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.
They are many reasons associated with homelessness and some of the primary causes are:
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.
In the last three months, we have served 61 Veterans in the Austin area, and twenty-five of them have completed our program, out of this twenty-five;
o 76% were unemployed– 88% have secured jobs now
o 67% were making under $15,000 per month – 94% are now making over $15,000 per month.
o 60% 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 which 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 service men 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.
Quotes from program participants:
“Texas Center Point is a valuable help, and has helped me a lot. I appreciate the gas card that will help me get around in finding jobs and going to interviews.”
“To be really honest, the bus pass has helped me get around looking for jobs and do job search and any other business I have to do. I would have had a harder time getting around to look for jobs or go to interviews as I have limited funds.”
We also invite to visit our new project: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/the-literacyworks-center/
Links:
Dear Friends and Donors,
On Behalf of the clients we served, we want to thank you for the amazing support received this year. As we have said before, the work that we do at Center Point is unique, serious and special and you play a big part in our work with your support. We touch people lives and you are part of this effort.
We want to share with you and amazing story of success, and also invite you to support our newest GLOBAL GIVING PROJECT: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/the-literacyworks-center/
The purpose of The Literacyworks Center is to assist underserved, below-basic-skills students in solving the many educational, personal and logistical challenges they must face to stay in school and succeed in work. The Center will provide advising support and need-based Adult Literacy Awards to our Veterans that will help them break their persistence barriers such as transportation, childcare and tuition. This will help to ensure our Vets complete their educational and career goals.
Success Story
TW came in the office on September 14, 2015. TW was referred by another veteran from Salvation Army. An assessment was completed to enroll TW in the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program on October 1st. TW is a 54 year old male veteran who served in the US Army from 1980-1984. TW was discharged honorably from the Army. During the assessment, TW shared his felony charge from 1994, and with a more recent felony charge from 2012 which he was released from prison on August 2015. TW is currently residing in a temporary transitional housing. Together with staff, TW’s Individual Employment Plan was placed which included providing case management services not only to obtain employment, but also to provide daily needs assessment, such as clothing, transportation, and housing all this funded in part through donations from our project in Global Giving. TW was provided job development training such as, resume writing skills, job search, job interview and dress for success. TW also received transportation assistance from our program in which he was provided with bus passes, and he also received gift cards for grocery shopping. TW attended our October Power Partner Job Club in which he met with an employer who employs individuals with criminal background. TW was interviewed and was offered a job on the spot after the Job Club on October 13th. TW continues to be employed with Easter Seals as full-time Grounds Keeper. Regarding housing, TW is waiting on VASH/HUD’s SSVF.
Links:
Dear Friends,
As we remember and reflect on the families and victims of September 11, it is important to also think about our American Heroes, those that were deployed to protect our freedom. Today many of our brave military men and women are still suffering the side effects of this sad day in the history of our nation.
A recent Congressional Research report, “U.S. Military Casualty Statistics: Operation New Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom,” provided data relating to the post September 11, conflicts, including the numbers of wounded. The report indicates that "Among service members deployed in these conflicts, 103,792 were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over the period 2002 to December 2012. Over that same period, 253,330 service members were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of some kind."
More than half of the 2.6 million Americans that were dispatched to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle with physical or mental health problems stemming from their service, feel disconnected from civilian life and believe the government is failing to meet the needs of this generation’s veterans, according to a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The results and the aftermath have left thousands of our heroes behind on an uncharted postwar landscape, fighting for benefits, struggling to land a job, wrestling with psychological demons unleashed by combat or coping with shattered families. The need for services is huge and navigating or understanding the systems is often a struggle by itself.
The Center Point Texas Veterans Program takes pride but also sees this work as an obligation as a Nonprofit Community Agency to help our Heroes and their Families with your support and other grants, We are making a difference in our American Heroes “One person at a time”.
Thank you for support
SUCCESS STORY:
Desi R served in the US Army as a 75B10 (Personnel Admin Specialist) from 1997-2000. Desi was enrolled in Texas Center Point's (TCP) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (TCPs HVRP ) on January 30, 2015, as part of TCP's monthly orientation at The Salvation Army of Austin. Desi was utilizing their emergency shelter where he secured a daily cot and eventually moved into their Worker's Dorm program. At the time of enrollment, Desi completed his Individual Employment Plan with the Case Manager. Desi was provided resumè writing skills training, interviewing skills training, dress-for-success, and job search assistance. Desi attended one of TCP's Power Partner Job Club events with TVC in February. Staff assisted Desi with an application to Ross Dept. Store, and participated in two interviews. During this time, Desi also applied at the Austin Airport and obtained a position as an Airport Ramp Agent. Two weeks later, Desi was offered an associate position with Ross Department store which he accepted. By March 26, Desi moved out from Salvation Army's Worker's Dorm and moved into his own apartment. Desi was also provided supportive services such as clothing, food, toiletries, and transportation assistance with a weekly bus pass. On May 15, Desi was discharged from TCPs HVRP. Follow-up was conducted and Desi reported that he continues to be employed, has moved into another apartment, and has obtained his own vehicle.
LITTLE NEWS FROM THE FIELD:
An event hosted by Heroes Night Out (Hiring and Resource Event) occurred this week in which Texas Center Point (TCP) was invited as a Resource provider. A Veteran has contacted an organization by the name of TexVets who informed the Veteran about TCP and encouraged him to attend the Hiring and Resource Event. This veteran showed up at the event and met with one of the Case Managers who completed an intake for eligibility. Once we he was deemed qualified, we enrolled him that same day to provide him with an emergency rental assistance due to the fact that he received an eviction warning from his property management. Our TCP Program Manager advocated for the veteran and contacted the leasing agent informing her about our agency and the work we do for veterans. Eventually, the property manager decided to honor our financial assistance and agreed to accept our service to help out our combat veteran. With a collaboration from another agency, we are also assisting this veteran obtain a sustainable employment.
Links:
Dwayne is an Army Veteran who served for five years as an Infantryman from 1989-1994. Dwayne was referred by another veteran and enrolled in our Texas Veterans program on October 2014. During the assessment, Dwayne reported he was living from one friend's house to another. Together with the Case Manager, his IEP (Individual Employment Plan) was developed identifying his short-term goal - to obtain employment as a Building Maintenance by acquiring a certificate; while his long-term goal was to become a Building Maintenance Contractor within 2 years. Dwayne attended the Austin Community College to obtain his Building Maintenance certification in which he graduated on December 16, 2014. One of the required documents noted in his IEP was for Dwayne to construct a Letter of Explanation to employers regarding his past legal history.
In November, an event was attended where the Program Manager met the Director of Engineer of JW Marriott. An agreement was attained for the Director to review Dwayne's resume. Both Dwayne's resume and his Letter of Explanation were e-mailed to the Director on November 25, and by December 4th Dwayne obtained his first interview. On Dec. 8, Dwayne completed his second interview, and by December 12, Dwayne was offered a full-time position as Maintenance Technician. Along with Job Development, Housing services were also identified in Dwayne's ISP. Dwayne was linked with housing agencies that are presently assisting him to acquire his own apartment.
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Veterans who visit our TEXAS 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 or their families. These issues are just a few of those addressed by our program with a wide spectrum of supportive programs.
Your support through Global Giving has help us make an impact on many of these lives for example;
-Every week we give out around 50 weekly buss passes approximately 280 per week in the last 6 months that is over $6,000.00 Dollars. Thank you for your Support!
-Another amazing activity that part of our program is the "Power Partner's Job Club" this is were we connect many our Veterans with possible employees.
We look forward to continue partnering with you. Your Contributions make it possible for our TEXAS Veterans program to offer financial and critical support to the individuals who stood up when their country needed them.
Links:
When it comes to make a difference in someone life, everything counts! Our project “A Heroes Helping Hand” has been blessed by the support of all donors on Global Giving, and it is because of you that we are making a real and lasting differences in the lives of our nation’s veterans.
Because of your donations, almost $40,000 in raised in the last 9 months, we have directly helped hundreds of veterans through our progran in Austin, Texas. Many veterans passing through our doors were taken out of hopeless situations and transformed into productive members of our society.
A successful story: Michael Elliott
Michael, a combat veteran, was honorably discharged from the US Army where he served from 2007-2012 as a Health Care Specialist/Medic. Michael was referred to Texas Center Point Veterans Services by a Veterans Career Advisor of Texas Veterans Commission. At the time of enrollment, Michael acknowledged he was living in his truck. Michael was enrolled in our program on August 28, 2014. Due to anxiety and depression he was also referred to Center Point’s counseling program. Michael was reluctant at first, but eventually enrolled in the counseling program a month later.
On the day he was enrolled, Michael was referred to one of Center Point employer-partners. Four days later Michael was interviewed, processed, and was hired by G4S security to start work in late 2014. Michael applied for the Battle-to-Oilfield job training and received a certification in hopes to be employed in the oil field as an EMT. This job training was held in Louisiana; therefore, he was laid off from G4S. When Michael came back from his training, he immediately applied in different places and instantly obtained two part-time jobs at HEB and CenTex Rental Center. Granted that Michael obtained two employments, Center Point continued to assist him in job search to obtain his long-term career goal of working in the medical field. Center Point reached out to Dept. of VA who has employed two of our previous veterans in Austin’s VAOPC (VA Outpatient Clinic), and The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas. Both of these companies have talked with Michael on the phone for brief interviews, and as a result, both of them contacted Center Point and have expressed interest in Michael.
Center Point continued providing services to Michael to address his needs, such as advocacy and resources for housing, and career development. By the end of 2014, Michael acquired housing through the Grant Per Diem program of Dept. of VA. Michael was provided resumè writing skills training, mock interview, dress-for-success, job search assistance, vocational guidance, Job Club workshops, and transportation assistance, such as, gas cards when he travelled to Louisiana and until he received his first pay check many of this funded by our donations through Global Giving. Furthermore, Michael has started to search for a permanent housing.
Michael was discharged on December, and we continually provided follow-up survey with Michael regarding the aforementioned jobs in the medical field and housing. As of January 29th, Michael received his verification of employment from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to work in Austin Outpatient Clinic as a full-time Medical Assistant, and he continues to live at the transitional housing.
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At Center Point we believe that it’s an honor to serve our veterans, our heroes. And we do our best to assist every veteran we can, from those stepping into our office to those needing assistance in the streets we take pride in our work and you make it happened with your amazing support and donations.
Thank you for being our partners and for your amazing support
Links:
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.
We'll only email you new reports and updates about this project.
