United Way of Central Georgia announces the launch of United Way MISSION UNITED, a program that will coordinate services for veterans, active duty service members, and their families, connecting them to stable housing, job training, health care, and other resources. By leveraging United Way’s unique ability to form a coordinated network of community partners, MISSION UNITED provides veterans, active duty service members, and their families with a single “front door” to get the help they need.

Military veterans, active duty service members, and their families will be able to use 2-1-1, the 24/7 confidential community helpline, to reach a case coordinator who will guide them through accessing some of the following services:

• Education

• Employment Services

• Financial Assistance

• Health Care

• Legal Assistance

• Stable Housing

“Military veterans return home with valuable skills and experience. But many struggle to access services and to successfully transition back to civilian life, so not only do our veterans suffer but our community suffers an enormous loss in human capital,” said President and CEO George McCanless. “When we help veterans succeed, we create lasting change that strengthens our community and our economy and benefits everyone.”

The announcement was made at the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center at Middle Georgia State University in Warner Robins. An agreement is in place for MISSION UNITED staff to be housed at the VECTR Center. In making this announcement Dr. Christopher Blake, president of Middle Georgia State University, said that “Housing Mission United within VECTR at MGA supports the one-stop-shop vision articulated by the Governor when VECTR was proposed to the Legislature, bringing together three parties vital to assisting veterans and military families in transition—higher education, government, and community resources.”

The Challenge

Veterans can face many challenges re-entering civilian life, and too many find themselves homeless, jobless, or unable to access treatment for substance abuse, brain injury, or other physical, mental, and dental health issues. In 2015, approximately 50,000 veterans were homeless and an average of 20 veterans were lost to suicide every day.

United Way Can Help

While many services exist to address the challenges veterans face, they are not integrated, eligibility requirements can be confusing, and many veterans end up discouraged when they try to get help. MISSION UNITED connects veterans, active duty service members, and their families with real people whose job it is to say “yes, I can help you.”

United Way of Central Georgia is among the first United Way across the country to bring this program to their community. MISSION UNITED was created and first implemented in 2014 by the United Way of Broward County. Since then, more than 12,000 veterans in several communities have received essential assistance through the United Way MISSION UNITED program.

“MISSION UNITED is a comprehensive solution that gives our veterans the homecoming they deserve,” added McCanless. “It offers our veterans and their families a reliable network our community can be proud of. And by partnering with the VECTR Center, we will have the most comprehensive veteran’s support network in the country.”

United Way has begun the process of expanding staff to manage this program and plans to be begin serving the local veteran community in the first quarter of 2017.