Veterans Day is a time to honor the bravery, sacrifice, and dedication of people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. As we express our gratitude, it's essential to recognize the ongoing challenges many veterans face when they return home. Housing instability, mental health issues, and substance use disorders continue to affect veterans long after their military service. CenterPointe provides crucial support to veterans, offering them hope and stability as they rebuild their lives.
CenterPointe operates a 10-bed male transitional living facility in collaboration with the Veterans Administration (VA), offering a lifeline to veterans facing housing instability. This facility supports veterans navigating challenges such as mental health concerns, substance use, and periods of unsheltered living. More than just temporary shelter, the facility fosters healing, growth, and community. It offers veterans a structured environment to regain stability and rebuild their lives.
At the heart of this program is a commitment to long-term success. CenterPointe not only provides immediate relief but also equips veterans with the tools and resources to transition into permanent housing, build support systems, and prevent future housing instability.
The transitional living facility at CenterPointe focuses on several key objectives to promote independence, stability, and self-sufficiency for veterans:
- Reducing or Preventing Institutional Placements: The facility provides a home-like setting that allows veterans to avoid long-term institutional care, emphasizing independence over extended institutional support.
- Transitioning to Permanent Housing: By working closely with case managers and housing specialists, veterans are guided toward securing permanent housing, breaking the cycle of unsheltered living and ensuring long-term stability.
- Increasing Resident Support Systems: Veterans are encouraged to reconnect with family, friends, and community resources, fostering a sense of belonging that enhances their overall well-being.
- Preventing Future Episodes of Unsheltered Living: Veterans are equipped with life skills, job readiness, and ongoing mental health and substance use support, helping to prevent future housing instability.
- Reducing the Impact of Substance Use and Mental Health Episodes: With evidence-based treatments and counseling, the program helps veterans manage mental health challenges and substance use disorders, improving their quality of life.
These key goals help veterans build the foundation needed to regain control over their lives and reintegrate successfully into their communities. CenterPointe’s facility is not just a temporary solution, but a critical step in veterans’ journeys toward long-term recovery, stability, and independence.
In the last fiscal year, we served 38 veterans, with an average stay of 119.2 days. This compares to the previous year when we served 40 veterans with an average stay of 82 days. This data demonstrates the program's effectiveness in helping veterans transition quickly to stable housing.
The success of the program is also evident in the progress made by veterans and their satisfaction with the services provided:
- 88% of veterans discharged last fiscal year completed most or all their program goals, with 64% meeting all their goals.
- 88.5% of veterans saw significant improvements in functioning, as measured by the DLA-20.
- 93.5% reported high satisfaction with the professionalism of staff, the care they received, and the safety and comfort of the facility.
- 92.2% expressed satisfaction with the services at the Veterans Transitional Housing (VTH) facility and felt they had input in their treatment goals.
- 90.9% said they were doing better because of working with VTH, would recommend the program to others, and felt empowered by staff to learn and apply new skills.
One of the most inspiring examples of success at CenterPointe is the story of a veteran in his 60s who struggled for years with chronic unsheltered living, significant medical concerns, depression, and alcohol use. He cycled in and out of shelters, unable to stabilize his health needs or break the cycle of substance use. Isolated and uncertain, he didn’t know where to turn.
Everything began to change when he arrived at CenterPointe. The transitional living facility provided him with access to staff who assisted in connecting him with professionals to find the right balance of mental health medications. He also received support for his alcohol use disorder, learning coping skills and receiving treatment that allowed him to regain control of his life.
During his time at the facility, he was able to stay connected with his wife, who was living overseas. Once he was stable, he was able to return to her and seek life altering medical treatment. His time at CenterPointe gave him the tools and support he needed to rebuild his life, demonstrating that it’s never too late to overcome challenges with the right resources.
On Veterans Day, we honor the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. However, the commitment to veterans extends beyond a single day of recognition. CenterPointe’s Veterans Transitional Living Facility is an example of how communities can come together to provide veterans with the care, support, and opportunities they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
As we celebrate Veterans Day, let us remember that true gratitude is shown not just in words, but in actions that help our veterans thrive. Programs like CenterPointe’s Veterans Transitional Housing are making a real difference, and with continued support, they will keep changing the lives of those who have given so much in service to our country. Support CenterPointe's Veterans Transitional Housing by clicking the link below.
