""All the progress that I've made will be for nothing," said Kurt, a participant in the court who Mission Local is identifying here by his first name as his case is still open. "I'll lose everything.""
""The problem in San Francisco is that people who wind up in the criminal justice system and are the most vulnerable often struggle to navigate the complicated process of filing for healthcare benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs," said Nicholas Rusanoff, a San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commissioner who mentors the court's participants."
San Francisco's Veterans Justice Court has provided an alternative to traditional criminal justice for veterans facing charges, allowing them access to treatment. However, due to budget cuts, the city plans to eliminate funding for essential staff, impacting veterans without benefits. Currently, about a third of participants lack benefits and fear losing their progress without case management support. The complexity of obtaining healthcare benefits adds to their challenges, raising concerns about compliance and potential return to criminal court.
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