Pocono Lions step up to aid homeless vets

Members of the Pocono Lions Club chat following the announcement of their gift of equipment and supplies to Paul's House in Jonas on Wednesday.

(Keith R. Stevenson/Pocono Record)

Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 8:56 PM

Those who served in the U.S. military did so to help protect the American way of life. But many have returned from serving and, for various reasons, are now homeless and unable to partake in that way of life. That's where organizations like the Veterans Assisted Living Outreach Clinic Foundation, or VALOR for short, come in.

Co-founded by U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Mark Baylis of Brodheadsville, VALOR operates Paul's House, which was converted from the former Hotel Jonas at Route 534 and Jonas Road in Polk Township. Named after a fallen decorated Army officer from Illinois, Paul's House is a 12-single-bedroom facility providing transitional housing for homeless veterans while they get help with looking for permanent homes and jobs, dealing with any addictions or mental issues, Veterans Administration paperwork and readjusting to civilian society.

"The best way to get these guys back to being well-adjusted, productive members of society is to get them involved in doing things," said Baylis, who goes with fellow VALOR members out into the community to help homeless vets however they can.

"We have nine of our 12 rooms filled. Our residents help with the cooking, cleaning and other work around the house and the property. This makes them feel more a part of things and makes them want to get back on their feet and work toward having their own homes to take care of."

Pocono Lions step in

But like any other nonprofit organization surviving on fundraising, grants and community donations, VALOR needs money.

Enter the Pocono Lions Club, which raises money for various charities each year, and this year decided to do so for VALOR.

"There's just such a need for support for our veterans who are struggling," said Pocono Lions President David Carbone, whose father served with the U.S. Marines in Korea and whose brothers did the same in Vietnam. "The gratification and appreciation they show for whatever help they can get is more than worth it."

The Pocono Lions, which has formed a military support committee, raised money for VALOR to buy a lawn tractor, log-splitter and other tools for fixing up the property. The Lions have also helped with a kennel for the dog of one of VALOR's Paul's House residents, as well as providing Christmas meals for residents and getting new glasses for two of the residents.

The items were presented Wednesday at Paul's House. Attending the presentation with the Pocono Lions and VALOR were Cramer's Powerhouse, from which the items had been bought, the American Legion Wilson Fischer Post 413 of Pocono Lake, the U.S. Submarine Veterans Pocono Base, American Legion Post 274 of Gouldsboro, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Tobyhanna and West End Memorial Post 927 in Gilbert.

Homeless stand-downs

"VALOR moved a lot quicker than the Veterans Administration did in helping me out," said former Army chemical operations specialist Howard Crockett, who moved into Paul's House more than a month ago after a Bethlehem house fire had left him and his dog homeless for nine days. "I met VALOR at one of their stand-downs."

VALOR holds stand-downs every other weekend for the homeless, alternating between Dansbury Park in East Stroudsburg and the Lehigh Valley area. Stand-downs involve taking truckloads of food, clothes and basic survival items to areas accessible to the homeless, including those who are veterans.

"They took me right into their program here," said Crockett. "I think what the Pocono Lions and these other folks are doing to support VALOR is great.

"When you're trained in the military, you're taught not to show weakness or ask for help," he said. "That mentality stays with a lot of guys when they come out of the service and fall on hard times. They don't ask for help because they're too proud, they want to show they're tough or they don't want to burden anybody, but they definitely need help."

Army veteran Jude Kotch, whose struggle with depression after his military service left him homeless in Luzerne County, agreed.

"Mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction is usually a main factor in a lot of veterans ending up homeless," said Kotch, who once served in the military police and has been a Paul's House resident for three months. "Places like this are much needed. It gives us a place to stay and supports us as we deal with whatever issues we need to deal with to get to where we need to be."

The Pocono Lions Club has a website and Facebook page to accept donations for Paul's House. Donations can also be mailed to Pocono Lions Club, PO Box 899, Pocono Pines, PA 18350.