By Charlene Pech, Program Manager
VETCare/WestCare Oregon has had a lot of change moving into 2022 and we are anticipating 2023 will bring more of the same. The New Year started off strong with the startup of two new Veteran programs, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and VETCare Prevents, a suicide prevention program made possible by the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP).
These programs added seven new staff (two more still to hire) and a second office location. VETCare has a dedicated and motivated team who work diligently to support the WestCare mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit. Looking forward, our team is hoping to expand even more. Our goal is to offer a diverse and accessible spectrum of housing, health, and employment resources to underserved Veterans in our community. As we grow, change, and adopt new programs – it is important to highlight our successes and celebrate staff who are making a difference in the lives of others.
This month, we would also like to celebrate and highlight one of our newer members of the VETCare team, Chanel Harris! Chanel, Outreach Coordinator for HVRP, is a critical part of our team not only because she is a natural at engaging community partners and developing trust within our unhoused/underhoused communities – but, because she uplifts everyone that she meets and extends compassion and kindness with each encounter. Thank you, Chanel, for all of your hard work and for choosing WestCare/VETCare!
