VA Homeless Programs
Virtual Editorial Roundtables: VA and Nongovernment Partners
VA and Nongovernment Partners Implement Creative, Customized Solutions for Ending Veteran Homelessness
Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 12–1 p.m. ET
Email VAPublicAffairs@va.gov to RSVP. Conference line provided upon RSVP.
VA is committed to ending and preventing homelessness among Veterans. But we cannot achieve this goal alone. That’s why partnerships with nongovernment entities are critical.
The challenges homeless and at-risk Veterans face are as varied as the communities they live in.
This means there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Partnerships with locally based organizations provide an opportunity for custom, creative, and agile approaches to solving Veteran homelessness that make VA programs even more effective at the local level. Whether it is through financial education, access to jobs in high-demand fields, or programs that help Veterans get housed, when VA works with community organizations, more Veterans are put on the road to independence.
During this roundtable, representatives from PenFed Foundation, Veterans Matter, and Salute, Inc. will discuss how organizations and businesses of various types and sizes are helping to house, employ, and serve homeless and at-risk Veterans in their communities. Panelists will also explain how other organizations can help prevent and end homelessness among Veterans.
Presenters
- Anthony Love (moderator), senior advisor and director of community engagement, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Programs
- Brian Hawthorne, director, communications and development, PenFed Foundation
- Ken Leslie, founder and advocate-in-chief, Veterans Matter
- Jason Okroy, chief executive officer, Salute, Inc.
Email VAPublicAffairs@va.gov to RSVP. Conference line provided upon RSVP.
Resources
Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness—and their family members, friends and supporters—can make the call to or chat online with the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, where trained counselors are ready to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 1-844-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838).
Presenter Biographies
Anthony Love (moderator) is the senior advisor and director of community engagement for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Programs. In this role, he develops and implements strategies to improve VA’s engagement with government and community stakeholders to ensure every resource is available to assist Veterans with their exit from homelessness. He also advises Lisa Pape, the executive director of VHA Homeless Programs, on operational and strategic opportunities; identifies and recommends best practices related to homeless solutions and community, state and local government engagement; and facilitates alignment of VHA operations and research functions. Mr. Love’s nearly 20 years of experience in homelessness and poverty issues includes previously serving in the following positions: deputy director for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), site director for the Houston office of the nonprofit United States Veterans Initiative and president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. He earned a master’s of arts degree in public administration from the University of Missouri‐Kansas City.
Brian Hawthorne, a former senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Strategic Messaging and White House Liaison with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), now serves as PenFed’s director of communications and development. In addition to his former role at the VA, Mr. Hawthorne currently serves as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves in the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), located in Riverdale, Maryland. Mr. Hawthorne joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 2003. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge and the Combat Action Badge, as well as other decorations, and was deployed twice as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mr. Hawthorne is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington D.C., where he earned a master’s of professional studies in political management.
Ken Leslie has a 21 year history as CEO of a successful technology-based, national executive search firm and a 26 year history of philanthropy, community leadership, and advocacy for the homeless.
This background provides deep understanding of the issues surrounding homelessness on the local and national level, as well as the business and technology acumen to create and execute non-profit programs with solid business plans, outcome metrics, and an accountability structure. At the end of 2015 Ken closed his business to work full-time housing veterans.
Having been homeless at one time himself, Ken’s background also brings inspiration to the homeless that Ken works with directly with on the streets.
Jason Okroy is the chief executive officer of Salute, Inc., a company that specializes in utilizing highly trained American military veterans to provide battery maintenance, cleaning, remote hands and installation services to data center owners and operators of all sizes. Mr. Okroy is a technology industry leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, creating innovative solutions to operations problems and generating revenue growth. He has provided IT consulting for major technology firms, created strategic plans and execution roadmaps for critical facility infrastructure and improved operations for data center environments. He has special expertise in the implementation of custom energy efficiency solutions. His experience includes a stint at a top technology staffing firm, where he honed his skills at identifying and developing talent. Mr. Okroy applies innovative thinking and a strong entrepreneurial mindset to every role, wearing many hats as needed. He is uniquely skilled at bringing together disparate teams, vendors and subject matter experts and building consensus around a strategy or solution. The hallmark of his leadership is getting all parties to drive towards achieving a common goal.
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Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call or visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a Homeless Coordinator. Use the VA locator tool www.va.gov/directory to find your nearest VAMC and call or visit today.
