Delmar Dreaming Bear, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran, is caught in a paradoxical situation.
His nights are filled with nightmares, and his days are consumed by the challenges of his physical condition. He lives in a Point Loma motel with his family, including his young grandchildren. His life is a cycle of sleepless nights and days filled with the need to change bandages and empty his colostomy bag, a constant reminder of the legs he once had.
According to American Military News, Dreaming Bear believes that stable housing would significantly aid his healing process. There is a plethora of rental assistance available for homeless veterans like him. However, the VA San Diego Healthcare System has temporarily denied him a housing voucher, arguing that his health condition prevents him from living independently. This decision places Dreaming Bear in a predicament. He wonders how he can improve his health in a room so small that his wheelchair barely fits into the bathroom.
The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (VASH), which Dreaming Bear applied for, has been lauded as a success story. The program has significantly reduced veteran homelessness across the country. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in a news release, emphasized the 'Housing First' approach of the program. This approach prioritizes housing veterans and then providing them with the necessary services and supports to remain housed, including healthcare.
Dreaming Bear's life has been a series of struggles. Born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, within one of the largest Indian reservations in the country, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a teenager in 1969. He was trained as a rifle sharpshooter and ammunition specialist, earning several decorations, including the Vietnam Service Medal. After an honorable discharge in 1971, he returned to the reservation, where he lived in unstable conditions, including a trailer without running water.
His health has been a constant battle. Dreaming Bear has grappled with diabetes, arthritis, sepsis, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA believes his exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam War likely contributed to his coronary artery disease. This, coupled with two knee replacements that led to a double leg amputation, is just a glimpse into his health struggles.
Earlier this year, Dreaming Bear decided to seek a change and moved to San Diego County with his family. They were found by an outreach worker who connected them to several services, including the nonprofit Housing 4 the Homeless. The local VA has also provided assistance, including a hospital bed, an electric wheelchair, and payment for his daughter's caretaking work. However, they have refused to extend a housing voucher.
The VA's refusal to provide a housing voucher is based on Dreaming Bear's "medical instability and recommendations for a higher level of skilled care that cannot be provided by the HUD-VASH program." The VA plans to revisit his case in December, with the hope of moving him to VASH housing once he meets the necessary criteria.
However, the criteria for eligibility remain unclear. The VA maintains that veterans enrolled in HUD-VASH should be able to independently attend to their daily living activities. The VA does not exclude veterans with medical issues that impact their ability to live independently from HUD-VASH, provided resources are available to safely support them.
The VA has a Geriatrics and Extended Care Program for people with more extensive health needs, although this was not listed as an option for Dreaming Bear. The agency sometimes refers veterans to outside organizations for extra care, with some resources potentially paid for by the VA, depending on the veteran's eligibility.
The number of veterans annually denied vouchers due to medical instability is not tracked by the officials. For Dreaming Bear, the struggle continues, caught in a catch-22 situation, where his health is a barrier to the very thing he believes could help him heal - stable housing.
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