Lehigh County is poised to end homelessness among the area’s veterans population. Lehigh County Board of Commissioners unanimously supported a resolution aimed at ending military veteran homeless throughout the Lehigh Valley at the board’s Jan. 13 meeting.

Chief sponsor, Commissioner Geoff Brace, called the issue of veterans homelessness a moral one.

“Our veterans deserve our unqualified support as an expression of our gratitude for the extraordinary sacrifices they made,” Brace told the board.

Lehigh County Veterans Affairs Director Thomas Applebach pushed for board passage of the resolution.

According to Applebach, Whitehall, Bethlehem, Easton and Northampton counties also are being asked to support the resolution.

The board is asking other organizations and agencies for support, with an emphasis on housing and employment opportunities.

A task force, initially organized by Applebach, is persistent on ensuring veterans are provided housing within 30 days, Applebach said. The task force originated from Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. The task force, Applebach said, assists on average 20 veterans with providing services and resources.

Applebach noted ending veteran homelessness entirely is difficult to achieve, but it’s worth the effort

“Every veteran’s circumstances are different, but at least it’s a goal to try to reach for,” he said.

According to Applebach, an area veteran’s help line is currently being worked on to provide veterans with help and assistance on obtaining needed services.