VA Offices: Overwhelming Delays and Disservice
Affordable
housing for veterans is still outside of the government’s grasp, and now disability claims are falling through the cracks faster (or slower) than ever. Reports from the VA show that the average waiting time for veterans at the Oakland facility is 320 days, and a nationwide average of 241 days. The same reports show that most claims aren’t even looked at for 4 months. Some veterans, such as Vietnam veteran Richard Carpino, have struggled with slow processing for claims that are now older than a decade. Nearly half of all disability claims are processed incorrectly, and nearly half of all office functions at the Oakland facility were out of compliance with government protocol.
Local nonprofit organizations to the Oakland area have found that the VA is overwhelmed and undermanned, arguing that it may be necessary to outsource the work just to get it done. Veterans such as John Fleming believe that the VA should discard non-veteran employees, attacking the overwhelming job problems of veterans and the slow processing problems at once. “We care about our fellow vets and, while some current non-veteran employees do care, it seems most are there just for the paycheck” Fleming states in a Facebook comment to Mercury News.
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, jumped on the issue, stating that “we’re going to identify what parts of the process aren’t working, based on the statements of veterans with outstanding claims.” However, past political pushes into the VA have traditionally faced delays and inaction, while veterans such as Jack Wyckoff of World War II suffer, waiting for basic coverage. The VA will soon face the return of over 200,000 American troops from the draw-down in the middle east, and without immediate action the situation will continue to spiral towards calamity.
Affordable veterans housing is one of the key goals of The Veterans Affordable Housing Program, and we want to help you have a home. While many veterans are facing delays with the Department of Veterans Affairs and may feel abandoned, they are not alone. The Veterans Affordable Housing Program was created to help vets in times of need, and is dedicated to helping low and moderate income, disabled, or transitioning veterans and their families find affordable housing in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington. We can help you by providing rent relief, down payment assistance, reduced-cost housing, subsidies, and more. Please contact us if you, or somebody you know, is a veteran and is in need of housing assistance.
- Veterans incensed over report of overwhelming delays at Oakland VA office, MATTHIAS GAFNI [mercurynews.com]
Helping Veterans with the Veterans Affordable Housing Program…
Affordable Community Living is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing low and moderate income families with quality, affordable housing since 1997 and now offers help to veterans and their families through it’s Veterans Assistance Program.
Learn more about our mission and how we aim to help America’s heroes.
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