Amid anxiety about how federal budget cuts might affect America’s veterans and the benefits they receive, the job of assisting this population in Oklahoma continues. A number of organizations, aided by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, are ready to step in.
Daron Hoggatt, the Veterans Affairs Department’s public information officer, says his team works closely with several nonprofit organizations and Oklahoma’s Native American tribes to deliver services to veterans, which range from eradicating homelessness to providing healthcare, aiding in employment and combating mental health issues.
So far, he says, actions at the federal level have had minimal effect on Oklahoma. In fact, the department was hiring this year for its soon-to-open home for veterans in Sallisaw. The department also operates similar homes in Ardmore, Sulphur, Lawton, Oklahoma City, Claremore, Clinton and Norman.
Assisting the department’s efforts are nonprofit organizations that provide a variety of services to veterans and their families, helping them adjust to life outside the armed forces. Hoggatt says that in late March, the Veterans Affairs Department staged its first Advisory Forum, bringing nonprofits and tribes together in an effort to address veterans’ needs.
“The idea came through the [Oklahoma] Veterans Commission, and our executive director said we will take this on,” Hoggatt says.
The nonprofit Oklahoma Veterans Alliance estimates that 312,492 veterans live in Oklahoma, which is close to the Veterans Affairs Department’s estimate of 250,000 to 300,000. The department has several programs designed to assist veterans. Not the least is its employment program that helps veterans transition from the structure and regimentation of military life to the freedom of civilian life, and to take advantage of skills acquired in the armed forces.
“A lot of times they just don’t know where to begin,” says Hoggatt.
One nonprofit organization, Tulsa’s Coffee Bunker, has a mission to ease the transition for veterans and their families. Michael Horton, Ph.D., the nonprofit’s executive director, says their assistance ranges from getting veterans out of homelessness to helping them find successful careers. Recipients range from young adults to veterans in their sixties and older.
The Coffee Bunker serves a light lunch, and has intake workers who can assess a veteran’s needs. A food bank is available through cooperation with the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, and computers are on hand for visitors to update their resumes.
Funding comes from philanthropic sources, grants and fundraising, Hunter says, and the organization has an annual $550,000 budget.
He mentions that veterans either get their needs met there or are referred to other service sources.
“People keep coming back, so that tells me we’re doing something right,” he says.
Another nonprofit, Honoring America’s Warriors, is based in Oklahoma City and offers a range of physical, mental health and wellness support. It also provides funeral and burial assistance to veterans’ families, and even operates a service dog program.
Program manager Chris Alexander says the service dog program provides dogs to qualifying veterans at no cost, and has placed about 150 animals with veterans since starting about 10 years ago.
“We provide the dog, training, equipment and food to veterans,” he says, and also offers color honor guards for public events such as Oklahoma City Thunder basketball games, and flag and rifle teams and buglers for veterans’ funerals.
“We want to make sure that every veteran who passes away gets the full honor they’ve earned,” he says.
For More Information:
Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
855-701-6382
oklahoma.gov/veterans
Oklahoma Veterans Alliance
580-677-0792
ovalliance.com
The Coffee Bunker
918-637-3878
coffeebunker.org
Force50 Foundation
force50foundation.com
Honoring America’s Warriors
405-948-HERO
honoringamericaswarriors.org
