Catholic Charities program helps women veterans rebuild their civilian lives
October 24, 2017
Upcoming WVS Events
• Nov. 11: Annual Women Veterans Appreciation Brunch. (Underwriting opportunities available)
• Nov. 17: Training on treating military sexual trauma. The training is designed for social work and medical professionals or individuals who work with veterans or military personnel.
• Nov. 18-19: Hope and Healing Retreat at Star Sea Base in Galveston
For additional information about these events and Catholic Charities’ Women Veteran Services, call (713)351-6915, email: womenveterans@catholiccharities.org or visit www.catholiccharities.org/womenveterans.
Candace Robinson, U.S. Navy, at the Career Essentials class graduation. Photo courtesy of Women Veteran Services of Catholic Charities.
HOUSTON — It is well documented that countless military veterans struggle when returning to civilian life. Some of the issues they face include physical and mental disabilities; difficulties with reintegration; unemployment; and PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). While these issues affect all veterans, they are especially prevalent in women veterans who may face additional challenges like being single mothers and earning lower wages.
There are more than 27,000 women veterans in the Greater Houston area searching for help and support. Whether it’s assisting with housing, providing counseling or helping to put food on the table, the Women Veteran Services (WVS) of Catholic Charities is there to support women veterans in these often daunting situations.
According to Olivia Christina Bush, WVS director, the transition to civilian life is especially difficult for women veterans because they are at a disadvantage to find programs that meet their unique needs.
“Women veterans thrive in programs that are gender-specific,” Bush said. “In addition, many women veterans are divorced with primary custody of their children. There are little to no housing options for women veterans with children, other than Catholic Charities, therefore women veterans are a disadvantage at securing housing and often remain homeless longer than single male veterans.”
Bush’s motivation to get involved with WVS stemmed from her own family experiences. Her sisters served in the military (eldest sister in Army and younger sister in U.S. Navy) and her father is a Green Beret who served in the U.S. Army for more than 30 years.
“Both of my sisters and father became homeless within six months of each other,” Bush said. “When that happened, I researched programs that assist women veterans and found nothing. My frustration grew into my passion and purpose to make sure women veterans and their children have a safe place to rebuild their lives after military service. I resigned from my position in a major financial institution and began assisting women veterans find information and resources to assist them in our community.”
The Women Veterans Service program began at Catholic Charities in November 2012. Bush has been working with WVS since 2007.
The mission of the WVS is to serve and empower women veterans. The first step in fulfilling that mission is make sure the women and her children are safe and secure by providing immediate short-term housing. If the veteran has more complex needs, WVS provides long-term housing to aid her in the healing process.
In addition to the housing, the program provides comprehensive wrap-around services including career coaching and job placement, basic needs assistance (food, clothing, utility, transportation and furniture assistance), case management, financial literacy classes, peer-to-peer support groups and free individual and family counseling.
Last year, veteran Candace Robinson had been laid off from her job and knew right away that she would have trouble making her next house payment. During a visit to the Texas Workforce Commission, a veteran liaison pointed Robinson to WVS. Robinson contacted the program, and the team assisted Robinson with meeting her mortgage payments as she transitioned between her last paycheck and her first unemployment check. They also helped her navigate how to acquire food assistance.
Robinson recently graduated from WVS’ Advanced Career Essentials class, which teaches women various job and life skills to earn better jobs and become self-sufficient. She has also become a dedicated member of the peer-to-peer support group in Fort Bend County at Catholic Charities’ Mamie George Community Center.
“Catholic Charities has given me a purpose in life,” Robinson said. “The programs are helping me get back on my feet and giving me the skills for lifelong success. I am so grateful for all they have done for me and for other women veterans.”
Catholic Charities’ Women Veteran Services has nearly 50 families living in apartment or single-families homes in the Greater Houston area. Several of WVS’ existing clients were impacted by Hurricane Harvey, losing vehicles and personal belongings.
“One woman veteran is a grandmother taking care of six grandchildren in her home. Her home was completely destroyed by the Hurricane Harvey floods,” Bush said. “WVS immediately provided food, clothing and other basic needs assistance for the family.”
That woman veteran has since found a new apartment and the WVS program will be assisting with moving costs and relocation expenses for the family. In addition to assisting existing clients, WVS staff conducted outreach at temporary disaster shelters such as those in the George R. Brown Convention Center and NRG Park to assist women veterans who were impacted by the hurricane.
“As people of faith, it is our duty to support the our troops as they make the difficult transition from military service to civilian life,” Bush said. “Women Veterans have sacrificed so very much in service of our country.
Upcoming WVS Events
• Nov. 11: Annual Women Veterans Appreciation Brunch. (Underwriting opportunities available)
• Nov. 17: Training on treating military sexual trauma. The training is designed for social work and medical professionals or individuals who work with veterans or military personnel.
• Nov. 18-19: Hope and Healing Retreat at Star Sea Base in Galveston
For additional information about these events and Catholic Charities’ Women Veteran Services, call (713)351-6915, email: womenveterans@catholiccharities.org or visit www.catholiccharities.org/womenveterans.