Homeless vets in NE face similar problems
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in an occasional series of stories on the Veterans FIRST transitional housing program managed by Harbor Homes. The program is for homeless, honorably discharged U.S. veterans, and includes housing at Buckingham Place on Spring Street and the Dalianis House on Factory Street in Nashua. NASHUA – It doesn’t matter where you are, at least not in New England. If you’re a homeless veteran who signs on to a transitional housing program, expect to be treated as if you’re a recovering alcoholic or drug addict. Lewis Chipola, commander of VFW Post 483 on Quincy Street, says he has heard concerns raised by some veterans in the Veterans FIRST transitional housing program run by Harbor Homes. Veterans FIRST provides 40 apartments for homeless veterans and their family members at Buckingham Place and 20 rooms for veterans at the Dalianis House. Chipola said some veterans who live at Buckingham Place say “they’re treated like ‘prisoners’ – that was the term they used,” Chipola said. Among the complaints voiced by some veterans: that they had to follow strict rules for signing in and out of their homes and were subject to frequent, random drug tests. Generally, the veterans said they were treated like they were recovering addicts or were mentally ill, even if they became homeless only because of economic conditions. In a meeting with The Telegraph earlier this month, Harbor Homes officials said in setting such rules as random drug tests for all veterans in the program, they were complying with requirements established by the U.S.
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