Veterans suffering from homelessness is a major problem our country is facing.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 40,000 veterans are facing homelessness. Of those 40,000, more than 2,000 are living on the streets in Texas.
"It’s hard to live out here, especially when you’ve got no money," "Sometimes when I don’t get the money, I don't have any food." (Quote from a program participant).
They are many reasons associated with homelessness and some of the primary causes are:
With your support for our project, we are contributing to change this problem in our community and making a difference in the lives of our heroes.
In the last three months, we have served 59 Veterans in the Austin area, and twenty-five of them have completed our program, out of this twenty-five;
o 79% were unemployed– 88% have secured jobs now
o 69% were making under $15,000 per month – 91% are now making over $15,000 per month.
o 56% were homeless – 88% have secured housing now
The ultimate goal of the Texas Center Point Veterans Assistance Program is to provide active outreach, assessment, case management and vocational readiness services in the Austin Area. With your support, our program can provide short-term financial assistance to Veterans. Texas Center Point offers vocational and job readiness services that are tailored to individual needs. Referrals to specialized training courses and on the job training programs are available.
As you can see, when it comes to helping our servicemen and women, we don’t just work to address their immediate needs; we give them the tools to rebuild their lives, and regain self-sufficiency and reconnect with their family, friends, and community.
Our veterans face many challenges, prolonged separation from traditional supports such as family and close friends, highly stressful training and occupational demands, and mental or physical injuries sustained in combat, all can affect veterans’ personalities, self-esteem, and ability to function in civilian society. These personal challenges put them at greater risk for substance abuse and PTSD. Furthermore, many veterans joined the military at a young age, before acquiring skills that could be transferred to civilian jobs, putting them at high risk of joblessness and homelessness.
Our heroes were there when we needed them, so we must be there now that they need us. Thank you for your support and ensuring that our veterans have access to the support and services they need.
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Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support. The work that we do at Texas Center Point is unique, serious and special. We touch people’s lives and you are part of this effort. Whether they may be a veteran returning from deployment, a homeless woman veteran with children, a veteran who needs employment, or a veteran with a mental health issue, Center Point's services enable the process of reintegration by helping individuals reclaim self-worth and dignity. Equipped with new skills for living and working, and assistance with employment and housing, Center Point program participants return to their communities ready to assume responsibility for themselves and others.
Our Global Giving project is focused on our Texas Veterans, and it is amazing to see the work that our staff is doing in helping our heroes. You should feel proud because your donations are essential in helping our participants succeed.
Every week we assist up to 5 veteran families and single adults with rent deposits, emergency rental assistance, and utility bills. Weekly we distribute up to $3,000.00 on support to these families.
DEMOGRAPHICS OF HOMELESS VETERANS
11% of the homeless adult population are veterans
20% of the male homeless population are veterans
68% reside in principal cities
32% reside in suburban/rural areas
51% of individual homeless veterans have disabilities
50% have serious mental illness
70% have substance abuse problems
57% are white males, compared to 38% of non-veterans
50% are age 51 or older, compared to 19% non-veterans
Who are homeless veterans?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly 9% being female. The majority are single; live in urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About 11% of the adult homeless population are veterans.
Roughly 45% of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S. veteran population, respectively.
Homeless veterans are younger on average than the total veteran population. Approximately 9% are between the ages of 18 and 30, and 41% are between the ages of 31 and 50. Conversely, only 5% of all veterans are between the ages of 18 and 30, and less than 23% are between 31 and 50.
America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.
About 1.4 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
There is no place for our Heroes or their families on the streets using cardboard for bedding, taking shelter under scaffolding, now wearing rags in place of the uniform they once wore with pride. As a nation and individuals, we have a responsibility to protect those who once protected us. Your donations combined with our work are making the difference preventing our veterans and their families from spiraling into the abyss. Thank you for being part of this joint effort!
Links:
Dear Friends,
We want to thank you for your support. The work that we do at Center Point is unique, serious and special. We touch people’s lives and you are part of this effort. Whether they may be a veteran returning from deployment, a homeless woman veteran with children, a veteran who needs employment, or a veteran with a mental health issue, Center Point's services facilitate the process of reintegration by helping individuals reclaim self-worth and dignity. Equipped with new skills for living and working, and assistance with employment and housing, Center Point program participants return to their communities ready to assume responsibility for themselves and others.
Center Point’s Global Giving project is focused on our Texas Veterans Program, and it is amazing to see the work that our staff is doing in helping our heroes. You should feel proud because your donations are essential in helping our participants succeed.
Our program helps underserved veterans in the surrounding area of Travis, Bell, Williamson, and Bastrop counties. Most of the veterans live below the federal poverty line, are unemployed, and homeless.
Often the veterans we serve do not have clothing for job interviews or clothing for day-to-day living. In one of our most recent activities, we distributed 50 Walmart Gift Cards to assist with this critical issue, as well as providing vouchers to purchase food.
We also assist up to 5 veteran families weekly and single adults with rent deposits, and emergency rental assistance. This helps us prevent evictions that would otherwise put our heroes on the streets.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 40,056 homeless veterans living in the U.S. on a single given night in January 2017, which was a little more than nine percent of all homeless adults. The study shows that three out of five homeless military veterans were housed in emergency shelters or transitional housing facilities, while two out of five were living in places "not suitable for human habitation."
The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development notes that nine out of ten (36,302) U.S. military veterans in 2017 were men. Nearly 57% of homeless military veterans were white, one-third were African American and five percent were multiracial in 2017.
There is no place for our Heroes or their families on the streets using cardboard for bedding, taking shelter under scaffolding, now wearing rags in place of the uniform they once wore with pride. As a nation and individuals, we have a responsibility to protect those who once protected us. Your donations combined with our work are making the difference preventing our veterans and their families from spiraling into the abyss. Thank you for being part of this joint effort!
Links:
Most people don’t know that in our country, on any given night, more than 300,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters in the U.S.
Returning veterans who become homeless due to mental health problems or economic hardship are also becoming more common in homeless populations. Despite numerous media stories about homeless veterans and the problems they face, actual studies exploring the incidence and causes of veteran homelessness remain scarce.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly 9% being female. The majority are single; live in urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About 11% of the adult homeless population are veterans.
With your support to our project, we are contributing to change this problem in our community and making a difference in the lives of our heroes.
Client Success Story
Jamal was in the US Marine Corp for four years and served in the Persian Gulf War. Jamal was referred to Texas Center Point (TCP) Veterans Services in November of 2018 by a Dept. of VA Social Worker. Our Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Employment Specialist reached out to Jamal, completed the screening and enrolment process within two weeks. Jamal received our wrap-around services that eventually assisted him in landing a job within one month from the enrollment. Those wrap-around services included but were not limited to – job readiness skills training; financial literacy; uniform assistance; gift cards; and bus passes.
Gift Cards and Transportation Assistance (Gas Cards/Bus Passes)
Since August of 2018, TCP has issued approximately 65 Gift Cards towards food items, shoes and uniforms, and toiletries. TCP also issued approximately 40 Gas Cards and 35 Bus Passes to support clients with transportation services to and from their job interviews, employment, and doctor appointments.
Clients
TCP has currently served approximately 200 clients for this fiscal 2018-2019.
Checks from TVC
TCP has issued approximately 140 checks for various financial assistance (rent payment w/ notice to vacate or eviction notice; security deposits for homeless or at-risk homeless individuals; vehicle repair; vehicle registration; utility payment w/ cut-off notice). The YTD outcome of financial assistance currently stands at approximately $79,178.00.
As you can see with your support to our program, we were able to provide immediate assistance and help stabilize our heroes until we connect them to services or help them in reconnecting with their community.
We are proud to have you as our partner in this effort and we hope you continue to support us in changing lives and connecting communities.
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Dear Friends,
Thank all of you for your support this year. Your donations have made a tremendous impact on the lives of the clients we serve.
The Veterans and their families who usually visit our Texas Center Point Veterans Program represent a variety of needs as diverse as the veterans themselves. Some seek employment assistance. Some require mental health treatment to help them fully reintegrate into civilian society. Some need help finding affordable housing options for themselves and their families. These issues are just a few of those addressed by the Texas Center Point Veterans Program.
Your donations make it possible for our program to offer essential services that support the individuals who stood up when their country needed them. Of the veterans participating in our programs during 2017-2018, thirty-nine percent (39%) had served in the Gulf Wars. Significantly, the percentage who served in the Gulf War and were enrolled in 2017-18 increased to 60%. This can be attributed to an overall increase in the numbers of active service members transitioning to veteran status, the reduction in forces in Iraq and Afghanistan (reducing re-enlistment) and an increase in the number of Gulf War veterans experiencing homelessness, unemployment, trauma, substance abuse, mental health problems, and social displacement.
As our troops return home, Center Point strives to be a leader in innovative programs that empower our evolving veteran population with the tools they need to become self-sufficient. We hope you continue to support us and partner with us on making a difference in the lives of our heroes and their families.
Wishing you and yours all the magic of this Holiday Season!
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