houston public radio

Returning Vets- Part 4
21 May 2008 by: Laurie Johnson

For every problem returning veterans face there's a program or service to help them. But even with some of the best medical and social care in the nation—Houston still has ground to cover to keep up with the needs of the growing veteran population. Laurie Johnson has the series 'Returning Veterans: A Call To Action.'

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Houston City Hall Annex

Walk into the City Hall Annex, turn right, wind through a maze of cubicles and you might discover the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs. I say 'might' because it's essentially a one-man department tucked into a closet-sized office.

Buddy Grantham runs that one-man show (he does have an assistant). He says it takes time to catch up to the needs of each war.

"Houston is ramping up also. That's part of this office. This war has been going on for a little bit, it was not until this summer of 2007 that the Returning Veterans Initiative started and Houston is rapidly gaining ground on the situation."

The Returning Veterans Initiative is a project that was coordinated between the city and Harris County. It's basically a booklet—47 pages filled with text and phone numbers.

Perhaps 'initiative' is an apt title. You need a good dose of it to wade through all the information. That's one of the first things that needs to be flipped upside down, if you ask Anthony Love with the Coalition for the Homeless.

"Our VA, in particular, has to go to the veteran. We can't sit there and wait for the veteran to come to them. They have to go out and reach out to that veteran to get those services and get that assistance to that veteran coming back into our community."

The local push to improve the lives of veterans is evident. The Houston Police Department has started training with mental health professionals so that officers know how to respond to veterans who exhibit erratic behavior.

The VA is increasing its mental health coverage with support groups for vets and their families.

And the city is partnering with small businesses to look for jobs that can be performed from a wheelchair or from home for disabled vets.

This region is attempting to improve its services. And Houston Council member Melissa Noriega says the attitude here toward veterans is one of hope and acceptance.

"I just think Houston's the most amazing town. And I would like to see us just add one more layer in terms of our awareness. And I think we're going to have them here, they're going to come here because they're going to be able to support and take care of their families here. And so I think we -- I think that there's a debt of honor."

Laurie Johnson. KUHF-Houston Public Radio News.

Returning Vets Series- Part 3
20 May 2008 by: Laurie Johnson

Every type of resource a veteran could ever need is available in Houston. But there are still vets who end up without medical care—unemployed and on the streets. As Laurie Johnson reports in part three of a four-part series—veterans come home expecting to rebuild their lives. But for some of them—a return to civilian life leaves them destitute.
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Returning Vets- Part 2
Monday, 19th May 2008 by: Laurie Johnson

The presence of the Texas Medical Center and the VA Hospital are significant assets for the region and for vets. As Laurie Johnson reports in part two of a four-part series— Houston has everything to offer for returning veterans— once they actually decide to look for help.
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Returning Vets Series- Part 1
18 May 2008 by: Laurie Johnson

Laurie Johnson reports in part one of a four part series that one of the biggest problems returning service men and women face is simply figuring out where to go for help. There are nearly 2 million veterans living in Texas. Close to half of them live in the Greater Houston region.
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