'Boots-on-the-ground' walk aims to get homeless Ottawa vets off the street

Richard MacCallum was homeless and living at Ottawa'sSalvation Army in January when he was approached by a VETS Canada volunteer.

"This group helped me," saidMacCallum Saturday. "They got me out of the shelter. [They] help me immensely. That's why I volunteer with them. To give back."

MacCallum, a Canadian veteran, was one of hundreds ofpeople across Canada who hit the streets this weekend for the coast-to-coast"Boots on theGround"walk.

The walk which took place in 13 Canadian cities, including Ottawa was organizedbyVeteran Emergency Transition Services (VETS) Canada, anational non-profit organization thathelps house homelessveterans and offers support services to thosein crisis.

About 190 volunteers took part in the walk to look for veterans. More than 30 vets were identified and another four reached out to VETS Canada after the walk.

MacCallumsaidthe group helped himsecure permanenthousing, which allowed him to find work inconstruction. He said the non-profit is necessary because it assists those whofall through cracks of government veteran services.

"We do a lot to help where they fall out. We fill in the holes," saidMacCallum.

'I just felt lost'

VETS Canada which was started in 2010 is run by volunteers, with100 per cent of the moneydonated to the organization going toveterans.

"I wanted to get out in the community and do something, and feel like I was needed. Because when I got out of the military, I just felt lost," saidthe group'sfounder,JimLowther.

He was homeless, and he pointed out three other vets who were homeless ... I couldn't believe it. I literally couldn't believe it.- VETS Canada founder Jim Lowther.

Lowther did two tours in Bosnia and served onHMCSHalifax after 9/11 attacks, and now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said he began thinking about starting anorganizationafter meeting a man ata soup kitchen in Halifax.

"He was homeless, and he pointed out three other vets who were homeless ... I couldn't believe it. I literally couldn't believe it. I went home and told my wife. She didn't believe me," saidLowther.

"I figured if it was that easy to find four, what if we actually did a military boots-on-the-ground walk? How many could we find then?"

Ron Allison served for 22 years with the Canadian army and nowvolunteers with the organization's Ottawa chapter.

"It's really grown into a big organization because of the need. There are disenfranchised troops living on the streets and couch surfing all over the country. So we're just trying to fulfil a need," said Allison.

The group, he said, has become increasingly familiar to Ottawa's homeless.

"People on the street are starting to know us."

'An immediate effect'

Kanata-CarletonMPKarenMcCrimmon, who spent five years as an army reservist and 26 more as an air force officer, also took part in Saturday's walk.

She saidthe organization serves a vital role helping veterans dealing with mental health issues and PTSD.

"This is a grassroots organization that has an immediate affect in the lives of veterans who are struggling. Sometimes being in government, you don't see the immediate impact," saidMcCrimmon,who also serves as theparliamentary secretary for the minister of veterans affairs.

McCrimmon said whenmilitary members are relieved of duty because of health reasons, it can be very difficult.

"When they're released and they're kicked out of the military, they lose their community. They lose their family,they lose their identity,they lose their security all in one fell swoop," she said.

"Even to have a kind word or smile, it makes a big difference."