MACV Newsletter - July 2020

MACV NEWSLETTER - July 2020

MACV in the News

MACV participated in a virtual resource fair hosted by the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) on July 16. DEED’s venture into a wraparound virtual resource event represents another innovation fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic illustrating Minnesota’s dedication to serving Veterans in need.

DEED and MACV have a longstanding relationship focused on addressing barriers to gainful employment in the low-income Veteran community. “We’ve always participated in [DEED] groups when it comes to career fairs,” notes Jon Lovald, Chief Operations Officer at MACV. Lovald explained that more recent conversations with the longtime partner revolved around MACV’s successful Stand Down events, which are revered in the Veteran community as opportunities to learn about available resources and personally connect with others who share a background of military service.

DEED took a page from the MACV playbook to plan the Veteran Resource Fair, drawing on a variety of resources like those typically seen at Stand Downs to connect attendees with the help they need. The online format presented challenges to creating the same sense of camaraderie present at in-person Stand Downs, but improved accessibility for many Veterans by creating a less stimulating experience with reduced need for physical interaction and mobility.

Almost 30 organizations participated in the event, with MACV presenting information about our Vetlaw legal assistance program, employment services, and homeless resources. Thanks to DEED for this opportunity, and congratulations on the successful launch of a new resource for Veterans!

Case Management: Working with Veterans

Paul, a 54-year-old Veteran with two daughters, recently illustrated another success story showing how a relentless drive toward our mission fuels outstanding outcomes at MACV. This father and his 13- and 11-year-old children were couch-hopping as a threesome, staying with whichever family and friends were willing to take them in. Kyle, one of our newer Housing Case Managers, started working with them during the COVID-19 pandemic. He quickly secured a hotel room for the threesome and started exploring how to stabilize the family for the long-term.

Kyle recognized Paul’s situation as one of the more complex cases MACV encounters, and elected to heavily collaborate with his coworkers and in the broader community to address the family’s needs. He consulted a variety of staff in MACV's housing program, legal services, and employment areas. This process led to Kyle and Paul’s decision to move the Veteran and his daughters into transitional housing. Accessing this resource allows our staff to continue case management and plan execution while keeping clients safe.

One of the challenges Paul experiences is difficulty self-censoring and reading social cues. He often uses colorful language and aggressive communication to engage with others, which adds additional barriers to his stabilization. Kyle built a strong relationship with Paul which allowed him to give the Veteran feedback about the importance of polite, well-mannered interactions with landlords and other service providers.

Paul impressed Kyle with his decision to take the advice to heart. “We came up with a plan to coach him in how to interact with people moving forward,” explains Kyle. “It was…cool to see Paul trying to protect my back because I have his back and working on the things I asked him to do.”

While perfect manners in every future interaction is unlikely, Paul's story shows hope that with the right plan and support anything is possible. Even when it seems like there are no options left, MACV knows how to navigate these tough situations and find solutions for those who seem beyond help.

Partner Spotlight

Carver County Community Development Agency

Community partner Carver County CDA recently won two 2020 National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Awards of Merit. One award was for a Veteran housing project in partnership with MACV, pictured at left during the project's ribbon-cutting ceremony in January. We are excited to celebrate our new partnerships and services available to our residents!

Upcoming Events

Eagle Group Virtual Job Meeting: Tuesdays (weekly) 5pm - Join Online

Vetlaw Legal Clinic : Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm |McLeod County Environmental Services Building, 1065 5th Avenue SE | Hutchinson, MN Download Flyer Here

Martin County CVSO Dedication Ceremony & Resource Fair: Aug. 1- Fairmont, MN

Chaska BTYR Golf Tournament : Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, Deer Run Golf Club, Signup Here

For more events, check out our Upcoming Events page at www.mac-v.org.

Welcome to the Team

MACV continues to expand our reach to Veterans in crisis. We have several new team members we would like to introduce.

Metro Region

^{Zach Johnson,} ^{Employment Specialist}

^{Kim Cameron,} ^{Case Manager}

^{Shelbe Robertson,} ^{Case Manager}

^{Courtney Fisk,} ^{Case Manager}

^{Beth Kaler,} ^{Case Manager}

Southern Region

Hosea Hall, Employment and Housing Case Manager

Northern Region

Jason Stone, Case Manager

Marie Pollnow, Case Manager

Supporting our Veterans

MTU America, Inc.

Shortly after I was hired at MTU America, Inc. in Mankato, I was tasked with either throwing away or donating all of the slightly used safety shoes that we had acquired from when employees left the company. It was clear to me that we should donate them to people who could really benefit from a good pair of safety shoes. Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans was the first organization to come to mind because they offered help to Veterans re-entering the job market. When most Veterans are looking for a job, they look in the construction and manufacturing industries.

Why was donating these shoes important to me? Simple: most jobs in the construction and manufacturing industry require their employees to wear safety shoes at work. But it went deeper than that. For me, it hit home when I remembered what it was like when I left the Marines and had to look for a job. When I was finally hired as an assembler in the manufacturing realm, I had a new worry about finding a pair of safety shoes so I could start my new job.

The biggest challenge that Veterans face when they get out of the military is trying to get back to some sort of normality. And if only a handful of these safety shoes that were donated make it into the hands of a Veteran in need, then the donation was well worth it. Even though the donation of slightly used safety shoes may seem trivial, it means the world to a Veteran looking for a break when everything seems hard for them -- the smallest of gifts or a positive comment can give them hope that better days are on the way.

Choosing MACV as the organization to take the donation wasn’t a hard choice to make, as they do so much for our local Veteran community here in Mankato. I knew there was a need in the community and am thankful that I was in a position to help.

-Philip Daniel, Health, Safety, and Environmental Advisor

MTU America, Inc.

Donor Spotlight

Minneapolis Area REALTORS Foundation

MAR Foundation awarded us $2,000 to support renovations to a housing unit located in beautiful downtown Chaska. MACV has worked with MAR in the past to secure a lot for one of our properties, and looks forward to continued partnership. Thanks, MAR Foundation!

Rochester Area Foundation

The Rochester Area Foundation awarded MACV $10,000 to support our services in southern Minnesota. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing dedication shown by the Foundation to the MACV mission; thanks for your help!

West Central Initiative

West Central Initiative (WCI) is a new donor for MACV who generously granted us $8,000 to support our work in West Central Minnesota. One of the silver linings of the COVID-19 crisis has included increased collaboration with new partners in the push to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota. Thank you for your support, WCI!

Thank You to Last Month's Donors

You Can Help End Veteran Homelessness

Our team is working hard to stabilize Veterans without a place to shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent civil unrest.

Anticipated secondary crises related to these events include a growing number of homeless Veterans removed from encampments and a spike in eviction cases as the statewide moratorium on payment-related evictions lifts. Heavy enrollment in local rental assistance programs indicates that at least 7,800 households in Twin Cities alone are in danger of losing their housing due to layoffs, furloughs, or other lost income.

Support Our Relief Fund

Visit our website