Veterans in Northwest Florida, but especially in Crestview, located in North Okaloosa County, have a lot of support services available to them, but all too often they don’t know where to look or how to start. Here at the Crestview Resource Center, our convenient location just blocks from Downtown Crestview, hosts a variety of partner non-profits who provide resources and support for veterans all over the Panhandle. Whether you’re seeking help navigating Veterans Affairs, seeking housing, in need of support while in recovery or dealing with mental health issues, or looking for a job to help your transition into civilian life, there are people out there with the knowledge and expertise to help our Veterans thrive.
Let’s look at a few of these organizations, what they do, and how you can meet with them in-person here at the CRC.
- CareerSource Okaloosa Walton: CareerSource is a non-profit organization whose goal is to identify workforce issues in communities, provide guidance, support, and training to jobseekers and employers, offer crucial services such as resume assistance, interviewing skills, workshops, and job search assistance, as well as giving job seekers the use of computers, copiers and fax machines. Employers also benefit from targeted, industry-specific services such as recruitment, applicant screening and labor market information. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton endeavors to strengthen our communities by helping build a robust and active workforce. Crestview Resource & Community Development Center has partnered with CareerSource Okaloosa Walton to provide community members with access to job searches, employment availability, and more. You can speak to a CareerSource representative by visiting the CareerSource website.
- Panhandle Warrior Partnership: Panhandle Warrior Partnership is committed to empowering Veterans and their families in the Florida Panhandle. Through comprehensive support services, community engagement, and advocacy, they strive to enhance the quality of life for those who have served our nation. Their dedicated team works tirelessly to connect Veterans with the resources they need to thrive. Many of those who work for Panhandle Warrior are Veterans themselves, so they know the struggles Veterans face, and they have the unique insight needed to navigate the VA and civilian life.
- Bridgeway Center: Since 1966, Bridgeway Center, formerly Okaloosa Guidance Clinic, has been serving Okaloosa County and aims to “provide compassionate trauma-informed care, to maintain the human dignity of every person, to meet community support needs, to foster low-income housing, work to end homelessness in Okaloosa and Walton counties, to provide primary health care services to low-income persons and families, and to continually search for empowering and innovative ways to serve our clients, patients, families, and community.” Many of our Veterans in Okaloosa County have struggled with mental health, trauma, and addiction, and need a support system that understands the struggles they face as Veterans and in civilian life. Bridgeway Center has the resources and supports available to help Veterans in recovery.
- Oxford House: In 1975, Oxford House started with a singular mission: provide stability and accountability for folks living with addiction, but in pursuit of sobriety. By living together in a shared, safe, communal space, those in recovery are able to integrate into sober living alongside those who understand their addiction, understand the courage it takes to walk away, and understand how important it is that no one faces their recovery journey alone. Here in Crestview, Oxford House partners with the Crestview Resource & Community Development Center to meet our neighbors where they are and help them find safe housing and support while they heal and acclimate to sober living. Oxford House is available at the CRC every week to discuss housing, apply for housing, and learn more about other assistance available to addicts in need. Neighbors can also apply for Oxford House online. Many of our Veterans are in recovery but in need of housing so they can continue to heal. Oxford House is a wonderful resource for our Veterans seeking a fresh start.
- Legal Services of North Florida: In 1974 Congress founded the Legal Services Corporation, a publicly funded, not-for-profit organization that provides legal support and services to low-income individuals, through partner organizations like Legal Services of North Florida or LSNF. For many folks, there are financial barriers in the way of getting legal guidance, support, counseling, and services, even if those individuals have strong cases and deserve legal representation. Whether you need help with family law, like custody arrangements, or help drafting a will, the legal teams at LSNF have a variety of services available to you. And now, community members can meet with an attorney from LSNF for free at the Crestview Resource & Community Development Center on the second Wednesday from 10:00am to 1:00pm of each month! Veterans in need of free legal counsel and guidance would greatly benefit from utilizing LSNF’s services.
- Lakeview P.A.T.H.: It is a sad reality that many of our homeless neighbors in Okaloosa County are Veterans, but thankfully there are options for them. Since 1954, Lakeview Center has been providing Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties with over 60 programs designed to provide necessary support and services to our communities. Lakeview Center specializes in serving adults and children with mental illnesses, drug and alcohol dependencies, and intellectual disabilities. Programs range from outpatient counseling and psychiatry to 24/7 crisis support and residential treatments for substance misuse. An essential program within the Lakeview Center family is P.A.T.H. or Programs of Assistance in Transitioning from Homelessness. Through P.A.T.H. community members, including Veterans, have a clearly defined process of moving from being unhoused to having stable housing and security.
These are just a few organizations doing the work in Crestview and across the Panhandle to show up for our Veterans and provide them with the support and resources they deserve. You can visit with many of these folks in person every month at the CRC so you can get the help you need. Here at the CRC we are grateful for the sacrifices our Veterans have made and are honored to continue supporting them as we have done since we opened our doors in 2024.