Timothy Pena initially traveled to NYC at the invitation of RIP Medical Debt founder and U.S. Navy Veteran Jerry Ashton to collaborate for his project, Veterans Mission Possible. Soon after arriving, Tim decided he would rather be homeless in NYC than commit suicide in Phoenix and spent five months in a shelter before obtaining his HUD/VASH voucher for supportive housing while detailing his journey from homeless to homeness with a series of articles called, 'Be the Story'. He has testified before the NYS Department of Veterans Affairs, is a member of the NYC Veterans Task Force and Military Veterans in Journalism, while founding The Forgotten Veteran non-profit. Email: Timothy Pena
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Veterans in Transition Need Resources
Timothy Pena • November 19, 2022
Submitting Documentation, Filing Applications Require Access to Library
One of the most frustrating challenges here at Borden Ave is the lack of access to the library which is where the computers are. When I inquired as to why, I was told of an assault against the library volunteer a few years ago who then never came back. I was told also of a time that volunteers were recruited from the Borden Ave veteran pool, but were watching porn on the library computers, so it was shut down completely.
In the few months I have been at Borden Ave. I have had numerous instances when a veteran was not properly prepared for a situation that may have led to employment. In August, when the city was hiring cleaning crews for the subway, we were unable to get online with my laptop and hotspot, and the library wasn’t open. The veteran was unable to submit the online application and the time window closed.
Not only is the library important for submitting online applications, but also to sharpen skills for positions that require working with computers, interview preparation, writing and submitting resumes and lots more. Much of the information we receive from city/state/federal agencies is time sensitive and missing an expiration date can be costly. And while the facility case managers are quite adept at completing paperwork, these opportunities are best served when completed by the veteran and with the assistance of other veterans to create that learning environment where everyone wins.
For those veterans trying to get a new lease on life, access to a simple tool such as a computer should be a no-brainer; especially with working computers and internet behind a locked door just few away. This past Monday, hours for the library were posted for Tuesday-Saturday, but the library remained closed on Tuesday, and it is unknown if the library was open on Wednesday. Hours are posted for Thursday evening, so it remains unclear it the library will open. When I checked, the library was again closed and now the signs for the hours have been taken down. Access to the library is a vital tool in the success of the transitioning veteran to deny them that access is to deny them a smooth transition.
These situations are created in the veteran environment and best resolved in the veteran environment where we can speak freely, loudly, ask questions, and argue with each other because that’s what we do and how we get things done. And that is exactly why the library is so important to the veteran on a path of success. It’s classic ‘Veterans Helping Veterans 101’ and a necessity for the transitioning veteran.
