VETERANS OFF-GRID
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2023
Organizational Overview
Veterans Offgrid is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization seeking to restore a sense of purpose, community, sustainability, and peace to veterans in need. Our goal is to provide opportunities to achieve housing stability for homeless veterans, help prevent veteran suicide, and help veterans reintegrate with society through job skills training, relationships, and community.
We have been building sustainable, off grid housing at our site since 2017, and more recently we have begun farming in the desert using an NRCS-funded 1800 sq. ft. hoop house. A primary focus of our program is to provide training in green building, and through these initial projects, we have brought veterans and the local community together to learn about and create sustainable housing and agriculture. As we grow, we intend to bring more focus to helping veterans gain access to conventional and alternative healing resources.
We look forward to expanding our efforts with other non-profits in Taos County, NM, as well as University of New Mexico-Taos, and Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education via the Department of Veterans Affairs. This powerful network of partnerships with established organizations continues to fuel our mission to create veteran-led sustainable building and agriculture training programs, countywide behavioral health outreach and wellness programs, and community integration and support.
Need for Change
Many veterans are unable to navigate the complicated procedures of finding the housing and health services they need and the benefits available to them. On average, 17 veterans die by their own hand every day in the United States, and 1.4 million are considered at risk of becoming homeless. According to Taos Behavioral Health, northern New Mexico’s largest behavioral health care provider, “40% of the 6000 veterans living in northern New Mexico need professional mental health service. Approximately 300 veterans living in New Mexico are believed to be homeless.”
The population of Taos County, New Mexico is nearly 10 percent veterans—people who have served the United States in active duty. The area’s agricultural tradition and way of life are deeply rooted in desert living, with a focus on sustainability. Projects at Veterans Offgrid are geared toward addressing challenges like housing and food security in a way that has a local impact long term, while helping restore purpose and dignity to the veterans living on our site.
Opportunity for Social Impact
VOG sits on a 50-acre parcel of land west of the Rio Grande Gorge and borders Carson National Forest. Our veteran-led response to the untreated visible and invisible wounds of war is to connect with nature, foster community, provide skills training in sustainable living, and help veterans gain access to the services they need.
Our planned construction for this year includes putting the final touches on our first fully furnished and full size off grid home for a veteran, and an underground greenhouse (walipini). We also plan to build a second earthship in the summer. With the completion of these two earthships, we look forward to working with Good Will and the VA-funded SSVF rental assistance program that helps veterans confidently assume regular rent payments. We will also be hosting the first classes in a Sustainable Building and Agriculture Studies program with UNM-Taos.
In 2022, VOG launched Together With Veterans Taos, a community-wide veteran suicide prevention program with funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs in partnership with Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE).
Financials
Our funding comes almost entirely from private donors and other nonprofits. We actively pursue funding with fundraisers, grants, and collaborations. In 2021, we had our first revenue from our farming program, with sales at the local farmers market, CSA shares, and accounts with local restaurants. In 2023, VOG plans to begin a microgreens business out of the new walipini, for sale to local restaurants and at farmers markets.
As our goal is to expand our capacity to house more veterans we seek funding for capital and operating costs. In 2022, we secured funding from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program for a three year contract to hire a Case Manager for Housing Stability to guide those who come to VOG toward the services they need. Our Case Manager also works with non-veteran men, women, and families to achieve housing stability, in partnership with HEART of Taos, Veterans Upward Bound, and Not Forgotten Outreach.
Programs, Goals and Evaluations
Veterans Off-Grid historically has served an average of up to 7 residents at a time, with plans to serve up to 40-50 once we have built more long-term housing.
We're building as we go, with each building project acting as an opportunity for learning and training. Up to 50 volunteers per year participate in building and helping with property upgrade and repairs. Many of our volunteer opportunities are part of sustainable building workshops and skills training for veterans and civilians. Our housing units include an earthship, earthbag tiny home, hyperadobe tiny home, and a yurt. We have outdoor kitchen and bathroom structures for volunteers.
Our hoop house is supplied with water from rainwater catchment and hauling. In 2021, we were able to enjoy a successful harvest that provided greens and vegetables for our residents with enough surplus for veterans to run a stand at the Taos Farmers Market. Additionally, we sold ten community-supported agriculture shares, and created accounts that provide microgreens to local restaurants. With our walipini completed, we have additional rainwater catchment in new cisterns that improves our access to water. In 2024, we hope to install a well to further support our projects.
Accomplishments in 2022
Infrastructure:
As of August, VOG is 60% finished building the planned walipini. With grant funding from the LANL Foundation, we were able to provide workshops in offgrid construction at the walipini site to students, farmers, builders and veterans. VOG will partner with Earthship Biotecture to provide a sustainable building instructor and 30 students to utilize the VOG walipini and earthship site for the month of September, and complete both structures.
Special Use Permit:
VOG has been working with Taos County Planning and Zoning Department to obtain a Special Use Permit (SUP). The permitting allows VOG to build additional infrastructure in the near future without needing to acquire individual permits per building. A primary step toward acquiring the SUP is widening VOG driveways to meet Carson Fire Department standards. VOG has completed most of the road widening and anticipates the Fire Department approval by July 2023.
New Programs:
In April, VOG signed into contract with Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) as fiscal agent and administrator to bring the VA funded Together With Veterans Rural Veteran Suicide Prevention Program to Taos County. It is the first TWV program in New Mexico. TWV Taos has developed a Steering Committee with representatives from local government, non-profits, and Building Healthy Military Communities (in Albuquerque). In October, TWV Taos will conduct its first SWOT Analysis regarding veteran suicide in Taos County, inviting a broad range of service providers, school representatives, health care workers, and government.
In July, VOG signed a contract with NM Community Trust for Emergency Rental Assistance Program funding from the NM Department of Finance & Administration. This funding will reimburse VOG for payroll and expenses to hire and maintain a Housing Stability Case Manager/Service Navigator for individuals, families, and veterans in Taos County. This position will further facilitate our work to provide appropriate housing to veterans, and other people in the community.