‘We Show Them That We’re Here for Them’: How Street Outreach Meets Homeless Veterans Where They Are

These dedicated individuals hit the pavement looking for Veterans in every region across greater Los Angeles, from San Luis Obispo to the Antelope Valley to East Los Angeles. They comb encampments, climb under bridges, scour parks, and do whatever it takes to reach Veterans.

“We come in and show them compassion, we show them that we’re here for them,” said Social Science Technician Melinda Estes, who’s been working in outreach since 2007. Estes has her own story of homelessness and addiction that drives her to help others in similar situations. 

“I asked God, once I get clean and sober, I wanted to go back and help, not knowing he was going to send me to VA,” she said. Estes and other members of the team spend their days showing Veterans that they’re not alone; help is there, and people care.    

Every Door Is Open

The Street Outreach team is part of VAGLAHS’ Community Engagement and Reintegration Service (CERS), under Access & Outreach. CERS is the largest VA homeless program in the country.

The aim of Access & Outreach is to make sure every door is open to Veterans in need of services. “One of the primary goals is to make sure we’re taking the services to the Veterans on the street,” said Street Outreach Program Coordinator Dedrick Lenox. “We bring the services to them; we’re meeting them exactly where they are.”

The Street Outreach team includes Social Science Technicians, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Peer Specialists, Veterans with lived experience in substance use or mental health recovery. 

While VAGLAHS has been doing street outreach for many years, the current program was officially established in August of 2023. Many members of the staff are deeply integrated into their communities, allowing them to access critical information about Veterans who might otherwise be overlooked, added Lenox.

Having a Heart for Veterans

Supervisory Social Worker Paul Blount previously worked in the prison system for the County of Los Angeles. He saw a lot of Veterans end up in the criminal justice system and was inspired to find a way to help.

“I really had a heart for them,” he said. “I thought, there’s got to be something I can do to assist them in staying out of the recidivism cycle.” 

Blount’s father, an Army Veteran who served in Vietnam, has also inspired him throughout his life. When the opportunity came to join VA, he jumped at the chance.

In addition to going out in the community, the team also sets up at community events to reach Veterans in their own neighborhoods. These include Stand Downs and homeless connect days, among others.

As part of VA’s One Team initiative, the Street Outreach team is integrated with other homeless programs and many community partners, and they often receive referrals about Veterans in need of assistance. “Our team will go out and investigate the situation and try to bring the Veteran back into services,” said Lenox. 

With the Street Outreach team, no Veteran gets left behind.

“There are so many homeless Veterans that do not know how to connect with us, cannot get to us, or do not know we exist or what we offer,” said Blount. 

From Start to Finish

On many days, Estes and Outreach Social Worker Michelle Scales will drive around visiting encampments, talking to Veterans they know, and looking for Veterans who have not yet been reached.

They build rapport with these Veterans and assist them with eligibility checks and connection to different services through VA and community partners. 

“It’s not just giving them our card and saying call us later; we are actually following them to make sure they’re connected to resources in the community and at the VA,” said Scales.

Some Veterans aren’t ready to access services yet, and that’s ok, Scales added. The team will provide information and education, then follow up with the Veteran.

“Every Veteran’s case is different,” said Scales. “We have families, individuals, female, male, LGBTQ Veterans, we have it all. We walk in their shoes; we go at their pace.” 

Sometimes Veterans don’t have phones to stay in touch, so the team will gather details to help them locate the Veteran on a future visit. “We’ll ask them about locations, vehicle descriptions, nicknames – we want to make sure we’re doing our due diligence to assist them,” said Scales.

“We’re Here”

This is work that requires a passion for serving Veterans, said Scales. While there are protocols and safety education involved, it’s also important to have compassion, dedication, and be able to think quickly on your feet. 

“There’s no textbook that’s going to teach you outreach,” she said. 

Being there for the Veterans, wherever they are on their journey, is key. Lenox echoes that sentiment. 

“We’re here and we’re 100% available and we’re ready to help,” said Lenox. “Just reach out.”

The VAGLAHS Street Outreach team can be reached at VHAWLAHOMELESSSERVICES@va.gov. 

*Communications Specialist Cara Deptula contributed to interviews for this report.