Do You know a veteran who is homeless in Suffolk County? We may be able to help! Call us at 1-877-284-8387
The Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc. (SCUVP) was founded in 1989 to assist homeless veterans regain their dignity and independence. Residents are former members of the military who struggle with the problems of substance abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and who have not been able to succeed in any alternate form of treatment.
Suffolk County United Veterans has come a long way from the first apartment where we housed two homeless Viet Nam vets. It has been a hard but rewarding journey. Today, twenty-one years later, Suffolk County United Veterans owns and operates over ten sites consisting of emergency, transitional and permanent housing where veterans who suffer from the emotional impact of war and military life can begin to heal. Since 1994 thousands of homeless veterans have passed through our emergency shelter, The Vets Place. For some vets the shelter was a rest stop between life on the streets and back home to their families, for others it was a jumping off point into treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. For many however, The VetsPlace was the first stop in our graduated housing program whereby a veteran advances to a more independent level of housing as he acquires the life skills he needs to become a self-sufficient.
The past year Suffolk County United Veterans has seen many exciting changes including a partnership with Clubhouse of Suffolk. Clubhouse, a rehabilitation and support agency facilitates the vocational and social integration of disabled individuals.
Suffolk County United Veterans believes that it takes more than just a roof over one’s head to solve the problem of homelessness. Substance abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insufficient education, job skills, and fractured family relations all contribute to homelessness and therefore must be addressed. Consequently we have designed a comprehensive support service program that includes needs assessment, case management, education, job training, and supportive employment. Most important we are constantly responding to the veterans’ needs by developing new programs and services. For example, we have moved our administrative offices into the Synergy Center in Riverhead which will also house a Job Coaching Program, Food Pantry and a Drop-in Center for Vets. Our expanded community food pantry has provided five thousand meals to over one hundred veterans as well as dependents of veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Presently there are sixty veterans in our emergency, transitional and permanent housing programs. During the past year:
Five veterans have maintained steady employment.
Fifteen veterans obtained employment and moved off public assistance.
Two veterans began college programs.
Ten veterans have completed job training programs.
Four veterans have reconnected with their estranged families.
One veteran has completed our on site training program.
Three vets worked as drivers in our Farmers Market project for the summer
Two vets are working under the Mature Worker Program.
Six veterans have moved into their own apartments using HUD-VASH.
Homeless veterans often refer to themselves as “MIAs-Missing in America”.
Suffolk County United Veterans is committed to acting on the belief that these veterans are a valuable resource and we intend to find and bring home as many as possible including but not limited to the new wave of homeless veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe it to them.
Finally we are thankful to the many individuals who have helped us on our journey. Special thanks to volunteers and local businesses who have donated their time and money; public officials who have advocated for our programs and the many veterans in the community who are committed to helping their fellow vets.
Sincerely,
John Lynch, Executive Director
We are an independent organization with no connection to the United States Veterans Administration. The Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc. registered 501 (c)(3) organization and all donations are tax exempt to the fullest extent of applicable laws.
The Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc. (SCUVP) was founded in 1989 to assist homeless veterans regain their dignity and independence. Residents are former members of the military who struggle with the problems of substance abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and who have not been able to succeed in any alternate form of treatment. 
Suffolk County United Veterans has come a long way from the first apartment where we housed two homeless Viet Nam vets. It has been a hard but rewarding journey. Today, twenty-one years later, Suffolk County United Veterans owns and operates over ten sites consisting of emergency, transitional and permanent housing where veterans who suffer from the emotional impact of war and military life can begin to heal. Since 1994 thousands of homeless veterans have passed through our emergency shelter, The Vets Place. For some vets the shelter was a rest stop between life on the streets and back home to their families, for others it was a jumping off point into treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. For many however, The Vets Place was the first stop in our graduated housing program whereby a veteran advances to a more independent level of housing as he acquires the life skills he needs to become a self-sufficient.
