With Arlington\u2019s large and growing veteran population, the need for more resources and space to provide counseling and other help is clear, officials say.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the Arlington Vet Center is undergoing a nearly $500,000 remodel and expansion. The center, located in Pantego, is one of only four U.S. Veterans Affairs Department-run counseling centers in North Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project is to ensure we can keep pace with the needs of the greater Arlington community,\u201d center director Joel Chaverri said.<\/p>\n
Vet centers aim to help veterans and their families readjust to civilian life through confidential counseling. Such services include a range of focus including readjustment, military sexual trauma therapy as well as grief and bereavement therapy, Chaverri said.<\/p>\n
The center also offers referrals, guiding veterans to programs that help them with substance abuse and connecting them with other former service members.\u00a0<\/p>\n
About 16,000 veterans live in Arlington, according to 2024 estimates<\/a> from the U.S. Census Bureau.<\/p>\n Chaverri, a former Marine, said the expansion will directly improve veteran outcomes as more space increases the ability to offer care.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main struggle we currently face is a high demand with limited physical capacity,\u201d Chaverri said.<\/p>\n The expansion is expected to turn the center\u2019s 3,600-square-foot space into about 6,100 square feet by building into a vacant space next to its current location.<\/p>\n \u201cOperationally, this is the difference between having one group room and three,\u201d Chaverri said. \u201cThese enhancements allow us to increase our group counts, offerings and provide more appointment availability across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n As the center undergoes construction work, Chaverri said members are finding ways to keep services uninterrupted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have community access points in Arlington where we can see people in person that\u2019s not physically here in the building, and then we are transitioning between virtual and in-person services as needed,\u201d Chaverri said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Arlington Vet Center uses VA Video Connect for virtual services, a videoconference app created by the Veterans Affairs office to bring care to those who have limited access to in-person services.<\/p>\n For additional resources, veterans or members of military families can reach the Arlington center at 817-274-0981, the 24-hour call center at 877-927-8387 or one of the other three centers<\/a> in North Texas.<\/p>\n The expansion should be complete by the end of the year, Chaverri said.<\/p>\n Chris Moss is a reporter for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n