Women Veterans Support Services, Inc. (WVSS) was begun in Wake County, N.C., in 2007 by women veterans to advocate for and secure resources to help the county’s and the nation’s women veterans, women warriors and their families.
Is WVSS a 501 (c) (3) charitable nonprofit organization?
In November 2008, WVSS was certified as a federal 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to helping meet the growing and distinct needs of women veterans and their families. The WVSS is chartered by the State of North Carolina and, through the WVSS incorporators and board of directors, is subject to all local, state and federal laws and regulations that pertain to nonprofits.
What are the priority objectives of WVSS?
Established for and by women veterans and women military spouses, the overarching priorities of WVSS include crisis counseling, shelter and economic assistance. Here are some of the unique problems affecting our fellow women warriors that must be addressed:
- veterans who are single mothers needing employment, food and healthcare for themselves and their children
- childcare and child counseling for children of returning women veterans or deployed women military
- homeless women veterans with or without children who need transitional and affordable housing
- women veterans needing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling
- domestic violence victims in need of immediate shelter
- victims of military sexual trauma needing counseling
- women veterans suffering traumatic brain injury and needing treatment
- women vets needing assistance securing existing VA benefits for which they qualify.
How can I help and contribute to Women Veterans Support Services, Inc.?
The WVSS accepts checks and money order, and in-kind and volunteer contributions of service. Checks should be made payable to Women Veterans Support Services, Inc., and may be sent to WVSS, Inc., P.O. Box 26876, Raleigh, NC, 27611.
What are the most immediate needs of WVSS?
We are in need of immediate funding for operations and start-up organizational costs. A faith-based organization and a number of its members are currently providing the bulk of human and financial resources for the modest operating costs of the nonprofit. We are also seeking funds and grants to purchase or lease a building where women vets in crisis could come for security, basic needs for themselves and their children, and appropriate referral to available services.
The WVSS facility will be named The Deborah Center, and will also provide modest office space for WVSS. A gift of such a building would be a dream-come-true for the nonprofit WVSS and the women who have given so much for their country.
Who should give?
We are appealing to individuals, foundations, civic and corporate organizations and government agencies for funds to purchase a facility or donations of a facility or space in Wake County, North Carolina (Raleigh, the state capital, is county seat) to serve women veterans in the community and be a model for similar facilities in the nation.
Why can’t women veterans and their children receive social services, mental health counseling, healthcare, housing and crisis assistance through federal, state and local governments and nonprofits?
The unique and specific circumstances that affect women veterans and their families, as well as the complex qualification processes and the limited funds, make crisis assistance extremely difficult. There are problems singular to women veterans during deployment, to their children coping with the deployment of either parent, and to a network that experiences difficulty qualifying women veterans for so-called “civilian” safety-net services.
Where can I contact and find the Women Veterans Support Services, Inc.?
WVSS, PO Box 26876, Raleigh, NC 27611.
Phone number is 919-276-5083.
The WVSS currently continues to meet, conduct organizational business, and provide ad hoc services in the offices of its chairpersons or other WVSS board members. The organization is seeking combined office and service-delivery/referral space. Thank you, and please contact us to get involved! veterans support organization
