Support for Post 9/11 Military Families Impacted by Hurricane Harvey

Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Inc.

Unmet mental health needs in veterans and their families can result in higher risks for co-occurring psychological problems, increased physical health problems and mortality, missed work/lower productivity, high risk of homelessness, and both lower academic performance and higher suicide risk for veteran’s children. Further, a significant number of veterans began civilian life with significant personal debt, limited financial/budgeting experience and no plan for how to keep their family solvent. This is especially true of the clients Easter Seals has served post-Harvey, over 80% of whom have low to very low income. Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Inc., one of the biggest providers helping families recover from the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, is addressing the pressing need for mental health services and financial literacy by providing individual and group mental health counseling, peer to peer support, and financial coaching. This grant, made possible by a partnership between the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the Qatar Harvey Fund, will support mental health counseling to decrease veterans’ depression and anxiety and to improve participants’ quality of life. This grant will also fund financial counseling to help veterans reduce debt, increase assets, and improve their financial planning skills. Easter Seals of Greater Houston will serve 100 post-9/11 families impacted by Hurricane Harvey with this grant.