RCMP veterans facing homelessness can now get the help they need thanks to a recent partnership.
Last year, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) joined forces with Veterans Emergency Transition Services (VETS) Canada, a not-for-profit organization created to support veterans at risk of becoming homeless or who are homeless.
VETS Canada is made up of volunteers across Canada who provide assistance to at-risk and homeless veterans either in person, online or by telephone to help them transition to a safe and self-sufficient lifestyle.
So when the RCMP identified the need to develop its own strategy to address homelessness among former RCMP members, it also partnered with VETS Canada and VAC to not only help identify military veterans, but also former RCMP members in need of the same assistance.
It was a natural fit for the RCMP, says Sgt. Kim Hendricken, the RCMP liaison to VAC.
"The RCMP has front-line uniformed members who do come in contact with Canada's homeless population," says Hendricken. "They're in a position to provide these veterans and former RCMP members with a referral to VETS Canada to assist them to transition off the streets."
Once referred to VETS Canada, a volunteer remains with the veteran every step of the way, getting them to safety and connecting them with the health care and services they need.
Hendricken hopes to increase awareness about the partnership with VETS Canada among police officers across the country so they pay closer attention to the homeless population and take time to determine if the homeless individual has served in Canada's military or RCMP.
"The RCMP is not immune to having these problems," says Hendricken. "These men and women, both in the military and RCMP, have proudly served Canadians, so I think it's extremely important that we take care of them and offer them the support they require when they're in need."