JERRY AMBROSE VETERANS COUNCIL OF MOHAVE COUNTY INC

JAVC is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization whose focus is to "Provide a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out" to the veterans of Mohave County, AZ.

Veterans need a coordinated effort that provides secure housing, nutritional meals, basic physical health care, substance abuse, mental health counseling, personal development and empowerment. Additionally, veterans need job assessment, training and placement assistance. Programs to assist homeless veterans must focus on helping them obtain and sustain employment. We have 25 transitional housing units in our program supported through the Veterans Administration GPD program.

Over 28,000 veterans currently reside within Mohave County, AZ. According to the “Point in Time” survey conducted by Mohave County Community Services Department, a little over one-fourth (26.4%) of the homeless population are veterans, roughly the same percentage as a year ago.

In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. Additionally, military occupations and training are not always transferable to the civilian workforce, placing some veterans at a disadvantage when competing for employment. PTSD - According to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, about 30% of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD. An additional 20 to 25 percent have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. More than half of all male Vietnam veterans and almost half of all female Vietnam veterans have experienced “clinically serious stress reaction symptoms.” PTSD has also been detected among veterans of other wars. Estimates of PTSD from the Gulf War are as high as 10%. Estimates from the war in Afghanistan are between 6 and 11%. Current estimates of PTSD in military personnel who served in Iraq range from 12% to 20%.

In addition to addressing homelessness for veterans, JAVC is concerned about other significant issues facing veterans and their families. First, the current ranks of veterans are aging, placing new demands on medical services and nursing care. Second, soldiers are surviving horrific injuries in the current conflicts and returning home, creating unprecedented demands for rehabilitation, supportive services and accessible housing. Third is veterans suicides. Fourth is substance abuse.

Wartime deployments can be brutal, but coming home can sometimes be more destructive than combat itself. For more than a decade, the suicide rate among veterans has surpassed that of non-veterans. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have given rise to a new generation of service members returning with PTSD, sexual assault trauma and mental and physical scars related to military – especially combat – service. Millions of these Americans join those of past wars who carry the same burden, and many of them have taken their own lives when they can no longer endure.

JAVC is committed to being a one stop information center for Veterans and a central for obtaining services. Over the last four years, we have assisted the VA during their PIT (Point in Time) surveys, initiating an increase in the Mohave County HUD-VASH vouchers program to go from 25 to its current level of 254 Veterans Housing Vouchers. This not only allows more Veterans to obtain housing, but has created 8 new case workers to be added to the local VA offices to manage the vouchers.

Our Programs:

1. Annual Stand Downs and Resource Fairs- We recently completed our annual event in Bullhead City and Parker serving . To date we have assisted over 155 Veterans. This includes providing free support services such as Legal, Medical Services, Social Security and VA Benefits, Pet Services, Women’s Programs, Clothing and Personal Items, etc. from both Government and Private Organizations.

2. Veteran Assist Program - During 2023 JAVC has documented assisting over 200 Veterans with “Emergency/Critical” needs ranging from housing, medical or utility bills, car repairs, transportation needs, home repairs, etc. We have provided these services free of cost to our Veterans. Last year, we volunteered over 8,000 hours and drove over 10,000 miles to help Veterans and their families.

3. Women’s Program - Since that 1st Stand Down we saw the need to have a woman veteran to address the issues of military women to include active duty, veteran, wife, family, etc.

4. Veterans Courts: Over 200 veterans graduated through three different courts

5. Job Training & Education - through our partnerships with various community agencies we are able to refer our veterans for job training, resume writing and job referrals. We maintain a computer at our office for job searches as well.

6. The JAVC Operation 6 Transitional Housing Program provides homeless veterans with housing, group counseling, vocational training and employment. Our targeted population is homeless veterans with income of 80% AMI or below. JAVC has purchased the building; all abatement has been done (through ADEQ Grants); clean-up and roof repair is scheduled to begin. We are opening in March, 2024.

JAVC Operation 6 Project will - at a minimum - provide the following services:
1. Intensive case management with wrap-around supportive services by community partnerships
2. A therapeutic community treatment approach
3. A 90 day progression through the program, including substance abuse, mental health, job training and placement, medical care and assistance with placement into permanent housing

The expected benefits to the general public are that these veterans will no longer be a drain on public resources, but would rather be taxpayers, consumers, home owners and contributing to the general wellbeing of their communities.

The benefits to the veteran will be immeasurable. They will regain self-pride and to feel good about themselves again. This will be enhanced by the support of their fellow veterans going through the program. It’s a feeling of belonging that most haven’t felt since their time in the military.

Without the community partners we have established, our programs would be performed in a vacuum. In addition to the many veteran organization nationwide, JAVC is proud to include such organizations as the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness, the Cities of Kingman and Bullhead City, Mohave County, the VA Health Care Group, the VA US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, the VHA HCHV/HUD VASH Programs, the Veterans Court Mentor Project, and the Northern AZ Veterans Resource Center.