SLLS Executive Director Says Legal Help is an 'Often Overlooked Solution' for Homeless Veterans

"Veterans accounted for around 10 percent of all homeless individuals in Louisiana, according to 2016 data from an annual Housing Urban Development (HUD) report.

The report reveals the dire need for veterans to obtain housing assistance, which is why Laura Tuggle, the executive director of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS), works every day to make that happen.

Discussing the issue with the Louisiana Record, Tuggle said veterans need a wide array of supportive services to lead successful lives, including housing, access to medical care, counseling and peer support.

“Legal help is an essential, but often overlooked solution to helping end veteran homelessness, to stabilizing the lives of veterans and improving health,” Tuggle said, adding lawyers help veterans struggling with serious medical problems access Veterans Affairs (VA) or disability benefits, so they can increase their income and obtain medical care..."

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