‘Where There’s Life, There’s Hope’: Breaking Down Barriers to Employment for Homeless Veterans

But when she ended up at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center ER for a broken wrist, she told herself it was now or never. “Tell them you need help, tell them you don’t have a place to live, tell them what you went through,” she said. “Admit it to someone. Because I had never admitted it to anyone.”

Once Lombard made the decision to ask for help, VA staff assisted her in accessing the care she had earned. They also helped her get an apartment through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. 

But after many years out of the workforce, a job seemed out of reach. That’s where VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System’s (VAGLAHS) Vocational Rehabilitation service came in. 

Dedicated to maximizing Veterans’ opportunities for competitive employment that serve as an essential component of their recovery and integration into the community, Vocational Rehabilitation gave Lombard new confidence, training, support and access to employers – everything she needed to successfully reenter the job market. 

Now she has a position as a program support assistant with VA and is thrilled to be working at the West LA VA Medical Center helping Veterans like herself.  

“My family needs this, I need it,” said Lombard of her new role. “As Veterans we have a lot of pride, we don’t want to ask for help. But we have to realize that part of our duty is to accept help when we need it.” 

Helping Veterans When They Need it Most

A key figure in Lombard’s journey was Michael Akinbolawa, vocational development specialist at VAGLAHS.

After moving to the U.S. from Nigeria, Akinbolawa set his sights on serving his new country by working at VA. He started as a certified nursing assistant at West LA VA Medical Center, earned his master’s degree in social work at the University of Southern California (USC), and made his way into Vocational Rehabilitation, where he discovered the power of employment in helping Veterans rehabilitate.

“Seeing Veterans who are struggling with their mental health getting jobs, getting trained, getting empowered—it’s just awesome,” he said. 

Gainful employment provides a wide range of benefits. Having a job is associated with a greater sense of autonomy, enhanced well-being, reduced depression and anxiety symptoms and increased access to resources, among other positive benefits, according to the 2016 study “The Mental Health Benefits of Employment: Results of a Systematic Meta-Review” by Matthew Modini, Sadhbh Joyce, and Samuel B. Harvey. 

Overcoming All Obstacles 

As part of VA’s efforts to end homelessness among Veterans, VAGLAHS Vocational Rehabilitation offers special services for this population through Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services (HVCES). 

HVCES staff serve as a bridge to employment opportunities and resources in the local community, as well as ensure that a range of job-related services are accessible to Veterans who have experienced homelessness.

“Employment has been proven to be an incredibly powerful tool for helping homeless and at-risk Veterans reclaim their lives and achieve long-term housing stability,” said Jacob Larson, supervisory vocational development specialist for VAGLAHS Vocational Rehabilitation and Akinbolawa’s supervisor.

Enhanced quality of life, increased self-confidence and independence, more opportunities for interaction and socialization, and decreased reliance on institutional care are all benefits of employment for Veterans, Larson said. 

Veterans in HVCES may need individualized support to overcome barriers preventing them from returning to the job market like poor work history, lack of transportation, history of legal concerns, mental health or substance use issues, or an array of other factors. Once identified, HVCES staff come up with interventions through the Veteran’s Individual Service Plan (ISP) to combat these issues. 

“Whatever the barrier is, we’ll just knock it down,” said Akinbolawa.

Veterans may need help obtaining documents like a driver’s license or Social Security card, creating a resume, preparing for job interviews, building a professional wardrobe, connecting with potential employers, or just gaining confidence in their own abilities. HVCES staff is there to assist with whatever they need.

For Lombard, additional training was key to help her reintegrate into the workforce. Akinbolawa set her up with Compton College’s Careers for a Cause program, which prepares participants for positions in social or homeless services. Once she completed the eight-week training, Akinbolawa suggested she attend a VA job fair, and Lombard was offered a job that same day. 

“He was just so efficient and so enthusiastic and so full of life that it was contagious,” said Lombard of Akinbolawa. “He made me look forward to coming to work and being employed full time and he made me think that I could do it.”

‘Where There’s Life, There’s Hope’

More than 12,324 Veterans nationwide were employed through HVCES at the exit from all VHA homeless programs and services in fiscal year 2023.

“That’s what this program is for, it’s for us,” said Lombard. “I just encourage Veterans to take advantage of it. It’s not a handout, it’s what we’ve earned.” She looks forward to many more years with VA, and is currently working towards her bachelor’s degree. 

Any barrier to employment can be overcome, said Akinbolawa, and it’s never too late for Veterans to find work they love and make a better life for themselves. 

“Where there’s life,” he said, “there’s hope.”

Veterans experiencing homelessness who are interested in employment should speak to their treatment team about their employment goals.