New Facility Will Aid Colorado Veterans

DENVER (CBS4) - For many veterans, a new center that will help them adjust to life stateside could be a matter of life and death.

The Volunteers of America organization is building a one-stop shop for veterans to help them enter a civilian life, fight mental illness or recover from physical wounds.

Brenton Hutson, a veteran who works with VOA, said the center's benefit to veterans is incalculable.

"It won't just maybe save lives, it will absolutely save lives," Hutson said. "You have folks who are coming home and are in crisis already. They have PTSD. Maybe they're depressed. You don't really have the time to shuttle them from location to location."

The center, which will open in March at 12th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive, will provide veterans with valuable support services, shelter, health care and education information -- all under one roof.

When Hutson returned home from Iraq, he like many of his fellow veterans had a tough time transitioning into civilian life.

"It took me a while," he said. "I think it took a lot of my brothers a while to figure out how tough that transition could be because you have a lot of stuff to figure out."

There are approximately 400,000 veterans in Colorado. Thousands suffer from PTSD, homelessness and depression.

Jim White, with VOA, said even though the $2 million needed for the center isn't on hand, they've already begun renovations.

"We have so many vets who are having a rough time that we're starting it without any funds in hopes of raising this $2 million dollars," he said.

The VOA is accepting donations through VOAColorado.org.