About
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About MVN
Mission
Our mission is to assist veterans and their dependents who are in need, to advocate for those in active crisis/emergency, to prevent homelessness, and to help those who are homeless to transition into stable housing.
The Challenge
Veteran Homelessness
Homelessness comes upon veterans suddenly, usually as a result of not being able to pay critical bills.
Our work to address veteran homelessness is two-fold:
- First, move every Maine-placed veteran who contacts us in crisis into a place of stability. This occurs within 3 to 24 hours of contact.
- Then, through existing and growing partnerships with established, government-funded veteran service organizations, we assist with the on-the-ground work needed to move the veteran from short-term to long-term stability.
Veteran Suicide
If you are here because you need help, click below to reach the hotline by phone.
Seventeen veterans die by suicide every day across the United States.
Our work is directly linked to helping Veterans get out of the circumstances that lead to suicide.
We do this by:
- Being available seven days a week. It sounds simple, but most organizations helping veterans are not set up (and not funded) to staff on a 24 / 7 schedule. This is where we fill in the gaps.
- Connecting the Veteran with the National Suicide hotline 988#1
- Taking immediate action to solve a problem. Taking advantage of leadership and veteran experience honed over many years as part of the armed services, MVN volunteers know how to problem-solve in the moment.
- Helping the veteran navigate out of the issues they are facing. Whether the crisis is financially based, or social- or emotional-health based, we help the veteran in crises navigate next steps by linking them with the appropriate VA resources, state resources, government-funded non-profits, or other organizations that have the resources to help.
In many instances, we provide hands-on assistance to mitigate feelings of hopelessness or being overwhelmed by the systems in place. - Visit our Partner Organizations page to learn about partners.
Why MVN ?
Existing government funded programs have specific contractual requirements that do not always meet the needs of the veteran.
Additionally, most of these contracts neither require nor support 24/7 availability; and the organizations under contract need to move methodically in order to fulfill funding requirements, all of which delays the ability to provide the needed services.
MVN, taking no government funds, does not have the administrative constraints of other organizations. Following an initial review of the immediate need faced by the veteran, we provide emergency services swiftly and efficiently.
By working with a host of veterans service agencies and partners, most of which have broader resources made possible with government funding, MVN moves a veteran under stress or in crisis into a stable place, connecting them with the appropriate agency or agencies that can meet their long-term needs.
MVN is currently led by Navy veteran David Patch, based in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Veteran status is crucial to our ability to do this work, one veteran for another.
Each month, an estimated 125 veterans experience homelessness, with around 30 without shelter. Accurately counting this population is difficult, as some veterans live off the grid and remain hard to reach. Learn more about Veteran Homelessness through the National Coalition.
Maine Veterans in Need is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3.
EIN: 85-1933651
Our Team
Officers
David Patch
dapatch66@gmail.com
Michael Roy
ext 1695
Cell: (207) 899-5613
Jim Bachelder
james.bachelder@metrocast.net
Angela Greenwald
agreenwald@
androscogginbank.com