Illinois Program Helps Addicted Veterans in Recovery-Home Setting

An Illinois man who has battled addiction himself has set up a program to help addicted veterans in a recovery-home setting.

Jeff Gilbert, who is not a veteran, became interested in veterans struggling with substance abuse while doing research for his doctorate in psychology, the Chicago Tribune reports. What he learned motivated him to create U.S. VETCare. Gilbert and his wife are the cofounders of Hope for Tomorrow, a nonprofit that provides treatment and residences for people dealing with chronic substance abuse, mental health or gambling disorders.

Hope for Tomorrow has converted one of its existing residences into a residence for eight veterans and is renovating a second residence that will house 15 veterans. The renovations are funded in part through a grant from the city of Aurora, IL, and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Veterans must go through an extensive evaluation in order to be accepted into VETCare. Once accepted, they must work and do daily chores and attend five counseling meetings a week. They are subject to drug and alcohol testing. Gilbert told the newspaper that VETCare has served 24 men so far, who have an average stay of 187 days.