1. “We shall only pass through this life but once, we have
honored ourselves and
our families in defending our country and now we need to help

2. American service members face many challenges, both on active duty and after. One
of those challenges may be physical disability of some type. And for service members
and veterans, in order to classify the disabled, the Armed Forces and Veterans
Administration assigns a specific percentage of disability. These disabilities ratings
play a critical role in determining which benefits are available to the disabled person.
John S. Lewandowski, the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH)
Founder/Chairman of the Board is a 100% disabled veteran. His 100% rating is based on
the loss of use of his lower extremities due to a service connected injury. And like
many veterans confronted with injury, he didn’t know where to turn. It became almost
impossible for John to get around his home, so he had to turn to outside help. Little
did he know how expensive and time consuming it became, taking more than 2 ½
years to secure a contractor, a contractor that would not take advantage of the
special needs construction and accomplish the work at reasonable prices, so in June
2008 he started the DVCH to assist and help our men and women in uniform.
What he did discover is that the Department of Veterans Affairs has a special program
for veterans with specific categories of injuries due to service connected injury or
illness. He found that if eligible by the VA’s Rating Board, he could have a home built
for himself and his family.

3. To facilitate a comprehensive program that is aimed to be
providing affordable and
accessible housing choices for disabled veterans and the at-risk
veterans
and their families throughout Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic states.
To serve
the veterans who served our country with pride and honor, but
returned
home with a debilitating injury and/or are disabled. With the
current economy,
we use rapid rehousing program so their homes, utilities, any
issues that they
will face not to be homeless. We are seeking to get all veterans
and their families

5. The following special categories:
• Debilitating injury such as loss of or loss of use of lower extremities
• Loss of or loss of use of upper extremities (paraplegic and quadriplegic)
• A need for braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair because of either:
1. SC loss, or loss of use, of one leg plus SC loss, or loss of use,
of one upper limb, or
2. SC loss, loss of use, of one leg plus disabling symptoms of
another SC physical disease or injury.
• Severe burns over greater than 70% of their bodies
• Blindness
• TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
• ALS and others...

6. The State of Virginia presently has 822,300 veterans
• Men – 730,000
• Women – 92,000
The Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Area:
• Frederick County – 7,040
• City of Winchester – 1,699
• Clarke County – 1, 364
• Page County – 2,267
• Warren County – 3, 817
• Shenandoah County – 4,361
TOTAL: 20, 548

7. The result is a group of homeless veterans where 70% have a history of combat
exposure with its psychological effects, says Pete Dougherty, a senior policy adviser
on homelessness at the VA.
Among all homeless veterans, perhaps 20% to 33% were in combat, he says.
Homeless vets: Number of U.S. veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are
homeless or in programs to prevent homelessness:
2006: 1,297
2007: 2,167
2008: 3,495
2009: 5,881
2010: 9,750
2011: 10,476 (through May)
About 13% are women
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs

8. Veterans are defined as anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, whether wartime
or peacetime. Veterans commonly eligible for VA services include:
• Older veterans
• Combat veterans
• Any veteran who became disabled in the service
• Any female or male veteran with military sexual trauma
• Younger indigent veterans with an honorable, general or medical discharge
• Younger disabled veterans
The veterans are predominately African-American and male. Many are aging; however,
younger male and female veterans are increasingly utilizing medical services here,
especially since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began. Many have multiple medical
and psychiatric problems. Some of our veterans have college or graduate degrees, but
the majority have a high school degree or less education. There are more female
veterans here than at most VA’s. Many of our female veterans are single parents.
Common psychological problems include combat trauma, sexual trauma, depression,
personality disorders, a myriad of anxiety disorders, and psychosis. Many veterans
have addictions and may be dually diagnosed. Our veterans often display remarkable
resilience and resourcefulness under very difficult circumstances. They are generally
open about their problems and honest with themselves about their need for help.

9. Women who are wounded in action might suffer amputation, traumatic brain injury, or other
debilitating conditions that need rehabilitation. Many more will likely have mental health
needs. In 2006 and 2007, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were among
the three most diagnosed conditions for women veterans using Veteran's Administration (VA)
health care.
Serving in a combat unit also is extremely stressful. For one, soldiers face the risk of death or
life-changing injury. Being shot at, seeing others get hurt or killed, and perhaps needing to
wound or kill others are sources of combat stress. Long-term separation from loved ones and
family also can be a source of stress.
Women soldiers also are at high risk of military sexual trauma (MST). MST is any sexual
harassment or sexual assault that occurs in the military. In fact, 23 in 100 women using VA
health care reported sexual assault in the military. And 55 in 100 women reported sexual
harassment. MST can affect a woman's mental and physical health, even many years later.
Stress reactions that contribute to PTSD, depression, or other mental health issues can make
it very hard to return to "life as usual." The VA has many programs to help men and women
veterans recover from war-related injury and trauma, including PTSD and MST.
In 2020, an estimated 1.9 million veterans will be women. Some of these women veterans will
have disabling conditions that result from their military service.

10. The service that DVCH provides does not cost veterans one penny. The service is
cost-free to qualifying veterans. That service includes vetting organizations and
companies to ensure they meet all the qualifications required for the type of work
required.
The vendors or organizations include:
• Real Estate agents/certified home counselors and funding institutions
• Financial institutions that handle all the matters of financing the project
• Builder(s) approved by the Veterans Affair Special Adapted Housing Section.
This is extremely important as they know the proper housing requirements.
• Administrative staff to take care of all the paperwork that is involved with
a service of this type
• The local Department of Veterans Affair medical facility to schedule a
home visit to see what medical equipment they supply to the veteran, at no cost to
the veteran.
DVCH can stage the services, contractors, and other players, so that when the
veteran is ready to move forward in the process, then all they have to do is ask.
Once ready, the DVCH staff will sit down with them and discuss the options that
available to and your family. Anyone ready this document might know of a disabled
veteran that might benefit from our services…if so, pass this document on to them.
Encourage them to call and connect with us. Then we can do the rest!

11. 1. VSO (Veteran Service Organizations)such as DAV, American Legion, etc.
2. Each VA Medical Center has a VA Regional Representative (Phillip
Garvey is at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center)
3. Veteran Service Centers, they are located in each area of the state
where you live in.
4. Nonprofit organizations that specialize in assistance to veterans.
5. Check your Internet for organizations that can assist your search for
assistance. (Always be careful on scam organizations)

12. Look around at the veterans you know. Are there any you think may
benefit from our program or will benefit due to homeless or potentially
becoming homeless? It all begins with information.
Pass this information on to them, or send us a note and we’ll follow up for
you. Giving back to our veterans is showing appreciation for their service
to preserving and protecting our freedom.
For more information on the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing’s
contact:
Our website is at http://www.DVCHVets.org
If you or anyone that you need assistance with an issue dealing with the
Department of Veterans Affairs, especially the need for an accessible &
affordable housing for you and your family. All veterans or service
members that are leaving the military with issues that now require a need
to be able to get around in their present home or need to have one built
for medically accessibility let us know so we can assist you in your
process, and always remember the DVCH does not charge one red cent for
our services.

13. John S. Lewandowski, Founder/Chairman of the Board
DVCH National Office
Phone (540) 877-1252
Fax (877) 327-4541
Email DVCH123@gmail.com
Linda A. Roseboro, DVCH’s Director, Marketing/Events
DVCH’s National Office
Phone: (540) 270-5897
Fax (877) 327-4541
Email: linda.roseboro1@us.army.mil or roseboro@hughes.com

14. Duane (Skip) Rogers, Co-Director, Wounded Warrior’s Program
DVCH’s National Office/Able Forces, Inc.
Phone: (540) 631-9600
Fax (540) 635-2083
Email: Skip.Roger@ableforces.org
Ronald (Ron) J. Hafey Sr., DVCH’s President, Board of Directors
DVCH’s National Office/Vietnam Veterans of America
Phone: (540) 877-1234
Fax: (877) 327-4541
Email: S_Guardian@hughes.net