Veterans Project
To date, more than 2.4 million men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. For many, the return home is fraught with challenges:

• 1 in 4 have sought treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder/depression
• 1 in 3 struggles with substance abuse
• 1 in 5 is unemployed
• 18 commit suicide every day

Veterans of past conflicts represent 8% of the U.S. population yet 30% of the homeless population. Illinois is one of seven states with more than 10,000 homeless veterans. Currently, government funding serves only 1 of 10 veterans in need.

Whether they served in the Vietnam War, the first Gulf War, or the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of soldiers return from combat with scars both physical and psychological. For many, reintegrating into their communities and their former lives proves impossible. Unable to cope, the tragic outcomes of homelessness, hopelessness, and helplessness are often the result.

Thresholds boasts 50 years of experience working with Chicago’s most at-risk populations.

If you are a veteran from any war having a hard time coping with your mental illness, trauma, or issues such as homelessness, substance abuse, etc., please contact Lydia Zopf, Director of the Veterans Project, at (773) 572-5400.

Integrating our award-winning, evidence-based practices and strategic partnerships, the Veterans Project includes homeless outreach, housing services, supported employment, peer-driven supports, substance abuse treatment, integrated physical and mental health services, and trauma-based therapies.

Outreach and Case Management
Thresholds’ staff engages homeless veterans at shelters and psychiatric hospitals, as well as those who congregate in abandoned buildings, under bridges, public parks, alleyways, the CTA, and other sites. Outreach workers build relationships and establish trust.

Housing
As a participant of the Chicago Partnership to End Homelessness, Thresholds operates on the principle of Housing First, meaning that housing should be provided even when an individual is not ready to receive other services. The Veterans Project links veterans to community- and agency-based housing using the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing vouchers and Thresholds’ Client-Assistance Fund as means of short-term rental assistance.

Supported Employment
The Veterans Project utilizes the evidence-based practice of Supported Employment (SE), a highly-effective model for helping people with severe mental illness find and maintain jobs of their choosing. Research shows meaningful work, found within a competitive setting, also lessens symptoms of mental illness and need for medications, while increasing self-esteem and measures of overall happiness. For many, work is recovery.

Substance Abuse Treatment
Thresholds successfully treats co-occurring conditions of mental illness and addiction with the evidence-based Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment, a highly effective model derived from more than 25 years of research and development.

PTSD Therapies
The Cognitive Restructuring Treatment Program combines the most effective uses of well-established exposure and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for veterans with PTSD. Dartmouth Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Kim Mueser pioneered the program and will oversee its implementation and assess ongoing fidelity at Thresholds.

Vet-to-Vet Peer Support
Vet-to-Vet is a self-managed program of care, run by veterans for veterans, to help overcome both mental illness and substance abuse. This consumer-professional partnership model has demonstrated positive outcomes for veterans, as studied and published by Yale University researchers.

Physical and Psychiatric Health Care
Through a long-standing partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Nursing, Thresholds maintains Integrated Health Care clinics staffed by nurse practitioners to ensure both physical and mental health needs of veterans are addressed.

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Mike Szkatulski of Mesirow Financial and President of Thresholds' board of directors called Ishaug's appointment "visionary," and he cited Ishaug's inspired and dedicated leadership to the Chicago social service community as a driving force behind the decision to hire.

"Mark has a long history of service to Chicago," Szkatulski said. "He has a proven track record within the community, building public/private partnerships and fighting stigma and discrimination among vulnerable populations. His experience parallels the work we do at Thresholds. We are honored to have him join our leadership team to bring his expertise and impressive tenure within the Chicago social service community." Read More