BEFORE:
Veterans – social needs; unstable housing, food insecurity, legal problems, employment problems, safety concerns, and social isolation
In the aftermath of a post-apocalypse, veterans may find a home in new strongly tight communities depending on their age range, but understandably older generation veterans may have lack of care or support needed and would run into issues. Secondary to this, some veterans may be able to rely on skills they were trained in during their service. For some, PTSD may be a cause of concern for others. Hygiene kits provided for basic necessities.
Homelessness – needs; shelters, clothing, blankets, necessities, food, water, healthcare
In the aftermath of a post-apocalypse, homeless individuals may find the aid they would normally receive lacking but some (situation depending) may not be as affected due to their situations being almost parallel. In some cases, a mass majority of the population may be facing homelessness in the aftermath. Homeless communities already exist and they would find a home as potentially a new norm after the apocalyptic changes. Some communities, depending on how welcoming or accepting they may be, will opt to welcome these individuals as long as they are trustworthy and able to contribute. Behavioral health – needs; healthcare, therapy, supportive environments, medication, treatment
Individuals with behavioral health concerns I believe would probably be facing the biggest of difficulties in the post-apocalypse. Many are dependent on getting proper treatment, taking medications, regular support, that just will no longer exist or be as readily (as ready as can be, as it’s already difficult for many others), available for them. They’ll face difficulties on the day to day basis and may even face mental breaks or just complete loss of self/awareness among potentially being a danger to themselves or others. While communities may be able to assist, professional help may still be few and far inbetween. General healthcare services may still be running but may become strained as resources from outside of the vicinity aren’t able to be provided. If services such as these are no longer running, then complications will definitely arise.
https://cityoflacey.org/city-of-lacey-human-services-and-homelessness-response/
https://www.southsoundbehavioralhospital.com
https://cityoflacey.org/veterans-services-hub/
AFTER:
After disaster struck the world on April 16th in the year of 2025, the infrastructure that kept the Lacey, WA area began to crack and crumble. Those facing homelessness and residing in homeless camps were driven from the nearby forests, once the mist began to settle in, and into the major parts of the city and its parks after the shelters were overfilled. Veterans turned to creating communities of other like-minded individuals, accepting those with family, elderly, or facing health concerns, utilizing their skills honed from their service to aid those in need, some even running services of food distribution and providing shelters. Without resources and funding coming in from the outside world, medication and services provided to those with behavioral health and hospice care concerns began to dwindle, health professionals turned their priority to tending to their families as skeleton crews began to run hospitals and health centers. However, despite these changes, there are those who continued to work and offered their assistance to the communities in any way possible. Kind-hearted individuals from their professions or those just willing to lend a hand. Abandoned retail buildings such as the Sears location would be utilized as shelters and distribution centers.