Veterans Who Serve Prison Time Have A Lifeline In Riverside County Upon Release

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County is reaching out to veterans who've served prison time, in the hope that they will turn their lives around.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to solidify a contract with Vet Phoenix, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by formerly incarcerated veterans that provides peer support and case management.

The county received a grant last year from state Proposition 47 funding that will pay for the contract cost of $4,055,500, which covers a period of March 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. Vet Phoenix, Inc. is a subcontractor under the California Board of State and Community Corrections.

"I think we have come a long way when it comes to supporting our veterans but, obviously, there is more to be done," said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "We are working with our veterans to provide different types of services as well to veterans coming out of the prison system. This ensures they have skill sets linked to a job, behavioral health services access to care, and housing that goes a long way to stabilizing the veteran."

Since April, Vet Phoenix team members have enrolled 65 veterans. Over 20 have found housing through this program, according to Perez's office.

The program provides services that address the needs of incarcerated veterans who reenter society, including mental health treatment, substance abuse recovery, stable housing assistance, and employment support, according to county documents.

"This program represents one of the most important steps forward for Riverside County Veterans’ Services," said Gregory Coffos, Riverside County Director of Veterans’ Services. "It is designed to serve a group of veterans that is often overlooked, those who are justice-involved and working to re-enter our community after incarceration. This doesn’t just offer veterans’ services, it offers guidance, credibility and hope from people who have walked the same path. From benefits to housing to re-entry support, we are building a system now that makes sure that no veteran in this county is forgotten."

To find out more or enroll in the program, contact the Riverside County Department of Veterans’ Services at 951-955-3060.