Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Belle Bennett Landau, Returning Veterans

Patch talks to Belle Landau from the Veterans Foundation about the important work she's doing in the Portland community and the greater Oregon community at large.

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Patch: Tell Patch a little about you and your organization!

Returning Veterans: RSVP is a nationally award wining 11-year-old Oregon nonprofit dedicated to providing free, confidential mental health and somatic healthcare services for post-9/11 war zone veterans and their families. Annually our licensed practitioners donate more than 4,500 hours of free treatment services to 450 vets, their spouses, children and parents.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Returning Veterans: Oregon is one of just six states without an active duty base and with 52,000 post-9/11 veterans. But per capita our Army/Air National Guard have deployed more times to Iraq/Afghanistan than from any other state. PTSD rates are as high as 50% for deployed Guard members and divorce rates are high, especially among women veterans. Our local community based services are helping our newest war veterans return all the way home to their families and local communities.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Returning Veterans: A lack of community interest in the short and long term issues related to war zone service, which leads to funding related challenges.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Returning Veterans: Our hope is to continue gaining and training pro bono providers to work with our newest vets and families for as long as the need is there.

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