Tribe steps up for vets
Red Springs CitizenMar 19, 2017
Goolsby said that veterans treatment courts operating in
“They are helping to right wrongs and expunge records,” she said. “If one has a conviction, they can’t get things because of it … These courts are a second chance, a do-over, for our veterans.”
Goolsby said to establish such a court requires the county district attorney, a judge and the clerk of court to be on board with the program. This group has to take on the responsibility of the court’s administration, she said.
“I supply a social worker from my budget to these courts because I think they are so important,” said Goolsby. “But the court has to come from the county.”
Goolsby, director of the
Ensuring that veterans are not homeless is a major issue that must be addressed, according to Goolsby.
“If you are not housed, it is very difficult to take care of your health,” she said.
Others who spoke to the crowd of about 200 at the stand down included
Prosser said that when he works with other tribes across
“You have always served your country, even when your country didn’t treat you that good,” Prosser said.
Clark spoke of a study now under way to identify the number of homeless Lumbee veterans and the number of homeless veterans in several other tribes. Out of 25 groups being studied, he said, the
“It’s slow going,” he said. “We have been given 20 vouchers, or slots, to help our homeless veterans. We hope we can prove we have a much greater need and then maybe we can get more vouchers. That’s usually the way it works.”
Godwin welcomed the veterans to Saturday’s event and pledged the support of his administration in efforts to meet their needs.
“When I look at you veterans and what you have gone through, the problems I have every day seem so trivial,” he said. “… You have not only kept people in our country free, you have helped people in other countries to remain free.”
For
“The reason so many veterans don’t get help is that they don’t go to the