Honoring Our Veterans

Dear Friends,

On Veterans Day, we thank our veterans for their sacrifices to protect our nation. But gratitude can’t end with words alone. We must show our appreciation all year round through actions that back up our respect for those who’ve served.

Five years ago, Harris County launched a Veterans Services Department staffed by dedicated caseworkers and coordinators, including many combat veterans who know firsthand what it means to serve. Since then, we’ve more than doubled our investment to ensure servicemen and women have better access to support and services.

Our county staff works hard every day to increase veterans’ access to healthcare and preventative care, reduce the risk of homelessness, help with emergency financial assistance, connect people to job and educational opportunities, and more. These are life-saving efforts: Last year, Harris County saw a 32% decrease in veteran suicides thanks to the work of the Veterans Services Department and its partners, like the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

In Harris County, we don’t just talk about honoring our veterans; we invest in policies that give them real, meaningful support. Veterans have made sacrifices for our safety and freedom, and we honor those contributions through fair, just, and equitable policies.

To all the veterans in our community, thank you. We’ll continue to work hard to show our appreciation every day, not just on Veterans Day.

Sincerely,

Rodney Ellis