NEW MEXICO VETERANS INTEGRATION CENTERS

Description

Established in 2005, The Veteran Integration Centers (VIC) pioneered support for homeless Veterans in New Mexico and has since broadened its reach to serve over 1,100 Veteran and non-Veteran families annually, encompassing active duty, National Guard, Reserve personnel, and unremarried surviving spouses. Starting with 20 transitional housing beds in Albuquerque, the VIC has evolved into a statewide network providing critical housing solutions. This includes an emergency housing program assisting over 100 Veterans and their families each year, a 42-bed transitional housing program offering support for up to two years to over 189 individuals, and a rapid re-housing initiative that secures permanent housing for over 325 Veteran families annually. Notably, the VIC stands as the only Veteran-focused housing program in New Mexico capable of immediately housing a Veteran and their entire family together, effectively ending their homelessness and allowing them to address underlying challenges without the immediate burden of insecure housing. Demonstrating a commitment to the wider community, the VIC also operates a food pantry serving over 700 impoverished non-Veteran families daily. Recognizing the power of community-driven solutions, the VIC further extends its impact through a food pantry supporting both Veteran and non-Veteran families, a donations program that furnishes permanent housing for over 150 families, and a peer support program connecting Veterans for mutual support during challenging times.