LIBERATION VETERAN SERVICES INC

Liberation Veteran Services is dedicated to providing a safe haven exclusively for Veterans in crisis. Beyond offering transitional and rapid rehousing, we take time to counsel each and every one of our Vets, treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve. We believe this personalized approach to rehabilitation is the reason why our Veterans are able to successfully go on to lead productive, fulfilling lives in the Richmond community. While we are proud of our success, we still have a long way to go.

Many individuals who come to us suffer from issues of addiction, mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can feel isolated, broken and hopeless. We have built a model for treating homeless veterans that provides care, support, comprehensive case management unlike anywhere else. The difference is our compassionate Veteran-centered curriculum that connects them to an array of community services that address their specific issues and gives them access to resources that help them thrive on their own.

The key metric of success in this program is providing housing for these Veterans. We approach this work through three components: 1) Health and Wellness which includes goals for sobriety, mental health and family reunification; 2) Employment and Financial Stability which includes goals for obtaining and maintaining employment, repair credit history and achieving a level of financial stability; 3) Housing Stability and the strategies to rebuild their housing history and how best to move forward into a permanent housing solution. We have a network of community partnerships for each of these components to which we refer the Veterans so that we do not duplicate services. At the heart of our mission is our belief that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to Veteran homelessness. We want Veterans in this program to succeed and so create an environment where they want to participate and thrive.

We have built a successful model of serving homeless veterans that works. The model is a customized and collaborative system providing care, support and comprehensive case management. This model is attracting attention as a program to be replicated in other Virginia communities. We have created a strong infrastructure and we are now taking the program to capacity. We have created a phenomenal fund development team which has created a solid fundraising plan and is focused on diversifying our funding and specifically increasing our giving from individuals. As a result we have hired our first Director of Development and are preparing to hire another case manager.

Because of our success, we now have a waiting list to get into the program. We provide access to community services for these veterans to gain employment skills, financial literacy skills, access to mental and physical health services, 12-step programs, opportunities for recreation. When this happens, he can be successful and live a life of meaning. We take the time to learn the specific needs of each man and tailor our services to address their barriers to maintaining safe, affordable housing. We reconnect him to his community.