People often run into veterans wherever they go, whether at grocery stores or gas stations, and thank them for their services. It is the least we can do for those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

But what about the people standing on the street corner holding up ‘help me’ placards? What is the least we can do for veterans in distress? What is the most common?

At US VETS – Prescott, we are committed to serving Veterans in difficult circumstances. Our non-profit organization’s mission is to provide homeless veterans and their families with a safe net of services and support the transition to permanent housing. We do this through housing programs, career counseling, mental health support, substance use treatment, and more.

Our work is vital to Yavapai County. The county is home to a large number of veterans, many of whom served in Vietnam. US Census Bureau. Research shows that veterans are at higher risk of becoming homeless, as they can face physical, mental and social problems resulting from combat and stress. These risk factors, combined with the cost of living and a tight housing market in northern Arizona, can leave veterans vulnerable.

Funding helps break down these economic barriers. In recent years, we have secured Mobilize AZ grants totaling $187,000 from the Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield, successfully closing several gaps and helping those who need it most. This funding has increased support and access to mental, physical and substance use treatment.

To expand Mobilize AZ’s public health initiative, we recently received an additional grant from the Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation’s Community and Health Promotion Foundation, which provided us with the opportunity to hire a seasoned support specialist. . The funding will help connect 200 veterans living with PTSD and other conditions to life-changing care, and we’re already seeing the impact.

A 51-year-old female veteran returned to our program after completing medication. She had no income and was looking for a stable place to stay while she continued to work on her mental health and substance use treatment needs. While participating in our housing program, she was able to obtain her 100% VA Service Connectivity Impairment Rating, which is given to highly demanding Service Connectivity Disability Veterans. She recently purchased her vehicle, moved into her own rental room, and works with our aftercare case management team to ensure her continued success.

We have a 70 year old veteran amputee who has been in our program for 7 months. In that short period of time he accomplished a lot. His health was stable, he was fitted with a prosthetic leg, completed rehab to walk with a prosthetic leg, completed a driving course to modify vehicles for hand controls, and was even elected as a Veteran. Moon by his companions! Balancing all these developments, he continues his search for housing.

These stories and results are why we do what we do. We provide veterans with the tools and resources to improve their quality of life, but their will and effort make it happen and last.

The U.S. Veterans Corps continues to work toward its mission to support long-term stability and identify affordable housing options for veterans. We are currently working on a large-scale housing project of over 100 units for low-income senior veterans on the Prescott Veterans Affairs (VA) campus. The project not only provides much-needed housing, but it also provides a sense of community in which veterans can rely on each other to grow.

None of this would be possible without the presence of volunteers, generous donors, partners and funders who ask themselves, “What is the most we can do for veterans?” We hope that you will also inspire yourself to support our veteran community.

Read more stories from our Community Connections on Signals A Z.com to learn about others making a difference in the Quad City.

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