North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, (r) and Veterans Leadership Council Executive Director John Turner, (l) on the steps of the soon to be renovated Veterans Life Center in Butner, NC.
Butner, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory toured the future Veterans Life Center (VLC) in Butner today. The VLC will reside in Building 71 at the John Umstead Hospital Complex and is designed to serve homeless veterans and those struggling with mental health, substance abuse and other problems hindering their transition into civilian life.
“It’s been said that the best way to honor the men and women who gave their lives defending our country is to take care of those who fought beside them,” Governor McCrory said. “That’s exactly what we are going to do here at the Veteran’s Life Center.”
When completed, the VLC will house 150 veterans while providing the services they need to reclaim their lives. To achieve this goal, the VLC will provide veterans: clean, safe housing, mental health and substance abuse counseling, vocational training and mentoring, as well as life skills training.
The project is being spearheaded by the Veterans Leadership Council of North Carolina, founded by John Turner, a former Army officer and Iraq combat veteran. The council is leasing the building from the State of North Carolina. In May, Governor McCrory announced the town of Butner received a $4.25 million Community Redevelopment Block Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce for the project.
The council has partnered with numerous agencies to provide top-notch help for vets. These partners include:
The Durham VA Medical Center
The Department of Public Safety
The North Carolina National Guard Behavioral Health Unit
The Department of Justice
The University of North Carolina System including UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, NC Central, East Carolina, Fayetteville State and Appalachian State.
Additional educational support will be delivered through the community colleges and private educational providers such as Duke University and Medical Center.
The VLC also has a Medical Advisory Board to oversee medical and behavioral programming to ensure the quality and effectiveness of treatments and therapies.
“The success of the Veteran’s Life Center will be measured by the restored lives and family relationships of the veterans who stay here,” Governor McCrory said. “That assistance will be repaid to the people of North Carolina many times over by the contributions and leadership of veterans who were given a second chance by the VLC to come home.”
