Veterans Community Project

Veterans Community Project (VCP) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to fixing Veteran homelessness. Founded in 2016 by combat Veterans in Kansas City, VCP believes a Veteran is anyone who raises their right hand and takes the oath to protect our Constitution, regardless of discharge status or type of service. By harnessing the collective capacity of the community, VCP offers a proven path back to society for homeless Veterans. Through transitional tiny home VCP Villages, personalized case management, and wraparound support, VCP empowers Veterans to regain stability and achieve self-sufficiency, as demonstrated by our industry-leading 85% successful transition rate fr... read more Veterans Community Project (VCP) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to fixing Veteran homelessness. Founded in 2016 by combat Veterans in Kansas City, VCP believes a Veteran is anyone who raises their right hand and takes the oath to protect our Constitution, regardless of discharge status or type of service. By harnessing the collective capacity of the community, VCP offers a proven path back to society for homeless Veterans. Through transitional tiny home VCP Villages, personalized case management, and wraparound support, VCP empowers Veterans to regain stability and achieve self-sufficiency, as demonstrated by our industry-leading 85% successful transition rate from VCP Villages into permanent housing. VCP's success reflects the profound transformation that occurs when Veterans gain access to the housing, Veteran-centered services, and community support they deserve. We are Veterans housing Veterans, armed with the strength and support of the community. VCP operates as a national 501(c)(3) organization, combining centralized support, resources, and programming with locally driven leadership and community-responsive service delivery. Each VCP location is deeply rooted in and accountable to its local community. Funds raised for VCP of St. Louis are designated by the local leadership team to support programming, operations, and capital needs within the Greater St. Louis region. All contributions directly benefit area Veterans and advance local efforts to fix Veteran homelessness in Missouri. Armed with a broad definition of homelessness and commitment to leave no Veteran behind, VCP of St. Louis addresses the gaps in available services in Missouri where, according to the 2024 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Point-in-Time Count, 546 Veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in January. These figures highlight persistent barriers to housing stability; however, they are low, and exclude many Veterans served by VCP, including those with other-than-honorable discharges, National Guard or Reserve members never federally activated, and others outside VA-defined service criteria. With 98% of the Veterans served by VCP falling below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and facing compounded barriers including unstable housing, limited employment opportunities, systemic inequities, and exclusion from traditional housing programs, the need for comprehensive, wraparound support remains urgent. VCP of St. Louis respectfully requests support from Nike for our general operations. These funds will sustain our innovative, Veteran-centric approach that has become a lifeline to many Veterans who would otherwise fall through the cracks of a fragmented system. The organization meets immediate needs-such as transitional housing, emergency assistance, and access to basic supplies-while forging pathways to long-term solutions through financial literacy classes, employment assistance, and benefit navigation. Funding for general operations ensures that our dedicated team of case managers and extensive volunteer network can continue to deliver these essential services. Our holistic approach reflects the belief that addressing all aspects of a Veteran's life-housing, mental health, employment, financial stability, and network of support-results in long-term success. To accomplish our mission, VCP provides high-impact, wraparound services that enable Veterans to meet the challenges of day-to-day living, resolve immediate crises, and move toward permanent stability. In 2025, VCP of St. Louis provided 1,972 services to local Veterans, with our Outreach Center fielding 1,471 Veteran visits. Our two core Veteran Support Services (VSS) programs-Residential and Veteran Outreach Services-ensure the approximately 350 Veterans we serve each year not only get back on their feet but remain standing. Served through VCP Villages, our Residential Program offers a unique model that pairs tiny homes as transitional housing with individualized case management, providing homeless Veterans the support they need to rebuild their lives. Built on 240-square-foot concrete foundations (320-square-feet for family units), each home is designed to provide Veterans with safety, dignity, and stability in a space that reflects their unique needs. VCP's wraparound philosophy acknowledges healing from homelessness requires more than a place to live; it requires a holistic, Veteran-driven approach that supports progress at a pace determined by the individual. Upon entering the Residential Program, Veterans receive a baseline Permanent Housing Readiness (PHR) score on a 0.0-10.0 scale. To support and measure progress toward PHR, VCP utilizes the H.O.M.E.S. Index-a proprietary tool designed to help Veterans address the root causes of instability and homelessness across five key domains: Health and Wellness, Opportunity, Money Management, Earnings, and Support Network. Veterans are assessed when they move into a tiny home in a VCP Village and reassessed monthly to track progress, inform goal setting, and ensure interventions and services remain responsive to their evolving needs and circumstances. A Veteran is considered ready to transition from the Village when stability has been achieved across all program pillars and their sustained Permanent Housing Readiness (PHR) score falls between 7.5 and 8.5, demonstrating readiness for independent living in permanent housing. Veteran Outreach Services extends this impact through community, street, and agency outreach, ensuring Veterans can access support wherever they are. Services include non-VA and VA benefit systems navigation, military documentation, emergency assistance to secure and maintain housing, referrals for mental and physical health care, substance use recovery, financial counseling, employment readiness and workforce development programs, and other critical supports. As part of our comprehensive wraparound approach to Veteran support, VCP is deeply committed to alleviating the tragedy of Veteran suicide. Studies show that 14 of the 20 Veterans who die by suicide each day are not connected to the VA or any other support agencies. To combat this statistic, VCP partners with the VA to administer suicide screening and prevention services through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Program (SSGP Fox SPGP). When encountering Veterans in crisis, VCP acts swiftly and with compassion to coordinate immediate access to life-saving services through the VA or other trusted community partners. Case managers work closely with Suicide Prevention Coordinators and Community Engagement Program Coordinators to ensure that Veterans in crisis receive rapid intervention, referrals, and case conferencing support. A continued partnership with Nike would be instrumental in advancing VCP of St. Louis' mission to fix Veteran homelessness. Funding will directly support local Veterans by providing access to transitional housing and individualized wraparound services designed to address barriers to long-term stability. Together, we will empower Veterans to regain control of their lives and secure permanent, affordable housing, building a more inclusive and sustainable St. Louis community-one Veteran at a time.