Serving Those Who Have Served

As an Air Force Veteran, I know that the service to our men and women who have also served our country should never stop. As a LifeMoves board member, I am continuing my service by supporting other Veterans who are in need – whether they are unhoused or in need of a little support to get back onto their feet.

According to the 2022 Point-in-Time count, there are over 33,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness nationwide. This reflects the hard work taking place across the country to end Veteran homelessness, including all the efforts of LifeMoves, with a 55.3% decline in Veterans experiencing homelessness since 2010.

At LifeMoves, I am particularly proud that we serve not only local Veterans in the Bay Area but also Veterans in need who are coming to the area to receive care at the VA through LifeMoves HopTel.

HopTel is a six-bedroom home in East Palo Alto for Veterans who do not have the means for housing or a hotel stay and are receiving services at either the Palo Alto or Menlo Park VA medical campuses. Many are receiving behavioral health services to help them on the path to stability such as addressing PTSD or recovery from substance abuse.

With many experiencing intensive outpatient programs, HopTel provides a home-like environment with staff who provide transportation, meals and camaraderie to help relieve the anxiety and stress of their current situations. As a Veteran, I know that the shared experiences by other veterans in the space provides a positive and supportive foundation that is invaluable for each person that walks through HopTel’s doors.

This Veterans Day, I am excited to celebrate the decline in the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness. But I am also reminded that freedom isn’t free, and I know that we must continue the hard work of serving and honoring those who have served.

As the VA valiantly points out, “the goal of ending homelessness among Veterans is within reach – and in fact is already happening community by community.” I ask that you support LifeMoves in any capacity you can as we continue to work towards ending homelessness among Veterans and all individuals in San Mateo and Santa Clara County.

Happy Veterans Day and thank you to all the women and men in uniform, making sacrifices to serve our country.

About Scott

Scott Goree graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Management & Computer Studies and is also a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a Civil Engineer. Scott is currently the VP, Global Partners and Alliances for Skyhigh Security. Before his current position, he was Sr. Director of Worldwide Distribution at Nutanix, and before that Director, Head of Global Distribution at Pure Storage and was in Global Networking and a Security Sales Leader at Cisco. While at Cisco, Scott served as the Veterans Employee Resource Group Director, helping veterans transition successfully into civilian life through mentorship and career guidance. Scott Goree is a passionate go-getter and a successful leader who will bring strong strategic and project management skills to the LifeMoves Board along with his passion for serving Veterans.