Veterans Outreach Center Inc

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 2024. VOC supported 29 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) Additionally, through a partnership, VOC had 143 veterans participate in Lawyer for a Day, an opportunity hosted at VOC that utilizes volunteer lawyers who donate their time. This was utilized 163 times in 2024. A dedicated female veterans program served 196 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 398 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 564 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 2024 totaled $436,209.

Employment & Training: VOC's Employment Resource Center provides vocational counseling, skills assessment, occupational skills training, resume preparation and job search assistance. In 2024, VOC's professional team of Employment Specialists assisted in placing 202 veterans in jobs-156 in full-time positions (40 hours per week) and 46 in part-time positions (19 hours per week), with an overall average wage of $18.35/hour. VOC's Veterans Community Technology Center (VCTC) had 4225 visits. VOC provided or funded career-based training to 264 veterans and conducted 231 classes, offering professional development and training opportunities.Continued on Schedule OThis program is supported by Government grants. Grants received for this program in 2024 totaled $510,911.

VOC's Behavioral Health and Wellness Programs are dedicated to the wellness of the Western NY veteran community, while also leading the agency's trauma-informed care efforts through internal modeling and training. The Behavior Health team is led by a NYS State licensed mental health counselor. The team provides crisis intervention, outreach, and internal and external consultation. In 2024, they served 850 individual clients through 1,863 total engagements. Additionally, VOC conducted 782 suicide screenings. With a strong focus on suicide prevention and awareness, the team also provides regular wellness checks and acts as a critical resource for both clients and staff. In 2024, VOC's Quartermaster Program served 936 veterans a total of 6,004 times, providing essential daily living supplies such as food, clothing, and hygiene items. Additionally, VOC's Fitness Center-equipped with free weights, ellipticals, treadmills, and other exercise equipment-was utilized by 167 veterans across 1,443 visits, reinforcing the link between physical health and overall wellness. A component of VOC's Wellness Programs is the Morale Center. In 2024, the following services were offered: Peer Support & Substance Abuse Recovery Groups, Open Art Studio, Art Therapy, Plastic Model building, Fitness Center Recreation, Massage Therapy, Hydro massage, Free Laundry Facilities, Reiki Therapy, Chess Club, Barber & Salon Services, Socialization Groups, Outdoor Wellness, and behavioral health support for all staff and clients on site. This resulted in veterans utilizing these holistic wellness services just over 9,871 times. VOC benefits from strong community engagement, with skilled volunteers playing a vital role in delivering free services to local veterans. In 2024, 42 dedicated VOC volunteers contributed their time throughout the year, supported by an additional 441 volunteers for special events. Together, they logged a total of 3,629 hours of service-an estimated value of $135,325.41. This volunteer-driven support is essential to extending the reach and impact of VOC's mission.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.