Supporting King County Veterans is a team effort at Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care, aimed at ensuring every Veteran receives the personalized support they need and deserve.
“Within King County alone, there are an estimated 127,000 Veterans, with 20,000 likely having experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or Military Sexual Trauma (MST),” says Bob Wilson, Manager of Veteran Services and a Veteran himself.
“As a result, these Veterans often need additional support in many aspects of their lives, and that’s where we come in. Through our outreach efforts and referrals from the community, family and friends, we work tirelessly to find Veterans in need and help them in any way we can.”
Working alongside Bob are two more members of the Veteran community, Housing Navigator Sarah Faison and Veteran and Resource Program Advisor Jay Latham. Together, they work to find and secure housing and necessary services for other Veterans across King County.
“Many Veterans struggle with housing, and one of the biggest misconceptions about homeless Veterans is that they all struggle with addiction. In reality, situations vary greatly, and it’s important to recognize that even those with addiction issues often have underlying factors like untreated PTSD,” Faison says.
Veterans are often referred to Faison’s office from King County Vet with concerns around housing, eviction prevention and assistance with move-in costs. Faison also works closely with Latham, who primarily works in Outreach. While community members are encouraged to contact the Valley Cities Veterans Team if they know of a Veteran in need, part of Latham’s job is to find them himself.
“When facing a Veteran in crisis, civilians may not always know how to respond appropriately. Contacting the police isn’t always necessary. Calling #988 and choosing ‘Option 1’ can be more effective – #988 is a 24/7 helpline, and Option 1 is specifically for Veterans,” Latham explains. “This approach can help get them in the system for support.”
Latham and the team note that King County Veterans only need one day of service to be eligible for support, regardless of their discharge type.
Valley Cities offers various services for Veterans, including but not limited to:
Finding and securing housing
Eviction prevention services
Trauma-informed counseling and therapy for Veterans and their families
“If you’re a Veteran or know one who is struggling, we encourage you to reach out. You might be surprised at just how far our team will go to try and find a solution to the problem,” Wilson says.
Are you a Veteran or know one in need? Reach out to Sarah Faison at sfaison@valleycities.org or by phone: 425-757-7875, and contact Jay Latham at jalatham@valleycities.org or 253-335-3749. To learn more about Valley Cities and their services, call 253-833-7444 or visit valleycities.org. Follow them on Facebook for news and updates.
