Volunteers Of America Hopes To Find Housing For Veterans With New Grant

In the past five years, Volunteers of America has helped 500 veterans in need. 

"Anybody that raises their hand and swears to defend the constitution of the United States deserves a little bit more than sleeping in their car," veterans business liaison Richard Duvall said. 

In the Veteran Services department of Volunteers of America, it is veterans helping veterans, like Duvall, who served 21 years in the air force. 

"We're able to relate to them, we are able to call their bluff sometimes when they are not wanting to lean forward with employment but we're also able to give them a helping hand when they need it," Duvall said. 

The organization helps homeless veterans or other veterans in need find a job. 

CEO of the Oklahoma chapter, Pam Richardson, said with the help of a federal grant, they will now be able to assist veterans with affordable housing. 

"Veterans that need to find a job that will help them get back on their feet, and get back into the community and working, and helping themselves to be self-sufficient," Richardson said. 

Richard Albritton was a combat medic in the Air Force. After struggling to find a job and having bills to pay, he found out about the veteran services at Volunteers of America. He's now been working for the City of Tulsa as an electrical inspector for the past two years. 

"I didn’t realize that Oklahoma had such a fruitful veteran community, or a supportive veteran community I should say," Albritton said. 

Albritton said his life would not be the same without everyone that helped him, and that it's a great way to transition into life out of the military. 

"It's mentally draining, dealing with those things on top of when you come out here in the civilian world, you have to worry about being social and where you are going to fit in," Albritton said. 

To find out more information about the Veterans Services of Volunteers of America, click here.