A Heroes Helping Hand

Your Donations Make an Impact

Dear Friends,

We want to thank all of you for your amazing support this year.  Your donations are making an 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 or their families. These issues are just a few of those addressed by 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 2012-2013, thirty-eight percent (38%) had served in the Gulf Wars. Significantly, the percentage who served in the Gulf War and were enrolled in 2013-14 increased to 52%.  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 familes.

A letter from one of our program participants

How important is the Texas Vets program to me and to other veterans?

This program helped me greatly when I was in the middle of mass chaos. After losing my housing in Killeen, Tx. I decided to move to Austin so that my husband could at least be closer to his job. I did some research for veteran resources and found out about Texas Center Point. I immediately got assistance from everyone there starting with counseling services and then moving on to improving my housing situation. The staff were very thorough with me in finding out the details of what it was that I was looking for to accommodate my family. My Case Manager utilized an apartment locator that would be able to find housing for me with my financial situation being what it was. During the period of time that I was looking for housing, I was also actively involved with the Virtual Job Fairs and Job Search opportunities that were offered through Texas Center Point. I never gave up my search for employment and ended up landing a job at the Department of Public Safety. If it had not been for Texas Center Point and their wonderful staff, I don't know how I would have made it through the storm.

As a Veteran, I feel that we should never be left behind when requesting services. We as Veterans have served our country and done whatever was asked of us without any question. Why should we be questioned about the services that we deserve? Once you've lived the military life, it's very hard to transition. Civilian jobs can lay you off at any time, there's never a guarantee like there is in the military.

Depression sets in and then you find yourself out of work, out of touch with reality. Texas Center Point's staff helped me stay focused and reach my goals. I am completely grateful for all that they do.

Thank you,

Jan

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