Dear Friends,
Let me start by saying, we want to thank you for your support. GlobalGiving Donors have been very beneficial for Center Point in this new era of social media and web fundraising. The work that we do at Center Point is unique and special, but also serious and important. We touch people lives, and you are part of this effort. Whether these veterans are recently returning from deployment, looking for new employment, or having issues with mental health or sometimes, even homeless with their children, Center Point is here to help. Our services facilitate the process of reintegration by helping both men and women veterans 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 GlobalGiving project is focused on our Texas Veterans Program. It is amazing to the watch the work that our staff is doing in helping our veterans. I am honored to say your donations have been and will continue to be essential in helping our Veterans succeed.
Although our program home base is in Austin, Texas, our services are extended to underserved veterans in the surrounding areas of Travis, Bell, Williamson, and Bastrop counties. Most of the veterans we serve live well below the federal poverty line and are unfortunately unemployed and/or homeless.
Often the veterans we serve do not have clothing for job interviews or clothing for the day-to-day living. Also, the majority of our women veterans lack or do not have adequate personal items to be able to present themselves for employment, clothing being a huge part of this need.
We have also assisted a good number of participants with rent deposits, and emergency rental assistance as homelessness is becoming a big issue among our veterans. At least four people received assistance every week! That is 16 more families a month that get to escape homelessness. This is a gift of more than just funds; it is a gift of hope. A hope that you have made possible for us to give week after week.
For female veterans, homelessness is an especially dire predicament. They are more likely to be without a partner and therefore single parents, sharing this extreme hardship with the most vulnerable in our society — young children.
There is no place for our Heroes or their families on the streets using cardboard for a bed, taking shelter under scaffolding, now wearing rags in place of the uniform they once wore with pride. As a nation and as 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.
Why do we do this work, because we care and we know you do too!
We want to share with you these FACTS about the Veterans we serve:
Thank you for your support, and we hope you continue partnering with us on this great cause!
Links:
Dear Friends,
We launched this project in June 2014, and since then we have received tremendous support from all of you, your donations have played a major factor in our ability to assist and help many our veterans, especially to support and fund those areas of need that traditional government grants usually don’t fund.
The needs of our program participants are many and critical for example last quarter our internal reports indicated that the clients we serve present the following issues;
With your support to our program for the last four years, we have been able to provide immediate assistance and help stabilized our heroes until we connect them to services or help them in reconnecting with their community.
Your Donations through GlobalGiving have funded many of our supportive services which include transportation assistance, such as the gas cards and bus passes that the veterans utilize for job interviews, job search, and/or other appointments geared towards employment or housing. In the last 4 years, over 500 veterans have received assistance thanks to you.
Because your donations and the grants from our funders, and other corporate sponsors in the last four years we have been able to distribute;
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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NOTES FROM THE FIELD
Dear Friends,
We want to thank you for your continued support of our veterans.
The most recent PIT Count which is a national snapshot of Veteran homelessness showed that:
Our Texas Center Point program remains committed to helping our veterans in Williamson and Travis counties in Texas and with your support we know we can accomplish that.
One of Texas Center Point's (TCP) most important goals for the veterans served in achieving self-sufficiency in order to maintain self-worth and dignity in spite of current challenges and past circumstances.
We are happy to share with you some success stories:
Kevin - was met at the Travis County Correctional Complex, during one of TCP's bi-monthly outreach providing job readiness training to the Veteran inmates. When released, Kevin entered a residential substance use treatment center, where he also met one of our Case Managers (CM) that was conducting an outreach at the center. Kevin was assessed for his needs and was enrolled in our program. The staff completed his IEP (Individual Employment Plan), and provided vocational counseling and discussed his short-term and long-term goals. Additional job preparation training was provided including job search, job referrals, resume writing, mock-interview, and communication skills. The CM also provided bus passes for job search transportation and gift cards for obtaining groceries. Kevin met regularly with the CM, diligently staying in contact. With the assistance of the staff, Kevin obtained a janitorial job with the Austin Airport Services. After completing a Coordinated Assessment designed for all homeless individuals and families in Austin, Kevin acquired housing at the Mary Lee Foundation, an affordable housing for individuals with disabilities. Kevin's file was closed at the end of the 2nd Quarter, and during the most recent follow-up, Kevin reports that he continues to be employed and maintains housing.
Tracie is a US Navy Veteran who served from 2000-2003. Tracie is receiving individual counseling from Texas Center Point’s (TCP), and was also recently enrolled in the Fund for Veteran’s Assistance (FVA) for Financial Assistance. According to Tracie, she needed consistency with the amount of counseling she needed, thus, she inquired about the counseling services offered at TCP and was enrolled to receive individual counseling with the Licensed Practitioner Counselor (LPC). During one of the sessions, Tracie shared that she was facing challenges with transportation in her newly acquired employment. The LPC referred her to the Case Manager of the FVA Project for a one-time emergency financial assistance to repair her vehicle. Following are the words of Tracie:
“I would like to thank Texas Center Point Veterans Services for helping me during my hardship. My car broke down right after getting a job. Texas Center Point helped paid for my vehicle repair so that I could keep my job. I thank Christina for making this possible, otherwise, I would be riding the bus losing sleep, or paying Uber to drive me back and forth to work. The staff I’ve met at Texas Center Point are very nice, professional and informative. Christina, Ewa, and Pia are easy to talk to – they listened attentively, and helped and supported me with my goals through motivational speaking.”
When it comes to making a difference in someone’s life, everything counts! Our project “A Heroes Helping Hand” has been fortunate to receive support from our GlobalGiving donors. We are very grateful for the continued assistance received by all of you during this year.
The needs of our program participants are many and critical. For example, this year our internal reports indicated that the clients we serve present the following issues:
• 94% HAVE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
• 72% HAVE FAMILY ISSUES
• 76% ARE UNEMPLOYED
• 88% ARE HOMELESS OR AT-RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS, and
• 49% HAVE PROBLEMS OBTAINING VA BENEFITS
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.
This year, because of your donations, the grants from our funders and sponsors, we were able to:
1. Help 203 Veterans with rental assistance (an average of $570.00 per person)
2. Distribute 100 Walmart Gift cards (each one of 20.00 Dollar value)
3. Distribute 100 ATV Gas Cards (each one of 20.00 Dollar value)
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.
Links:
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We want to thank you for your continued support and share with you and amazing success story:
Alberto is a 24-year-old Marine Corp Veteran who served from 2011 to 2016. When Alberto applied for assistance through Texas Center Point Veterans Services he had recently moved from Houston to Austin and, finding himself homeless and unemployed as a result, was living in temporary housing at a local shelter. Alberto explained that he was experiencing difficulties in securing employment and permanent housing.
Once enrolled in Texas Center Point, Alberto received intensive vocational preparation, training and job placement services. He also received a range of supportive services provided through donations from GlobalGiving such as bus passes to conduct a job search, vouchers to purchase basic necessities and food coupons for use at the local Walmart.
A week after enrollment Texas Center Point placed Alberto in employment with a security company in Austin and he is now preparing for permanent housing through a referral from his Texas Center Point Case Manager to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families housing opportunities. Alberto’s success story was made possible in part by donations to Global Giving which provided him with essentials for self-sufficiency and a renewed sense of dignity.
Your donations through GlobalGiving are making an impact in our Heroes!
Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you will get an e-mail when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports via e-mail without donating.
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