Melandie Deplazes, Kiwanis member, introduced speakers LaRon “Ronni” Greywater (nee LaRocque) - Region 3 and Darla Ahles - Region 4 from Grand Forks, who were guest speakers at an October Devils Lake Kiwanis Club meeting.
Ronni Greywater LaRocque serves Region 3 in North Dakota which encompasses Ramsey, Benson, Cavalier, Towner and Rolette counties. That’s a pretty large area geographically and though her main office is located in Devils Lake with the Dakota Prairie Community Action Agency, Ronni manages to touch base with all of those counties on a regular basis in her work with homeless veterans and their families. She’s only been on the job for just over two months but she has the assistance of Darla Ahles, Grand Forks, who also covers Region 4.
Together these women reach out to homeless vets or those who may be on the verge of losing their housing to prevent full-fledged homelssness. They have resources to help these veterans secure a stable place to live in the short-term with subsidies or grants or donations.
“Everyone’s different,” Ronni explains. She deals with each individual situation on a case by case manner. “Some need help for a short time, just to get stable, others need it for a little longer while still others may need help for the long term – it depends on the situation.”
She points out the many resources locally and state-wide to draw from when helping veterans and/or concerned family members. The 50/50 Crisis Line has been a big help, so, too, has 911 and the 911 personnel who can sometimes assist individuals in emergency situations.
Some need to find housing.
Some need to secure their housing, perhaps through shallow subsidies on a very temporary basis.
Some may need help paying rent, not forever, but on the short term.
Some need help with groceries, gas cards, supplies and other expenses.
Ronni says her goal as case manager is to promote independence and stability.
How can you help?
Their association with the Dakota Prairie Community Action Agency helps provide resources for the veterans they serve, as well. They have space for storing items the homeless (or nearly homeless) may need – warm blankets and quilts, warm clothing, boots, socks, gloves, hats, basic household items and food items. She asks that individuals, groups, churches donate to their cause, if they can. Any of the above mentioned items would be welcome plus gift cards or gas cards. They even have resources to store meat in freezers and items that need to be refrigerated like milk, etc. Give if you can.
At one time not so long ago, there were 11 men, most of them Vietnam veterans, who were actually homeless and living outside in Ramsey County – even in the brutal winters we know so well here in this part of the country. Since then a number of those individuals have found housing, a few have passed away and only two of the original 11 still survive “in the rough” – that is, live outside away from towns and people, maybe with a dog as their only companion. The situation is improving. Mental health treatment for PTSD – what used to be known as “shell shock” – is improving.
Thanks to the work of people like Ronni and Darla, perhaps one day they will be able to report that there are no more homeless veterans in this part of North Dakota. Until then if you have donations you would like to give to help veterans who need it, contact Ronni at 218-793-9906 or lgreywater@rrvca.com – she is part of Red River Valley Community Action with an office right here in Devils Lake at Dakota Prairie Commmunity Action Agency, 223 4th St. NE, 701-662-6500.
Ronni suggests, “If you can, don’t just give noodles, give pasta and cheese sauce or spaghetti sauce – something to make a meal. If you give a jar of peanut butter, give some bread or crackers to eat the peanut butter on.”
“I feel blessed to be doing this work,” Ronni admits, “it is very rewarding when you see someone settle in and have a safe, warm place to live and some stability in their lives.”
