Stability and dignity for our veterans
Sent to newspapers 5/21/2026
Stability and dignity for our Veterans
The 21st century has brought nearly unimaginable change to our society, creating gaps between my generation, and, say, Gen Alpha, that sometimes seem unbridgeable. Video calls are the norm; screens replace paper; routine work tasks can be completed with fewer (or no) people in record time and with huge data demands; and the digital natives born in this century have little concept of the analog world that preceded this one.
It’s also changed in the military and Veteran community. Fifty years after the elimination of the draft, the all-volunteer military force in the United States is highly trained, diverse, representing some of the best our country has to offer. It is a uniquely isolated culture and is often a familial one; young people join the military most often because one or both of their parents did, or a sibling, or other close relative.
Because of this, the lack of a draft that once brought a common military experience to a wide cross-section of American young people, replaced by a recruiting process heavily reliant on family ties, most Americans don’t understand military culture, military servicemembers, or Veterans.
In our current over-respectful and -inclusive society, the military and Veteran community holds a special place of consideration (at this point, saying “Thank you for your service!” upon learning of an individual’s military background has become so automatic it has pretty much lost its meaning), but it’s not a place that invites deeper understanding.
Put another way, the incredibly awkward Wounded Warrior advertising about a decade ago depicting wounded Veterans in the same category as abandoned kittens in an ASPCA ad was absolutely intended to build on this knee-jerk sympathy and societal lack of comprehension to drive maximum emotional fundraising. It was not a good look.
In general, those of us inside the military and Veteran community don’t care much for this sort of thing, although we do care for each other. I bring this up because I had the opportunity to visit an organization in Albuquerque earlier this month that is very much striking the right chord in caring for Veterans in need: the Veterans Integration Center (VIC).
The VIC recently moved into a brand-new facility not far from the Albuquerque Sunport. It was first established by New Mexico’s first Cabinet Secretary for Veterans Services, John Garcia. I’ve known John for a long time. A Vietnam Veteran, he has dedicated much of his career to serving New Mexico’s Veterans by developing wide-ranging foundational services geared toward stability, health and prosperity for Veterans and their families.
VIC Chief Executive Officer Brock Wolff and board member Claudia Risner gave me a tour of the 42-bed facility. The VIC serves as a transitional center for homeless Veterans and their families to achieve stable housing and financial security.
I drove to the facility expecting a shelter. I walked into a professional residential facility. All rooms are private. The VIC can accommodate families and still provide private accommodations. The VIC operates a food pantry which also serves as a commissary where residents can shop for their own food, which they prepare themselves in a shared kitchen. This lack of institutional meals is a tremendous boost to independence and privacy.
The residents are given different avenues for therapy and support from substance abuse counseling and treatment, to behavioral healthcare, to financial management courses, to art therapy. Every room has its own cable TV. There’s exercise equipment and a roomy patio. There’s a plan for a small dog park.
The issue of homeless Veterans is a persistent one. It’s also one that many of us in the military and Veteran community try to wish away. We see how our brothers and sisters can slip through the cracks of society’s safety net and it is very ugly to us. We don’t want to think about it. We also don’t want to force a confrontation that would cause the homeless Veteran at the intersection at we’re stopped at to lose even more pride.
So a lot of us do nothing but feel bad. And keep our windows rolled up.
It felt really good to move past the barrier of my vehicle and visit the VIC. Brock and Claudia explained to me not just how the VIC supports Veterans but also how the VIC operates.
First and foremost, the VIC is not just an Albuquerque program; the VIC touches many counties in the state – from Santa Fe to Eddy – providing referrals for emergency, transitional and rapid re-housing options for Veterans. This mission is shared with Goodwill Industries and Community of Hope to cover every county in New Mexico. For instance, Grant, Luna and Hidalgo Counties are all covered by the VIC.
The VIC is a success story of federal, state and municipal cooperation. The team at the VIC seek every funding and partnership opportunity to provide the widest range of resources for the Veterans they serve. This approach introduces complexity to the VIC’s operations but any associated challenges are invisible in the delivery of services to the Veteran community.
The VIC is also a story of community partnership and participation. Besides supporting Veterans with housing, the VIC operates a food pantry for Veterans and their families, with distribution hours every Friday.
For the most part, the numbers for the VIC are very, very good. 70 percent of the Veterans who enter the transitional housing program at the VIC enter permanent housing; 90 percent of those are still in their permanent home a year later. That’s about 10 percent higher than the national average for other homeless Veteran transition programs However, the VIC is not operating at capacity. That’s one reason I am writing about the VIC this week and I hope you will consider sharing this column. We all know – because we see them – that homeless Veterans are still out there.
And this is where I suggest you consider channeling your interest and resources this Memorial Day weekend. Don’t worry about thanking everybody for their service. Look to the most vulnerable of my fellow Veterans. You can send money. The VIC also accepts donations of food, clothing, toiletries and furniture. Donation information can be found at https://www.nmvic.org/donations.
Not every homeless Veteran is ready for a transition. But if you know a Veteran who may be at risk for homelessness, the VIC can get them help before it’s too late. Learn more at (505) 296-0800 or https://www.nmvic.org.
Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appeared regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican for 36 years, she became an independent upon reading the 2024 Republican platform. She lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run one head of dog, and one of cat. She can be reached at merritt@merrittocracy.news.