PASCO, Wash. – Support systems for veterans are facing struggles as the U.S. reaches the 35-day mark of the government shutdown. The Columbia Basin Veteran’s Center in Pasco is launching a sign campaign to center crisis resources for any and all veterans who might need them.
The center emphasizes the importance of community support for veterans. Many veterans experience loneliness despite being surrounded by family and friends. The center’s executive director Kristopher Dahir highlighted the need for veterans to feel connected and supported.
He says that, after active-duty tour, many veterans are used to having a set plan and a teammate. When they come back, however, the sudden removal of such resources can be traumatizing and isolating.
The center connects veterans to various services including the VA, county services and local nonprofits. They aim to address issues like homelessness and addiction that some veterans face.
According to Dahir, close to 16 veterans a day commit suicide, a statistic verified by VA.gov. This underscores the urgency of support systems for veterans.
Many veterans in the Tri-Cities work for the government after retiring from active duty, especially in the Tri-Cities. The shutdown is impacting them in multiple ways, from those seeking food and shelter to those in government office spaces.
“We do a lot with homelessness and so we have certain finances that are not coming in at this time [during the shutdown],” said Dahir. “Our group is zero-base and so what I mean by that is we have no veteran pays for anything here.”
Dahir, a newcomer to the Tri-Cities, sees the current time as crucial for a campaign centered around the Veterans Crisis Line, 988. The community is encouraged to get involved and support veterans.
“I’ve only been here four months and truly watching this community step up for veterans has been amazing,” Dahir said.
The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Their website can be found here.
They also have an event planned for November 14 at the Hapo Center to get a large swath of veteran resources under the same roof.
