Women Warriors

Many women warriors can’t go home again when their deployment ends– at least not right away.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, between 6,000 and 8,000 women veterans are homeless in the United States; between 300 and 400 of them live in Connecticut.  Many of these veterans simply need transitional supportive housing to help reintroduce them into the larger community.  Connecticut currently has 106 transitional supportive beds but less than 10 of them are for women. Here in Wilton, 'Female Soldier, Forgotten Hero' is working to secure transitional housing designated for women.

“Life is only beginning at the point of return for some,” said Wilton resident Shalini Madaras. “They need a place that cares and supports them. The key thing to every human being is a roof over their head.”

Transitional housing allows returning veterans a place to steel themselves for re-entry into the civilian world while having easy access to health care, counseling, jobs and public transportation.  Veterans living in such housing must be honorably discharged from the military and have been VA-recommended.

There are 3,800 Connecticut residents serving in the National Guard, of which 1,000 are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, after nearly eight years, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have largely faded from the public’s notice.  Flu fears, health care, and unemployment dominate the headlines.

“You would think going to Iraq was hard, but coming home is the worst experience,” said SPC Lauren Cust, a military police officer in Iraq, who returned last May.

Coming home brings its own set of challenges for women veterans. Many women have been sexually assaulted and raped while serving over seas, said Cust who is a social worker in civilian life. Women warriors are expected to step right back into caregiver roles upon return, though they often need care themselves. 

Cust knew several soldiers, women and men, who returned back to the U.S. with no place to call home.  While still in Iraq, she did some online research and connected with 'Homes for the Brave.' Once she returned, she met Madaras and learned about FSFH.

“I volunteer as much as I can.  I honestly believe in what they are doing and will support whatever they need,” Cust said.

Some Wilton residents may know about Madaras because of her son, Private Nicholas Madaras.  He was killed in Iraq in September 2006 by an IED.

During leave two months before his death, the Wilton High School graduate, and soccer enthusiast, had gathered soccer balls for Iraqi children living near his post. The Humvee driver never got the chance to distribute the balls.

On Sept. 3, a roadside bomb exploded during his daytime patrol.  While some worked to secure a vehicle damaged in the explosion, Madaras climbed out of his truck to direct traffic away from the soldiers.  At that point a second IED exploded and killed the 19-year-old.

After reading about Madaras’ passion for soccer, Ken Dartley of Wilton contacted Shalini and Bill Madaras. Dartley collected soccer balls in Nick’s honor and thus ‘Kick for Nick’ was born. The organization has since collected soccer balls from 45 of the 50 United States.

Since then, Madaras hasn’t stopped reaching out to veterans. Her son Nick often spoke about the female soldiers in his unit.  He told her how they were “just like the guys.”

“I thought about what my son would tell me,” Madaras said. “That there was no differentiation about how they slept, how they bunked.  It highlighted to me the need for a place that was female only.”

Cust, an Army Reservist from Ridgefield, said civilians just don’t understand women in Iraq are in combat and on the front lines alongside the men.

“When my husband wears a t-shirt I got him in Iraq people ask ‘Oh are you a veteran?’ It’s frustrating,” she said. “One of my biggest frustrations is that I think people tune it out, which is really sad.  In World War II people rallied behind the troops.  Maybe it tires civilians out to have to remember the troops, but for our sanity over there, they need to think about it.”

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 19,000 female veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan were diagnosed with mental disorders, more than 8,000 of whom were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. This excludes troops still enlisted and troops who haven’t used VA services.

As of July 2009, slightly more than 5,000 Iraq or Afghanistan female veterans had received disability benefits for the stress disorder, compared with nearly 58,000 males.

These numbers motivate Madaras. FSFH has so far raised $100,000 towards the purchase of a building.  Their next goal is between $250,000 to $300,000.  Madaras said they hope to cover one-third of the cost and secure a federal grant for two-thirds.

“The primary thing is we have safety for women,” she said. “A place to call home.”