Ending Veteran Homelessness in our Region
West TN Legal Services, Inc. joins Marsha Blackburn and other State and Federal
representatives in celebrating the Jackson-West Tennessee Continuum of Care (CoC)
Achievement of Effectively Ending Veteran Homelessness
Jackson, Tennessee, November 9, 2018—On October 23, 2018, West Tennessee Legal
Services (WTLS’) Executive Director, Cathy Clayton, joined Congresswoman Marsha
Blackburn and other local, state and federal (VA and HUD) representatives in celebrating the
Jackson-West Tennessee Continuum of
Care (CoC) achievement of effectively
ending veteran homeless in our region.
This goal, coordinated by Tennessee
Homeless Solutions (THS) as the CoC’s
lead agency, would not have been
possible without the efforts of the entire
community, including the Mayors’
Challenge to End Homeless which was
represented at the celebration by
Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist and
Henderson County Mayor Eddie Bray.
As the recipient of a VA Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) grant, WTLS works
closely with it subgrantee, THS, in assisting very low-income veteran’s families transitioning into
permanent housing.
Cathy Clayton spoke at the celebration, noting that “[h]omelessness is always a tragedy but is
especially heart-breaking when a veteran’s service to our country contributed to the situation.
According to a survey released by the VA in May 2018, four of the top 10 unmet needs for
homeless veterans result from a lack of legal assistance. Unresolved legal issues often
contribute to the cycle of poverty that keeps veterans in a homeless or threat of homelessness
situation. Wrongful eviction or foreclosure may force residents from their homes, robbing them
of a stable shelter. Outstanding warrants and fines can pile up beyond a person’s ability to pay,
possibly leading to jail time. The ability to bring in money through a job can be hampered by the
lack of a fixed address, and without a driver’s license, commuting to a job by other means can
be a struggle. Navigating the disability benefits process and medical bills for disabled veterans
can be overwhelming. WTLS, a non-partisan legal aid provider funded in part by the Legal
Services Corporation, works with the CoC to help veterans with these types of problems
affecting their basic needs for which there may be legal solutions.”
West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. -- Helping People Access Legal Rights
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Catherine B. Clayton at
731.423.0616, or email wtls@wtls.org.
