From left: Ernst Larson, Adjutant; Diana Squire, wife; Dwight Davis, father-in-law and WWII veteran, Lisa Harnett, daughter, Frank Squire 2020 LOTY for Post 861; Don Sparks, 2nd Vice Cmdr; and Don Harper, Post 861 Cmdr.
ABC Channel 10 News aired a 90-second prime-time special on Thursday, March 18 highlighting Frank Squire, U.S. Army veteran and member of American Legion Sacramento Legislative Action Post 861 in Sacramento, California, and his Furniture Program team which picks up and delivers home furnishings to newly-housed, previously homeless veterans.
Also, on Thursday, Jan. 21, Frank received The Outstanding Member of the Year Award for the year 2020, presented by Cmdr. Don Harper, American Legion Sacramento Legislative Action Post 861. Observing COVID restrictions, a group of post members assembled on Frank’s front lawn for the ceremony.
Five years ago, Frank began volunteering at Mather VA Medical Center in California by providing rides to patients in need. It wasn’t long before Frank found himself being asked by Volunteer Services to deliver some items of furniture to the new living quarters of enrolled formerly homeless veterans at the request of Mather VA social workers who were implementing the HUD-VASH program The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is a collaborative program between HUD and VA which combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help homeless veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing.
Frank’s furniture delivery program grew along with other hospital programs, and he found himself coordinating the work of several men and women volunteers, paying for as many as seven storage units himself, and delivering furniture to Woodland, Davis, Jackson, Elk Grove, Del Paso, and to all cities in the Greater Sacramento Area. These home furnishings have been picked up from donors by members of the volunteer furniture team, and were initially stored in 10’x20′ commercial storage units and delivered to the new living quarters of enrolled formerly homeless veterans at the request of Mather VA social workers who are implementing the HUD-VASH program.
As the program grew, so did the storage requirements that were not donated. Frank has been struggling for several years to get help from Mather VA and local government to provide storage facilities, and to acquire some financial support from local VSOs to help take some of the load off, so he wouldn’t have to continue paying for the needed storage units himself, but without much success.
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU, Frank, and to all of you who have volunteered your time, hard work, vehicles, and gasoline to deliver home furnishings to many hundreds of grateful formerly homeless veterans!
Author: caLegion Contributor
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