Staff is very helpful and caring. Taking great care of homeless vets

QI Richardson is absolutely correct in his review. The place can seem like, and actually be, a POW camp.

To become homeless is tragic in itself. Add addictions, mental illnesses, and physical disabilities and you have a recipe for self-destruction. Veterans entering the Arthur Cassell Transitional House(ACTH) beware of what youre getting yourself into.First, youll be asked to sign away your Constitutional Rights (to travel, to see family at will, and to give up rights that most take for granted) ACTH will insist that all of the rules are in the best interest of the individuals under their care. Those of you accepting to reside there will be made to attend mandatory drug/alcohol themed meetings regardless of your personal situation. I have personally witnessed veterans in meetings(AA/NA based) that were deemed by the Veterans Administration(VA) not to have substance abuse issues. These classes were usually on Tuesdays and Thursday on site. As a result, veterans not having drug/alcohol issues have tested (false)positive on the weekly drug screen, still having the reporting his official medical VA record. If you do not have a drug issue, you may want to consider other options.If you are a veterans working on reconciling with your spouse/family, caution. Without the written consent of staff sitting on their ass snacking, you are not able to interact with family at will. Though the name says Transitional, its anything but. Consider this: youve served in combat so that no one comes to the ACTH and turns it into a concentration camp, or worst, rape the fat staff, and they turn around and tell you cannot spend time with your family at Christmas time (because you must request permission). It happens! Youre probably asking yourself why serve in the military and should find yourself in need, why go through that? Beth Waters and Don Bellmore of Open Door Ministries(ODM) say its the VA policies, The VA (Alicia Williams Social Worker NCVAMC) says its their program. And this goes on back and forth . Our men and women whom served deserves far better than this.This is the tip of the iceberg. I suggest that you that are reading first call ODM and ask the director (CURRENTLY Steve Key) why would they 1. Support such a program? 2. If they are made aware that even if one veteran has concerns, why not make corrections? After look at the financial support and stop supporting them until you are sure that veterans are being treated fairly. The United Way is a major contributor to ODM. Ask your elected officials to look into ODM/ACTH to ensure that veterans have say(in writing). Help veterans get the staffing that understand what theyve been through.My rating here only touches on the may things that are wrong here. I did not go into race and preferences when it comes to discipline, staff discrimination, possible mismanagement of funding and equipment, staff openly disagreeing with each other, favoritism, and so on.You may say that Im one veteran that had a bad experience. Thats one too many.I give ACTH 1 star for food.I and other veterans are planning to do all that we can legally to make change for our bothers that have found themselves in need.-QLR-

Husband is clean, and well

For Veterans