Healing Outreach Partnerships for Empowerment (HOPE)
The HOPE program provides direct, compassionate outreach to Veterans with severe mental illness who are living outdoors and face multiple barriers to care. These Veterans are often overlooked or considered unreachable, but HOPE actively works to change that.
By meeting Veterans where they are, the HOPE team builds trust, offers support, and connects individuals to life-stabilizing services.
Who We Serve
HOPE serves Veterans who have spent at least one day on active duty and are currently living outdoors, in camps, wooded areas, abandoned buildings, or under bridges. Many of these individuals also live with untreated mental illness and do not engage with community services.
Although their needs are complex, HOPE offers a path forward through relationship-building, consistency, and respect.
What HOPE Offers
Outreach Services
HOPE outreach teams visit streets, parks, shelters, and encampments, anywhere Veterans in need may be found. Team members identify individuals experiencing homelessness who show signs of mental illness and initiate face-to-face engagement. Over time, they work to establish trust and assess each person’s readiness to receive help.
Case Management
Case Managers meet Veterans in person to complete an eligibility screening and needs assessment. Then, they work together to develop an Individualized Success Plan. Additionally, Case Managers coordinate with local providers, when Veterans give permission, to ensure that services are comprehensive and not duplicated.
Peer Support Services
HOPE Peer Support Specialists are also Veterans. Many have personal experience with homelessness or are living in recovery from mental illness or substance use. These peers provide not only support but also hope, walking alongside fellow Veterans as trusted guides. They help strengthen engagement and reinforce goals laid out in the success plan.
Additional Services
HOPE staff connect Veterans to vital resources, including:
- Mental and primary health care
- Dental services
- Income and employment assistance
- Emergency housing options
In certain cases, HOPE can also provide direct financial support for housing-related expenses like rent or utility deposits. This flexibility allows staff to remove barriers quickly and support long-term stability.
Why HOPE Matters
HOPE does more than deliver services—it helps rebuild lives. Through consistent outreach, trauma-informed care, and Veteran-to-Veteran relationships, the program creates a bridge from crisis to healing. Most importantly, it reminds Veterans that they are seen, valued, and never alone.
