Fort Bliss, TX –
On Saturday August 3, staff from the Fort Bliss Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) participated in the 11th Annual Home Run for the Homeless 5K in downtown El Paso, Texas. The event hosted 931 participants, and the funds raised will go to help the Veterans Transitional Living Center, a local program under the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, a non-profit organization.
Staff Sgt. Alicia Espinoza from the NCOA rallied her unit to answer the call and participate in the event. She completed the 5K walk with her two young children in a wagon because she believes it is important to start teaching them that their time can be spent by helping others. Espinoza said, “the goal is to continue to help those in need regardless of service or status.”
NCOA First Sergeant, First Sgt. Mark Hubbard said, “we do not volunteer for attention. Every time I am able to give back whether it be time or resources I will.” The Army values play a significant role in the daily lives of Soldiers. When potential recruits are learning about the Army, recruiters teach them what the Army values are with the LDRSHIP acronym, which stands for loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
The Soldiers Creed has two lines that state, “I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.” NCOA Small Group Leader, Staff Sgt. Robert Wood is an example of someone living the creed by attending events such as this. He participated in the run because he believes it is important to be involved. Wood emphasized his thoughts by saying, “if you don’t take part and volunteer to support it, then the community deteriorates over time.”
The Texas Homeless Data Sharing Network collects data on homelessness from nine of the 11 (93%) Continuums of Care (CoC) in Texas each year. In 2023, a minimum of 4,103 veterans were reported to have experienced homelessness across Texas CoCs. Although veteran homelessness increased by 3.7% from the previous year in Texas, the United States has shown a 52% decrease in veteran homelessness from 2010 to 2022.
More information on how to get involved and support your local community can be found online at Opportunity Center for the Homeless (homelessopportunitycenter.org).