It is designed as the final step in transitional housing to solidify a personal recovery program, make independent living arrangement, and sharpen developmental skills One-third of adult homeless men and nearly one-quarter of all homeless adults have served in the armed forces. While there is no true measure of the number of homeless veterans, it has been estimated that fewer than 200,000 veterans
may be homeless on any given night and that twice as many veterans experience homelessness during a year. Many other veterans are considered at risk because of poverty, lack of support from family and friends and precarious living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing. Ninety-seven percent of homeless veterans are male and the vast majorities are single. About half of all homeless veterans suffer from mental illness and more than two-thirds suffer from alcohol or drug abuse problems. With this in mind The Veterans Enrichment Center was established in an effort to offer a continuum of services that include:
• Aggressive outreach to veterans living on the streets and in shelters who otherwise would not seek assistance;
• Clinical assessment and referral for treatment of physical and psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse;
• Long-term transitional residential assistance, case management and rehabilitation; and,
• Employment assistance and linkage with available income supports and permanent housing. At this housing site, The Veterans Enrichment Center uses a combination of instruments to evaluate, assist and monitor each resident. Upon entering transitional housing, each resident articulates her/his personal goals to the program director as well as the group members at an "orientation" evening meeting. This is accomplished prior to final acceptance into the home to ensure that both the intent and personal resources are sufficient to complete the goals. Once accepted into housing, weekly meetings and individual sessions with the program director ensure that monitoring is a part of daily living. All residents complete an assessment of their progress on a standard form and work with resident peers and the program director in the achievement of milestones. The progress of each resident is communicated to the staff to ensure a consistency between outpatient efforts and resident goals. The success of The Veterans Enrichment Center rests primarily on the cooperation between Staff and the Veteran and it is through this cooperation that will make this program grow and succeed. All of The Veterans Enrichment Center housing beds require a strict residential program model with direct links to the VA, local hospital and community for outpatient and therapeutic support. It is designed as the final step in transitional housing to solidify a personal recovery program, make independent living arrangement, and sharpen developmental skills for full community living. This program provides continuity in the spectrum of transitional housing and allows an opportunity to reinforce and fully develop earlier skills around attitude, recovery, and treatment. All residents participate in fully independent group housing, and are required to be employed or receive financial support in order to meet all financial obligations. Veterans participating in this part of the program are required to pay rent commensurate with market rates and design a workable budget. Veterans will need to cover their basic cost of living in the facility.They must be looking for employment, be completely self-maintained, and remain substance free. The Veterans Enrichment Center allows a veteran to take a final transitional step toward independence. The Veterans Enrichment Center builds on the veteran’s own successes. The Veterans Enrichment Center is an innovative model built on the earlier success of other clean and sober programs with the hope that all veterans can take advantage of a program that allows full freedom within the bounds of sobriety and recovery. In addition The Veterans Enrichment Center is an ongoing part of the:
Stand Downs are one-to three-day events that provide homeless veterans a variety of services and allow VA and community-based service providers to reach more homeless veterans. Stand downs give homeless veterans a temporary refuge where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range of community and VA assistance. In many locations, stand downs provide health screenings, referral and access to long-term treatment, benefits counseling, ID cards and access to other programs to meet their immediate needs. Each year, VA participates in more than 100 stand downs coordinated by local entities. Surveys show that more than 23,000 veterans and family members attend these events with more than 13,000 volunteers contributing annually. The Veterans Enrichment Center is a non-profit organization that uses volunteers and donations, and any help is tax deductible. We are seeking at this time any household furnishings, such as beds, dishes, dressers and appliances etc. If you would like to donate any items please contact The Veterans Enrichment Center Staff at: 541-331-9975, 541-205-8469, 541-331-9979 or email us at: [email protected]
Thank you,
The Veterans Enrichment Center Staff.
