Q&A
Process for transferring identified veterans to appropriate services
0:41:21
ยท
170 sec
Associate Commissioner Russell explains the process for identifying and transferring veterans within the shelter system to appropriate services.
- The SQUARES system is used to identify veterans throughout the shelter system
- When a veteran is identified, outreach is conducted to inform them of available veteran-specific services
- Some veterans may choose not to identify as such or may decline veteran-specific services
- The discussion highlights the importance of educating veterans about the benefits available to them within the system
Robert F. Holden
0:41:21
So if you find out like a veteran didn't self identify, let's say initially, and then they've been in the shelter system throughout, and you find out they're a veteran, do you work on the transfer with the Department of Social Services to try to get them supportive housing or right or just into Borden?
0:41:40
Tell tell us tell us how that works.
Sonya Russell
0:41:43
If I may.
0:41:44
So I I again, I do wanna, give credit to commissioner Hendon for introducing us to Squares because I do have to say, since the utilization of Squares, it has allowed us to identify veterans throughout the shelter system.
0:41:58
And something that we encounter is that not all veterans, for a ray of reasons, might not self identify as a veteran.
0:42:06
However, when we utilize squares and we get information that that individual is in fact a veteran, it allows us to reach out to that person and let them know that we have information that indicates that they are a veteran, and we have services that are specific to them and we want to encourage them to take advantage of those services
Robert F. Holden
0:42:26
Does that happen quite often or do you have any numbers on that?
0:42:29
How many you found out were in the system and they shouldn't have been in there, they've been in for years and they should have been in supportive or better conditions.
Sonya Russell
0:42:38
So we recently started utilizing Square's, I believe it was in '23, so we do have data unfortunately, I would have to get back to you and provide that data, but we do have data that indicates that clients have come into the system and not identified as a veteran.
0:42:53
And, again, once we have the information that identifies them as such, we outreach that individual.
0:42:59
And we, again, we explain to them the services that we provide or that's available them as a veteran and we wanna ensure that they take advantage of all of that.
Robert F. Holden
0:43:07
It's the same thing with veteran treatment courts.
0:43:10
Many times, the veterans who have run-in with the law or, you know, they're incarcerated.
0:43:18
Many times they don't know about veteran treatment court, so we have to, you know, obviously DVS has to, but we really don't have that information, and many times the police or the DAs don't have it.
James Hendon
0:43:28
I have to say this, Mr.
0:43:30
Chen, I'm so many people we can put on the table right now.
0:43:32
There are instances where DHS will reach out to the person.
0:43:34
They identify them through squares.
0:43:36
They didn't know them otherwise, and the person says, you know, thank you, but it's okay.
Robert F. Holden
0:43:40
But they don't
James Hendon
0:43:40
You know, they don't they don't want to.
0:43:41
They wanna stay
Robert F. Holden
0:43:42
in the shop.
James Hendon
0:43:42
That's a real Yeah.
0:43:44
We can't we can't make hold on.
0:43:45
Yeah.
Robert F. Holden
0:43:46
I get it.
0:43:46
I get it.
0:43:47
But it's it's really where if if they know that they'll get better treatment Mhmm.
0:43:53
Because they are veterans.
Sonya Russell
0:43:54
And we've had some that will, you know, say, yes.
0:43:57
Please change my status, and I wish to identify as a veteran.
0:44:00
So we have more that say yes than say no.
0:44:03
And again, it's the outreach that we do to explain to them the benefits that's available to them while they are at, you know, with New York State Department of Home Services.