Veterans Affairs (VA) reports indicate that on any single night nearly 58,000 veterans are homeless; 57% were staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program; and the remaining 43% were living on the street, in an abandoned building, or unsheltered someplace. Approximately 12% of all U.S. residents are veterans. About 20% of the male homeless population are veterans. According to Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) website, it is estimated that approximately 332,000 Veterans live in Oregon with an estimated 25,086 veterans living in Marion County. Although we do not know the current count for Marion County veterans, it has been previously estimated that Oregon has more than 7,000 homeless veterans. The need for Home for Heroes is unquestioned.

The WestCare Veterans Home and Resource Center located at 2933 Center St NE, Salem, OR is an excellent facility for helping Veterans in Marion County who are homeless and those involved in the criminal justice system. It also allows for a space to send veterans who have slipped back in their court-ordered treatment plan as opposed to sending them back to jail or prison. The facility will allow us to serve a maximum of 30 veterans by providing secure housing, life skills training, substance abuse recovery training, and reintegration programs for the veterans. The facility will also be used as a benefits resource center for all veterans, providing information and support services with “no wrong door” access.

The home has a 30 bed occupancy with shared bathrooms and shower facilities. There are laundry facilities on site as well as a full commercial kitchen and dining room for guests to enjoy meals and conversation. The kitchen will provide as a culinary program allowing the veteran to learn skills and experience needed once they have transitioned out of the program. Case Management is provided for each veteran to ensure progress is being made toward individual goals. If needed, counseling will be provided to help the healing process begin and veteran can start working through any emotional issues that more than likely resulted in the veteran becoming homeless.

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Recovery in Progress is a Therapeutic Community that focuses on cognitive behavioral and substance abuse treatment for male inmates. The program is six-months In duration and provides treatment to 50 male inmates at Columbia River Correctional Institution (CRCI) In Portland, OR. The primary goal of the Recovery in Progress program is to reduce the incidence of substance abuse relapse and recidivism and increase pro-social skills which lead to successful community reintegration. The program provides offenders the opportunity to choose rehabilitation and decrease the risk of returning to prison. Participants in the program are encouraged to change their lifestyles by a team of qualified professionals who work together in confronting and solving problems. In addition the Recovery in Progress Program promotes pro-social behavior that will enable the residents to exhibit satisfactory conduct within the facility leading to a successful integration back into the community.

This program includes:

• Individual and group counseling
• Cognitive skills
• Cognitive restructuring
• Social skills
• Interpersonal problem solving
• Anger management
• Life-skills
• Parenting classes
• Alcohol and drug education classes
• Relapse prevention
• Support system development

The focus of treatment is modified to accommodate the realistic/ practical treatment needs of individuals as they begin embracing their own need for continued recovery.

The Recovery In Progress Program will:

• Provide each intensive outpatient participant a minimum of 10.5 hours programming per week.
• Provide each participant with clinical services including group counseling and individual counseling.
• Incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Training, Motivational Interviewing, and Relapse Prevention Training.
• Provide curriculum-based substance abuse education and skills training using evidence based programs and materials.
• Provide case managed transition services and referrals.

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AIP was created by the Oregon Legislature in 1994 and expanded in 2003 through House Bill 2647. AIP programs consist of 6 months of intensive treatment in prison followed by three months of transitional leave which is spent in the community. Participants who are deemed to have successfully completed the program receive early release from prison. Prisoners are eligible to enter the program when they have 45 months remaining on their sentence. Measure 11 prisoners and those convicted of felony sex offenses other than attempts are not eligible. The sentencing judge can also bar participation if there is a substantial and compelling reason to do so. Among eligible prisoners are those convicted of burglaries, identity thefts, drug manufacturing and distribution, attempted rapes, DUI crashes that leaves victims maimed, and criminally negligent homicides.

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