Veterans Transition Center

The Veterans Transition Center (VTC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) rehabilitation center and shelter for veterans, founded in 1998, in Monterey County, California. The VTC is located at the site of the former Fort Ord near Marina, California.[1][2] While the program is funded partly by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it largely relies on donations from the public.[3] The VTC seeks a holistic approach to helping homeless veterans that includes community service, life skills classes, sobriety requirements, counseling, and transitional housing. According to the U.S. Army Monterey Presidio Public Affairs bureau:

In general, the mission of the Veterans Transition Center is to provide services for Monterey County's homeless veterans and their families ... by providing veterans with transitional housing, emergency services and case-management programs, veterans will once again become employable and productive members of the community.[4]

Housing units at the VTC

Currently, the center is looking forward to add a vocational rehabilitation program and more housing units. The vocational rehabilitation program is to include a non-profit store with the express purpose of hiring the most veterans possible while the additional housing units will increase the center's capacity for veterans to rehabilitate.[5] Since its inception, the VTC has served 4,155 single veterans and 351 veterans with families. According to the center:

An estimated 80% of veterans who graduated from the VTC program transitioned into permanent housing for at least one year while 92% of who were in the program for 1 year maintained sobriety. At the time of graduation, 87% of veterans had $700 or more in savings and 75% were employed with a mean wage greater than $9.00 per hour. Among families, 100% of school aged children attended school, 80% of children pursued an after-school hobby, and 100% of all veterans with families enrolled in healthy families insurance.

Starting in June 2011, work has begun on two previously abandoned buildings that are to become a non-profit thrift store and reception center for arriving veterans.

References
  1. VTC Listing in the Monterey County Herald: http://businesslistings.montereyherald.com/3020732/Veterans-Transition-Center-Monterey-County-Marina-CA
  2. KION Central Coast News. 2009. Former Marine Fights Homelessness in Face of Economy: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. KION Central Coast News. 2009. VTC sees big increase in homeless vets: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Townsell, T. K. (2009). Monterey Area Veterans Transition Center offers assistance to all local vets. Retrieved 04-11-2011 from www.army.mil, the official homepage of the U.S. Army: http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/12/10/31701-monterey-area-veterans-transition-center-offers-assistance-to-all-local-vets/
  5. Monterey County Weekly. 2011. Homeless Veteran Support: http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/weblogs/homeless-veteran-support/%5B%5D
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