What does it mean to be free? Independence Day is just around the corner and on Monday’s Talk of the Bay Christine Barrington sits down with Veterans who tell their stories of transformation achieved through the support of the Monterey-based Veterans Transition Center of California.
The mission of VTC is “to empower Veterans to transition from crises to self-sufficiency.” Since 1996, this 501(c)(3) non-profit has operated on historic Fort Ord land to provide homeless Veterans and their families with housing, food, clothing, case management, life skills, substance abuse counseling, benefit enrollment, medical referrals, and employment training.
With its remarkable rate of zero-percent recidivism, the VTC models what compassion, skill and wrap-around programming can achieve in reducing homelessness and restoring resiliency when hope seems lost. Sometimes freedom simply means coming home.
If you know of Veteran who is homeless or in prison the VTC is there to help. Reach out via Veterans Transition Center Website.
Interviewees: Veterans Daryl Bui; Kevin Capps; Cliff Abreu; Tony White
VTC Staff: Dan Scott (Intake Coordinator); Jennifer Nestler (Long-Term Offender Reentry Recovery Program Director); Wendy Phillips (Communications Director)
