Guest Column by Interim Commissioner Brad Lindsay
There?s no place like home
There?s also nothing like being homeless.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), in partnership with myriad public, private and nonprofit partners, has focused on ending Veteran homelessness since 2014. An issue with many layers and complexities, Veteran homelessness remains a challenge.
On a positive note, eight of 10 Minnesota Continuums of Care (CoCs) have effectively ended Veteran homelessness in their communities. Effectively ending Veteran homelessness does not mean that a community will never again have a homeless Veteran. Instead, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), it means that every community will have a comprehensive response in place that ensures homelessness is prevented whenever possible. If it can?t be prevented, it will be a rare, brief and one-time experience.
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On Friday, July 7, a new monument was unveiled in Veterans Memorial Park in Blaine dedicated to ?Honoring Women in Service.? It is believed to be the first of its kind in Minnesota that pays tribute to women Veterans.
The five-sided monument honors each branch of military service and features a flame on top, which symbolizes the fire that burns in the hearts and souls of women Veterans who defend freedom. At night, it glows with red and blue lights.
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Please join the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and community members for the dedication ceremony of the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Redwood Falls.
Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: 33752 Noble Ave, Redwood Falls, MN
Invited guests include Federal, State and Local elected officials, business and civic leaders, Veterans Service Organizations and advocates who have worked tirelessly for years to make this dream a reality.
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Over the past decade, electric golf carts have enjoyed increased popularity in the United States. And they?re no longer limited to caddying around players on golf courses.
In fact, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the Bemidji Veterans Home were honored last month to accept the generous donation of an electric golf cart from Ride for the Troops (RFTT). The nonprofit presented this gift to Kevin Gish, Administrator, Minnesota Veterans Home - Bemidji, to help future Residents with mobility issues be safely transported across large distances to successfully participate in recreational programming.
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Nearly one in four people has a disability - some are seen, some are unseen. Yet a disability does not have to prevent an individual from making a tremendous impact on our state ? through the arts, economics, education, the military, volunteerism, social justice and general contributions to local communities.
Disability Pride Month, celebrated every July, coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anniversary on July 26. Thirty-two years after its passage, this law protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and breaks down barriers to being included in daily life activities, including the workplace.
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In May, Gov. Tim Walz signed the Veterans and Military Affairs Omnibus Bill that included roughly $1 million over the next two years to provide home-delivered meals to Veterans. The goal of the program is to provide Meals on Wheels to Veterans who will benefit in a number of ways, whether they are struggling with access to healthy food or social isolation.
Metro Meals on Wheels will be partnering with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to identify at-risk Veterans and set them up with meal delivery. The program aims to reach Veterans who wouldn?t qualify to receive meals through other state programs. That could mean helping Veterans struggling with a health or mobility issue, loneliness, or those who have recently experienced homelessness.
Written by Grant Boelter, Marketing and Communications Manager, Metro Meals on Wheels, and reprinted in part from Meals On Wheels | Metro Meals on Wheels (meals-on-wheels.com)
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Our three new State Veterans Homes?which broke ground nearly two years ago in the communities of Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston?are moving toward completion. Once Knutson Construction in Preston and Montevideo and Adolfson & Peterson Construction in Bemidji have achieved what is known as ?substantial completion,? a certificate of occupancy will be delivered to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA).
You can watch the real-time progress in each of our communities:
? Bemidji onsite camera
? Montevideo onsite camera
? Preston onsite camera
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The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is happy to share the 2023 Legislative Session Summary.This summary highlights Veteran-related legislation that was passed during the 2023 Legislative Session.?
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Interested in serving Veterans? Looking to make a difference in your community? Consider a career with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs! Roles in healthcare, nursing, facilities management and program management are featured below. Sign-up to receive our monthly jobs bulletin.
We proudly offer competitive pay, generous benefits as a State of MN employee, welcoming and supportive teams, and most importantly, meaningful careers.
To see full job posting and apply:
1. Go to https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/ and select your applicant type: External Applicants or Current Employees or Accessible Applicant Portal.
2. On the Careers landing page, enter the Job ID in the Search Jobs field. Click on the posting.
3. Select ?Apply for Job? button. New users will need to create an applicant account to apply.
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