04
Just the other thing is I I was just curious that you were mentioning workforce development, but the DHS rep was saying a lot of the vets have mental health.
1:50:12
We know that the average age of the veterans at d a at Borden Avenue are, like, in their fifties, late forties, fifties.
1:50:18
Most of them are Gulf War one vets.
1:50:20
So is it mental health?
1:50:23
Do they need workforce development?
1:50:24
What what is it?
1:50:25
I don't think we were clear from this hearing what exactly that was.
Robert F. Holden
1:50:28
Well, I think it's all of the above.
1:50:30
It's a there's
James Hendon
1:50:30
a lot
Joe Bello
1:50:30
of It probably is,
Robert F. Holden
1:50:31
but I Individuals have you know, again, I I can't just In talking to an individual, I can't make a decision on, like, what what does this person need?
1:50:41
That's why I asked about the counseling and how often.
1:50:44
It's twice a month.
1:50:44
We we learned I know Tim's saying that that doesn't happen.
1:50:49
Sure.
Timothy Pena
1:50:49
What happens with
Robert F. Holden
1:50:50
the mental Could you use the mic?
Timothy Pena
1:50:51
Use What happens with the mental health and the counseling, you've got a veteran like myself who comes in.
1:50:57
I already have a VA regimen.
1:50:59
I'm already, you know, I'm seventy percent for PTSD.
1:51:02
So I know what it's like to have to work with your mental health.
1:51:09
As as But
Robert F. Holden
1:51:11
did you when you were there for five
Timothy Pena
1:51:12
months did you What they're trying to do is push you under theirs.
Robert F. Holden
1:51:15
Tim, when you were there for five months, did you get counseling?
Timothy Pena
1:51:17
Not from them.
Robert F. Holden
1:51:19
Not from
Timothy Pena
1:51:21
I got mine from the VA where I'm at now.
Robert F. Holden
1:51:23
Okay.
1:51:23
So
Timothy Pena
1:51:24
you didn't
Robert F. Holden
1:51:24
you didn't get from the shelter?
Timothy Pena
1:51:26
This idea of bringing a veteran in and then telling them, oh, you need to tell us all of give all this information.
1:51:33
Talk to us all of this.
1:51:35
We're gonna do this for you.
1:51:36
We're gonna do that for you.
1:51:37
Then absolutely do nothing.
1:51:39
At that same time, you're taking the veteran away from their VA benefits that they're supposed to be getting.
Lamarr Wheeler
1:51:45
Alright.
1:51:45
Okay.
1:51:45
We to shelter Raul.
Timothy Pena
1:51:47
They have nothing.
1:51:48
They have to start all over.
Robert F. Holden
1:51:49
Good