Diocesan Ministries Appeal helps provide vital services for vets

A married couple, both U.S. military veterans, faced the prospect of homelessness a few years ago when they couldn’t afford rent. Making matters more urgent, they had a four-year-old daughter.

So David Pearson, assistant director of Veterans Services of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese, helped steady the family’s precarious situation by paying their rent and utilities.

Seeing the need for a bigger living space, Pearson lobbied for the family to live in a complex of new, fully furnished apartments for veterans in Midland Park. The project was a collaboration of several agencies, including Catholic Charities.

“The new apartment was a more stable environment for the couple’s daughter. She could go to a good school. They were grateful and proud — and had a glow at the ribbon-cutting,” said Ariel Jacob “A.J.” Luna, co-founder of NJSOS Veterans Stakeholders, who works closely with Pearson.

A federal grant helps fund Veterans Services under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program for veterans who face financial, physical, and mental difficulties, such as trauma when they return home. The program provides supportive services to low-income veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Their families also can receive services to promote housing stability.

Veterans Services also receives financial assistance from the Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) through its support of Catholic Charities. The Beacon also recognizes the agency’s service to those who served in the U.S. military in anticipation of Veterans’ Day on Nov. 11.

SSVF serves about 280 veterans a year living in the three counties of the diocese — Passaic, Morris, and Sussex — and beyond. It provides case management, outreach, financial assistance, employment opportunities, legal aid assistance, and advocacy to support the veterans’ households.

The federal program also pays for short-term rent and utilities, rental arrears, utility arrears, moving expenses, child care expenses, apartment application fees, client transportation costs, broker’s fees, and other costs that directly support the housing stability of low-income Veterans per eligibility requirements.

Veterans Services is located at the Partnership for Social Services in Franklin, part of Catholic Charities. It offers veterans in need access to a clothing closet and food pantry. Those services are also provided at Father English Com-munity Center in Paterson, which is closed for renovations.

Pearson works with the Veterans Administration (V.A.) and local lawmakers to ensure veterans receive the benefits they deserve. Veterans Services is part of an extensive network of groups collaborating to address veterans’ needs.

Veterans Services also lobbied lawmakers to establish an N.J. State Women’s Veteran Appreciation Day, observed on June 12, and to build a community-based outpatient clinic in Franklin.

“I am grateful for doing the work that Catholic Charities has afforded me. I find ways to make things work when faced with a problem. We might be the only face of Christ veterans see,” Pearson said.

Luna, an Iraq War veteran, struggled with mental health and readjusting to civilian life upon his return.

“We have a holistic approach to helping vets. We work hard to earn their trust by making a sincere effort. Their problems can be addressed. There’s a higher divine power behind it. There’s hope,” Luna said.

Other DMA beneficiaries are seminarian education, urban Catholic schools, and priests’ healthcare, including Nazareth Village, a home for retired diocesan priests in Chester.

The Diocesan Ministries Appeal supports Veterans Services. Please consider participating in the DMA. To donate or pledge online, scan the QR code or visit https://dopappeal.org/. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 215. For information about veterans’ services, call (855) SOS-VETS or (855) 767-8387 on a confidential hotline.

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