Veterans Outreach Center

Housing: Veterans Outreach Center owns and operates 54 beds to serve homeless male veterans. In 2023, eighty-four (84) male veterans were provided shelter in our residential program. This program includes two primary facilities, Richards House and Otto House, both located at The Veterans Outreach Center Gary B. Beikirch Residential Complex. Richards House has 46 beds in congregate living for the purposes of emergency or transitional housing. Otto house, which has 8 private apartments for transitional and/or supportive living. Each facility offers case management to help veterans achieve their goals. Following completion of program goals, these veterans are then transitioned into permanent housing.Continued on Schedule OHousing: (Continued) We also continue to operate Liberty Landing which opened in 2020. It is the first affordable, permanent housing facility with veteran preference in Monroe County, and it includes 10 units set aside specifically for formerly homeless veterans with disabilities. Liberty Landing has 33 apartments with onsite program management by VOC and property management via our development partner, Conifer. Each facility offers case management to help veterans achieve their goals. Following completion of program goals, these veterans are then transitioned into permanent housing. We also continue to operate Liberty Landing which opened in 2020. It is the first affordable, permanent housing facility with veteran preference in Monroe County, and it includes 10 units set aside specifically for formerly homeless veterans with disabilities. Liberty Landing has 33 apartments with onsite program management by VOC and property management via our development partner, Conifer.This program is also supported by Government grants. Grants received for this program in 2023 totaled $2,379,477

Employment & Training: VOC's Employment Resource Center provides vocational counseling, skills assessment, occupational skills training, resume preparation and job search assistance. In 2023, VOC's professional team of Employment Specialists assisted in placing 227 veterans in jobs with 157 full time at an average wage of $17.73/hour based on a 40 hour work week. 61 part time at an average hourly wage of $15.45 based on an average of 19.hours per week. VOC's Veterans Community Technology Center (VCTC) had 1,514 visits. VOC conducted 238 classes, offering professional training to clients. This program is supported by Government grants. Grants received for this program in 2023 totaled $467,945.

Supportive and Wellness Services: VOC offered a portfolio of no-cost services available to all veterans and immediate family members. Benefits counseling, temporary financial assistance, housing search, peer mentoring, financial counseling, budget workshops, and legal counseling are some of the services provided in 2023. VOC supported 49 veterans with their journey through Veterans Treatment Court, a program designed to support justice-involved veterans so that they may avoid incarceration, develop healthy networks, establish economic sufficiency, and lead successful lives. Continued on Schedule OSupportive and Wellness Services: (Continued) A dedicated female veterans program helped nearly 202 individual veterans with services focused on the unique challenges they faced during military service. VOC conducts remote services using web-based technology and helped support nearly 395 veterans across the country. We continue to provide hundreds of unlimited bus passes to veterans (free of charge) through our partnership with RTS in Monroe and the surrounding counties. Lastly, VOC staff safely conducted over 316 outreach activities to raise awareness of the services that local veterans have access to.This program is supported by Government grants. Grants received for this program in 2023 totaled $154,747.

Behavioral Health: This program is dedicated to the wellness of the Western NY veteran community, as well as modeling and training for the agency a Trauma-Informed approach to all the work the VOC conducts. Currently staffed by two NYS State licensed mental health counselors and an experienced community case manager, they serve as crisis intervention and outreach specialists and are focused on suicide prevention and awareness. A component of VOC's Behavioral Health Program is the Morale Center. In 2022, the following services were offered: Peer Support & Substance Abuse Recovery Groups, Open Art Studio, Plastic Model building, Fitness Center Recreation, Massage Therapy, Hydro massage, Free Laundry Facilities, Reiki Therapy, Chess Club, Barber & Salon Services, Socialization Groups, Outdoor / Eco-Therapy, and behavioral health support for all staff and clients on site. This resulted in just under 7,000 episodes of service supporting the holistic wellness of veterans. VOC leverages overwhelming community support in the form of skilled volunteers to help provide these free services to local veterans. In all, and despite the challenges of COVID-19, VOC's volunteers logged over 400 hours of service to clients in 2022. Flag Store: The e-commerce store offers a wide selection of flags, accessories, military and patriotic merchandise for sale with any proceeds going to support Veterans Outreach Center's programs and services. During 2022 the Flag Store moved from a physical location to online.