United Way launches Veterans Resource Center

United Way Silicon Valley’s 211 Santa Clara County today launched an online resource center for veterans that offers the latest information about veterans’ programs and services in Santa Clara County. The 211 veterans’ resource center also provides weekly job openings, news updates, upcoming events for veterans, and videos.
“This is the day we set aside to honor our veterans, so we thought it would be appropriate to launch the 211 veterans’ resource center today,” said Carole Leigh Hutton, president and CEO of United Way Silicon Valley. “211 provides veterans with free and easy access to the critical services they need.”
211 is an easy-to-remember phone number and online database (www.211scc.org) that provides streamlined access to health and human services in Santa Clara County. Callers talk to a trained call specialist and can get help in more than 170 languages. Last year, 211 provided more than 50,000 referrals.
The free and confidential service is available 24/7 and offers information and referrals to thousands of local services such as food, shelter, counseling, employment assistance, child care, wellness classes, and much more. Now veterans’ services have been added to the list.
Santa Clara County has a large veteran population. According to CalVet, there are nearly 60,000 veterans living in the county.
“Often veterans who need help don’t know where to go for the latest information,” said Dr. Rick Bata, U.S. Army veteran, facilitator of the Santa Clara County Collaborative for our Military and their Families, and director of The Warrior Project of San Jose. “211 is a valuable resource for the veterans and families we serve. We will continue to work together to add more veterans’ resources to the database, and use 211 as a community dashboard on the needs of veterans in Santa Clara County.”
United Way Silicon Valley is committed to improving community conditions by helping families with children become economically secure, able to support their children’s educational success, physically and emotionally healthy, and connected to the community. To drive positive change, United Way Silicon Valley helps people help themselves by identifying critical needs, mobilizing the caring power of the community, and aligning resources to achieve the best results. United Way is focused on the building blocks for a good life: income, education, and health. For more information about United Way Silicon Valley, visit www.uwsv.org.