Empowering Veterans to Change Their Lives
In the heart of busy downtown Houston, a dedicated team of VA employees is empowering Veterans to change their lives. The VA’s Community Resource and Referral Center, aimed at housing homeless Veterans, is not just putting roofs over heads; it’s helping Veterans rebuild their futures.
Last year Aaron Windom, a Navy Veteran, fell upon hard times and found himself living on the streets and sleeping on the bus. “I was lost and starting to feel hopeless,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “When I walked into the CRRC, I found loving kindness and a little bit of tough love. They helped me find my confidence and get my life back on track.”
The CRRC staff of 11 employees supports homeless and at-risk Veterans, assisting them with housing, health and mental health care, career development, and access to VA and non-VA benefits. Located close to public transportation, the CRRC is a place where Veterans can conveniently find housing and benefits experts, as well as a place to take a shower, do laundry and address minor medical issues.
“I was pretty skeptical when I came here for the first time,” Windom said. “I don’t trust easily. I found that theVA staff here didn’t judge…they helped me find a place to stay and figure out what I needed to do to get permanent housing.” With the support of the CRRC staff, Windom has been able to get a job and just last week got the keys to his own apartment.
Another Veteran, Verton Morris, who served in the Army during Vietnam, echoes similar sentiments. Morris faced his own battles with PTSD and some health issues and was staying on a corner in Houston’s medical district when he started coming to the CRRC. He credits the VA staff with helping him get on a path to housing while getting his high blood pressure under control.
“The people here care,” he said. “We aren’t just numbers to these folks….they really listen.”
Emily Winfield, LCSW, is director of CRRC, which officially opened in 2024 and now cares for about 60 Veterans a day. Winfield, who in addition to her job at the VA also serves as behavioral health captain in the Army National Guard, says the CRRC opened to be a special place of support and refuge for Veterans.
“We are committed to supporting Veterans through the process of being housed however we can,” she said. “In my experience, Veterans are determined and resilient. Sometimes all they need is a support system and the right information on how to help themselves. It’s so rewarding to see them turn their lives around.”
According to Windom, he immediately felt a huge burden lift as he walked into his new apartment last week. He is determined to give back to other Veterans in similar situations and plans to check in with his Veteran comrades at the CRRC by visiting often and offering them support and advice.
“God put me in a position to share my story and help other Veterans,” he said. “I want to help however I can.”
The Houston CRRC, located at 1700 Webster, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“We are committed to ending homelessness among Veterans,” Winfield said. “I’m so proud of the work we are doing and even more proud of the work the Veterans are doing to turn their lives around.”