11/28/2017
I'm raising money for The Bully Su***de Project and your contribution will make an immediate impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps.
We've included information about homelessness of Women Veterans and what we are experiencing on a daily basis. My journey gives you an upclose and personal perspective of reasons why a Women Veterans Regional Transition Center and Shelter is warranted and why it should be just for Women Veterans and run by Women Veterans.
As a Vietnam Era, USMC Veteran, and as the Founder of the Bully Su***de Project, I have dedicated the last two years of my life to totally understanding the dynamics of why homeless Women Veterans would rather sleep under a bridge or on a park bench at night rather than use many of the designated shelters, foundations and facilities for supportive help. After interviewing several homeless Women Veterans and living at three of the "top" facilities in Dallas, Texas, while volunteering at a Veterans Resource Center for my "research". I am in a unique position to address this ever pressing issue. To say that I am still reeling from the abusive treatment and disrespect I suffered at the hands of those professing "love" for the less fortunate is an understatement.
http://bullysu***deproject.wixsite.com/womenveterans
Mission:
It is our commitment at the Bully Su***de Project to fulfill President Lincoln's promise: "To care for "for HER" who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan!" We believe that we have to extend the previous statement to include "HER" as the situations and circumstances have borne out that Women Veterans have been a footnote instead of, far too often, being apart of the major conversation of honoring the men and the Women who are America's Veterans.
Our Women Veterans Initiative is being undertaken by the founder of the Bully Su***de Project- Dr. Audrey Oates Newsome, a Vietnam Era, Marine Corps Veteran, and her staff with support from additional military Veterans from the Army, Navy and the Airforce who believe that Women Veterans deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and that "now is the time for a comprehensive "bricks and mortar one stop shop" of our own to address our needs". The VA has 152 major facilities created by men, for men and run by men. It is imperative that those who want to help, get a real upclose and factual report on the dire situations facing our homeless Women Veterans on a daily basis! For this reason I share my journey and ask you support for Women Veterans..
My Journey :
The first facility I stayed at, run by men, was the largest foundation that actually housed men, women and children. It was a religious facility and touted a "Veterans " program. 90 women lived in one large room. After four weeks I had not been able to speak to a Veterans Rep., my clothes were stolen, I was accosted in the middle of the night by "the head of secuirty" and her three huge bodyguards because she felt "I thought I was special". So in fear for my safety, the next morning I called a couple of my Dallas Police friends to come and get me out of there. And by the way, the facility was filthy and the "supervisors" (homeless women hired by the foundation) got first dibbs on all food and clothing donations. This was a religious facility.
The second facility was for women only and again religion based. The pervasive spirit of disrespect was still very much alive. The food was disgusting and as in the first facility, all of the homeless women had to leave the premises and be gone all day until just before dinner and "chapel". But the facility was always out of the buss passes that were supposed to be distributed to those seeking employment or needing to go for medical purposes. The conditions of the living quarters for the homeless women should have been against the law. There were 8 women in a little room not as big as an efficiency and only big enough for two women.The showers and bathroom equipment were broken constantly as in the first facility.
The third facility was again for women only, but being the sister facility to facility #2 echoed some of the same negative issues. Religion is not negative but the way it was used rendered no value when it was used in place of everything else. Again supervisors were very disrespectful to all of the women and these supervisors and "disciples" received all of the good food first. There were 8 women to a one bedroom apartment all sleeping in one room. We had no access to television, couldn't use cell phones, food was usually expired when we received it to cook. Buss passes that were supposed to be a part of the program never materialized. So once again, if you didn't have a friend to pick you up you had to hang out on the streets or go to the public library. Additionally, staff destroyed all incoming mail and absolutely no visitors allowed.
I also volunteered at a large Veterans Resource Center at the same time I lived in the shelters. They (male veterans) were happy to see me and to use my help, so I thought. I volunteered from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm M-F for almost a year. I reorganized their Resource Room, to make it easy to distribute supplies to the homeless veterans. I reorganized the clothes closets, sorting incoming clothing donations. I helped all veterans in the Computer Lab and helped with claims, job searches, and general info. I helped serve breakfast and lunch on a daily basis and helped with special events held at the center.
Then, I was sexually harrassed because I recommended and volunteered to set up a database for check-in purposes and record keeping because the antiquated paper copies of check-in forms were being shredded without officially capturing the information. I was told I was full of "Shi* and stirring up trouble. I still have 22 emails from the perpetrator on my cell phone because I decided to leave rather than put up with the abuse.
I shared my journey because the citizens of the US need to know what really happens with these shelters and homeless facilities that are suppose to take care of some of our most precious citizens!
Again, please visit http://bullysu***deproject.wixsite.com/womenveterans
Draudrey Newsome • November 26, 2017
