Veteran testimony highlights homelessness, transportation and suicide prevention needs; urges pilot hyperbaric therapy

Doug Brinker, who identified himself as a disabled Iraq veteran, told the House Families and Veterans Committee about his personal experience with homelessness and urged lawmakers to expand local services, transportation and suicide prevention efforts.

His testimony focused on three themes: housing for homeless veterans, transportation and outreach through veteran navigators, and expanded access to hyperbaric oxygen treatment as a pilot program to address post‑traumatic stress and related conditions. Brinker described living in his vehicle for several months and urged state and local officials to consider refurbishing unused buildings into veteran housing and to increase funding for regional transportation programs.

Brinker described existing programs he said were effective but underfunded, including the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program and local organizations such as the Paquette House and Phoenix Mobility Rising. He urged the committee to consider providing larger transportation grants so organizations can serve rural counties; he suggested a $250,000 award for Phoenix Mobility Rising to expand service across five counties, saying last year the group received about $100,000 and that Jackson and Hillsdale counties received only about $14,000 each.

On suicide prevention and mental health, Brinker urged more funding and community coordination for veteran navigators and peer gatherings that provide social connection. He described his own attempts to take his life years earlier and said that recovery…