For Nearly a Decade, Mission United Has Helped Connect North Texas Veterans, Active-Duty Military Members and Their Families with Support and Services They Need to Succeed
By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication
Posted on May 12, 2022, May 12, 2022

For nearly a decade, United Way of Tarrant County and its partners have worked to help North Texas military veterans, active-duty military members and their families successfully acclimate back to civilian life by connecting them the community services and support they need through Mission United.

United Way’s military and veterans outreach and services initiative, which launched in 2013, offers a coordinated care network that provides a straightforward entry point, dedicated and well-equipped intake specialists, and a team of service providers committed to meeting all of a veteran's needs. Each year, approximately 5,000 North Texas veterans and their families are connected with community resources and services that include primary, specialty and mental health care; job training and employment; housing assistance; and education to develop skills for transitioning to civilian life.

Too often, veterans tell the nonprofit that the problem is not the lack of services, but a lack of coordination between those services, Mission United Director Randy McGuffee said.

With more than 500,000 veterans and their families living in North Texas, United Way of Tarrant County aims to expand awareness about Mission United so it can help even more eligible clients meet their immediate needs, whether that be emergency financial assistance or relationship counseling, and begin working toward goals such as job training or homeownership that will allow them to achieve their American Dream.

“The fact that there are so many veterans, that there are so many programs and agencies, and the very size of north Texas, can make it challenging for veterans who do have a need to be able to locate and navigate those resources,” McGuffee said.

One of the benefits of Mission United is that provides veterans and other eligible clients with access to dedicated intake specialists as well as the Texas Veterans Network.

In partnership with Combined Arms, a Texas-founded and Texas-operated nonprofit organization, and utilizing innovative technology, Texas Veterans Network provides access to hundreds of services, resources and programming for active military, veterans and their families. This includes connecting those in need with Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), federal, state and local government programs.

Removing barriers and reducing frustration is a priority for veterans, especially those in crisis, McGuffee said. At this moment, there are more than 40,000 military veterans in America living on the streets and struggling to survive. Studies show that almost 25% of veterans have a service-connected disability, and 6,000 former service members die by suicide every year.

Clients who connect with Mission United with immediate needs only need to tell their story once. An intake specialist then exhaustively researches what options are available through the Texas Veterans Network and connect them directly with programs that are best suited to meet their needs, whether that is car repairs so they can get to work or emergency mental health assistance.

“For veterans, so much of the time the problems they are dealing with are somehow service related. The vets we are dealing with now, for the last 20 years we were at war,” McGuffee said. “There is also the military culture of ‘Don’t ask for help.’ So, if you have a veteran who is going to make that step and say, ‘Can somebody help me?’, the last thing you want is to say “No, we can’t.’

“When we contact a veteran back who has made a request, it is with an answer,” McGuffee added.

The Veterans Fund is another program available through Mission United. United Way launched its Veterans Fund in 2013 with a generous corporate contribution by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and an additional gift from Bell. This funding, awarded as grants to qualifying organizations each year, is dedicated to supporting military service members who are returning to civilian life in the Tarrant County area, including counseling, career and financial coaching, addiction treatment and other high-priority needs.

Connecting with Mission United

  • To learn more about United Way of Tarrant County’s Mission United, please visit unitedwaytarrant.org/missionunited.
  • Active-duty service members, veterans and military families can also access services by calling 844-4TX-VETS (844-489-8387) or visiting www.TexasVeterans.Network.
  • In many communities, the 2-1-1 service is the entry point for Mission United and is available to help veterans 24/7. 2-1-1 is free, accessible 24/7, completely confidential and available in more than 180 languages. For help, visit 211.org.
  • For those age 60 and older or with a disability, Mission United provides a dedicated Veterans Specialist at the Area Agency on Aging and the Aging and Disability Resource Center who provides case management, home visit support and outreach to qualifying veterans, their families and spouses. The Veterans Specialist also helps veterans with disabilities apply for Veterans Administration financial assistance to help pay for services needed to live at home. For assistance, please call the Area Agency on Aging at 817-258-8125 or the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 888-730-2372.

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