Volunteers build homeless vets’ shelter in York, PA
Our buddy, John Ott, sends us a link to a report of the work with which he’s currently engaged in York, Pennsylvania – building a veterans’ homeless shelter. You might remember John Ott from the story of his son Matthew who gives to veterans from the proceeds of his lemonade stand. John and Matthew have also taken a stand against Stolen Valor in Pennsylvania which will lead to the State’s own Stolen Valor Act.
The homeless shelter was the dream of Sandy Walker, who unfortunately passed away earlier this year, but his dream lives on in his daughter, Sandie and John Ott as they toll through this especially hot and humid weekend to finish Sandy’s project;
“I know he’ll be proud once it’s finished,” Sandie said. The goal is to get the shelter complete by the winter. Once finished, veterans will be able to get help for the little things, like bus fare, as well as the big things, like housing, food and medications. “There’s no reason why any veteran should be a need,” Sandie said. For Sandie, Ott and the other volunteers a little sweat, they say, is the least they can give when they consider what veterans have already given.
Category: Veterans Issues
Awesome.
Good stuff.
Great family, now if there could be a way to catch all the crusty lying ass drunks that will go there claiming to be vets and ask for a handout.
Word.
Or the less-than-honorable pukes that try to get in line.
I’m glad to see something positive like this.
It is a counter-balance to the less positive stuff like SV and the DRG club.
Can I get an “AMEN” from the congregation for our sister, Ex-PH2, for her words of enlightenment!
AMEN!
OK,OK,OK already. She is right (that hurt a little).
(amen)
There I said it, kinda.
Amen!
Ok, here I go again. Ever been to York, PA? Other than the Harley plant and a few dumb bells there never has been much there.
I say we just put up one legit Vet in town that needs a place to stay at the Motel 6.
Hearts are in the right place I guess.
In this country, there are no government housing programs or local/state-run shelters, just as the homeless are on their own to fend for food, clothing, and medical care. That’s why we are constantly having to step over the bodies of those who have died from starvation, injury, disease, and exposure, especially in places like York, PA. Sure these folks are well intentioned. I get it. What they will end up with are a bunch of mental cases, drunks and druggies, maybe none of whom will be actual Veterans. I wish these folks well but they really ought to think about what happened with “Family One” from the original effort to help ‘needy’ Veterans. It’s smart (and a shame, under the circumstances) that they got away from doling out cash money to Veterans and their families but, I’m afraid, new lessons await them in this latest endeavor—like changing out piss-soaked mattresses every week and trying to toss someone who has overstayed his welcome. Cynical? Me? You bet I am.
What about the housing at the VA? You do know that is available? Not all VA’s have them, but in the York, Baltimore, DC, Hagerstown, Martinsburg area the Martinsburg VA has an excellent program.
Sorry
Boxco….but you are wrong! We have a mission here that puts people up and feeds them and helps them get established…I have no doubt our town is not the only one!
Ummmm….. I lived in York for several years, went to college there, still have family there, and ventured occasionally to the ‘hood’ for “specialty purchases” if you get my drift. (Calm down hypocrites- you know you do it too sometimes… if you don’t I’ll let you in on not very often heard secret- you’re missing out it’s awesome- duh that’s why so many people do it!).Don’t judge me for my deeds, love me for my honesty!!
Regardless, unless something’s gone terribly awry, I don’t ever recall stepping over even one starved dead corpse, let alone constantly tripping over the buggers….
I also happen to be a proud veteran of the Marine Corps and I have to say that… I can’t make heads or tails of the rest of your comment- I feel like I should be offended but, pissed soaked mattresses???? Please tell me who the hell family one is? That’s really the whole point of my response I suppose????? I really want to know who this family one you speak of is- please elaborate.
Oh, and to clear it up that York looks nothing like Auschwitz- no piles of dead bodies contrary to OP’s claim.
I have NO quips or qualms with helping out those who have fallen on hard times, I’m 110% in favor of giving folks a “hand up”. It’s the “Professional Homeless” types always looking for a good hustle and a free ride that piss me off!
Unfortunately I have to agree with Air Cav and, OMG, Dave…
Many of the so called Veterans are not what they say, 9 out of 10 cases, and they obviously have problems that a cot and a warm room can’t fix.
They have a disease that means to kill them and if they are living on the street, chances are good it is well on its way to doing that.
Let’s hope that since they are also involved with Stolen Valor legislation that they understand the need to properly vet any vet who attempts to take advantage of their generosity.
I’d like to thank everyone for the feedback. My son and I are very cautious in our efforts. I know there are people out there that steal, cheat and lie. (we have learned that lesson the hard way). But dispite the pitfalls, we will continue to serve for the memory of my wife. “Spc Patricia Ott USA Dentac”. Not a super hero but a super hero to me. I look at it this way…we can all rant and rave or we can go out there and do something about it. I choose to do something about it even though I know there will be times I will get used and abused. I am willing to take that risk just to help one. In the same breath my son is getting state law passed “Senate Bill 43” to help curb the SV.
John thank you for this blog and allowing people to express thier thoughts. This is just mine.
You and your son keep up the good work, sir.
You guys are setting the example for others to follow.
Great job.
I forgot to mention when I said “I am willing to take that risk just to help one”
One day that one might be you or me
But for the Grace of god, there go I…
I was on my way down the road to that destination. If not for a Brother who redirected me, and helped me find a new road to travel it could have been me.
Thankx for posting John, it says a lot about your character. I applaud your efforts to get a SV law passed in your state.
I am sure you will hear plenty from those of us sitting in the cheap seats. I understand that is where my voice is coming from and expect you to treat it accordingly.
If you are going to do a homeless shelter best regards to you for it. If it is going to be a homeless shelter for Veterans there are several places online to verify the service of someone. They are not full proof, but so far I have found them to be fairly accurate. It has my service listed all the way back to 1977.
I am sure you understand that there will be those who make a false claim of military service to get some help. If it is going to be for Veterans how do you anticipate dealing with those who are not actually veterans? I do not sense you will just put them back out on the street.
If you are going to let them stay there anyway, how about just calling it a homeless shelter.
Keep leaning forward. Get my email from Jonn and drop a line, I know people in York who may help.
Well, John Ott, if one day I wind up homeless, I hope that I enter drug or alcohol rehab or am involuntary committed for a psychiatric evaluation as a first step toward being able to hold a steady job and afford a roof over my head. I have to assume that your eyes are wide open and you know what you’re in for: that any homeless Veterans who were honorably discharged much more likely than not carry heavy baggage unrelated to their service. I wish you and yours good luck in realizing your wife’s dream and I hope that you can report how wrong I am once you’ve been up and running for six months or so.
You show me a homeless shelter that has 100% verifiable PROOF that only veterans are housed and I will show you a check every month. May not be a big as you’d hope, and there may have to be several sent out monthly. No excuses for the washouts who are gaming the system, tell them to look elsewhere for a handout if they have not served honorably. Even a GC or perhaps a GD would be acceptable. But a non veteran taking the place of one who served his/her country, get out and work somebody else.
In 1990, my family started selling stuff no longer wanted. Used the money to buy socks, boxers, personal cleaning stuff. Then started to hit garage sales and swap meets. We bought sleeping bags, long short sleeve shirts, sweat sets, boots, jackets. We packed everything in a sleeping bag with a label SML. On Christmas day we would serve the homeless people at the Salvation army, asking questions to the guys.
If he said he was a veteran, we would ask for a Vet ID. Most had something that proved vet. As they left we asked them to stop by out ride and we gave each a package and a emergency number. We did this until 2005. A regular vet told us civilians were claiming to be vets. Since he had been to our place plenty of times, I asked if he would signal if a liar was in line. I’ll do better then that. I’ll ask questions about the branch, where they served, etc. I was shocked by the questions and answers the fakes couldn’t answer.
We wanted to have a safe place that vets could go for shower, out of heat and cold, but were denied on everything by the Mayor and council members. Their reason “it will turn into a drug and drinking and selling area of felons”. Oh I get it all veterans are drunks and addicts. We said it would be run by a group of VETERANS who HAVE STABLE LIVES. They know who is fake and there will be Veterans’ used for SECURITY. We don’t want your money, it’ll be a non profit organization and we will raise money by pancake breakfast, selling baked goods, buying stuff and reselling at swap meets. NO! So, we now added Easter dinner.
JARHEAD said his piece, but if the city refuses to give a damn how can we solve the problem. We have fakes that hold up signs Vietnam Veteran homeless. When you ask for anything that can prove that they are, none have crap. What should a real vet carry to prove he served?
Such a great cause to help with. Hope to see more volunteers at the soon to be shelter! There is no better feeling than that of helping others. Thanks John!