Veterans in North Carolina

This community-based research was conducted to study ways through which i-Suntari can expand its outreach in the Durham community, and in the Triangle Region. As i-Suntari develops as an organization, it will confront questions such as, how to draw in Veterans who can benefit from its services, how to reach to the community for resources and support, and how to channel relevant resources to Veterans who need them the most.

Current circumstances make it even more pressing for i-Suntari to answer these questions, so as to deliver these services to meet rising needs amongst the Veteran community. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affair’s extrapolations for 2014, there are currently over 15,000 Veterans in Durham alone. In the Triangle Region, this number is a staggering 157,000. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close, and troops begin returning home, we anticipate a surge in these numbers. This phenomenon can happen even before the end of this year. Of these returning warriors, the Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 11-20% suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, not taking into account many other forms of service disability.

In comparison to previous wars, we also observe a different demographic among the deployed. A study by the Committee on the Assessment of Readjustment Needs of Military Personnel, Veterans, and Their Families published that 12% of those deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom are women, a number that is substantially larger than before. North Carolina is home to over 90,000 of these female Veterans, and the Women Veteran Support Services observes that North Carolina has the sixth largest female Veteran population in the United States. Meanwhile, the News Observer reported that female Veteran unemployment rate in North Carolina is 14.8%, as opposed to 8.8% across the country. This is a worrying trend for female Service Members transitioning to civilian life in North Carolina.

If these numbers become reality, as we reasonably believe they will, the demand for Veteran-related services, such as specialized healthcare, in Durham and the Triangle Region will inevitably rise. At that time, communities will find themselves called upon, and indeed be driven by the sense of duty, to support the very men and women who have served them in the most valiant manner possible. Even now, as I conduct my research, I had the privilege to meet members of the community, who are most ready to offer their talents and strength to the Veterans’ cause. Yet, this potential in the community will remain untapped without a “catalyst”.

Veteran organizations like i-Suntari are well poised to be that “catalyst”, that is, to tap on the community’s potential and resources, and channel them to Veterans. Indeed, the “Sea of Goodwill”, as coined by Admiral Michael Mullen to describe the forthcoming community support, is rich and abundant. Given i-Suntari’s stature as a Veteran-owned social enterprise, it has the potential to garner the trust of Veterans and communities alike. This is an important advantage, because this trust is required for any mediating organization to successfully become the connecting node between Veterans and resources in the community.

Indeed, it is only with the strength of these communities that i-Suntari can transcend the limitation of its private resources and deliver relevant services to a wider Veteran population. Consequently, i-Suntari’s outreach efforts will have to be built upon the community’s untapped potential. Acknowledging that this too is how i-Suntari perceives its role in the community, this research project will take on questions that provide information on how i-Suntari can be that “catalyst”. This information includes understanding the needs and services demanded by specific groups of Veteran, as well as resources in the community. This research acknowledges that the information provided does not cover the full range of possibilities – the needs of Veterans are diverse, and so are the available resources. The research also realizes that the “answer” is a not a static entity, but one that is dynamic and evolves with changing circumstances. Hence, this report will document research methods that worked well, so that i-Suntari can adapt it to react to different situations. Nonetheless, this report will also attempt to integrate all information that has been obtained throughout this research period, and make recommendations.

Keeping in mind that i-Suntari is a social enterprise, not a non-profit organization, this report understands that i-Suntari needs to take into account its business models and profit generation. Hence, this research will analyze the data and information collected based on this context. Recommendations will then be made as to how i-Suntari can define its role in the community, and how to incorporate both its social and business aspect into its identity. In addition, this report will also suggests means through which i-Suntari can integrate the community resources into its network.