Submitted by the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter

A Community Outreach Grant from MOAA Charities awarded to the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter is supporting veterans navigating the justice system and recovery process.

The funds provide transportation, food, temporary housing, rent assistance, utilities, furniture, and gift cards for essential personal needs to veterans in the Hamilton County Veterans Treatment Court, a program designed to identify justice-involved veterans and connect them with the services and structure they need to reclaim their lives. Without this assistance from the chapter, recovery for some veterans would be nearly impossible.

Prior to November 2024, veterans involved in the Hamilton County, Tenn., judicial system had no dedicated avenue for specialized support.

“The veterans treatment court became a reality through the persistence and leadership of Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson and General Sessions Court Judge Garry Starnes,” said Lt. Col. Ray Mitchell, USA (Ret), chapter president. “Their commitment ensured that veterans are now identified early in the judicial process and prioritized for treatment over incarceration when appropriate.”