Two years ago, Lameshia came to the Volunteers of America Texas Family Opportunity Center (FOC) as a single mother raising two young daughters while navigating significant health and financial hardships. She had a clear goal: build a stable future for her family through education and a career in health care. Through perseverance, Lameshia was accepted into the Lone Star College respiratory therapy program. But each semester brought new challenges. At times, she did not have reliable transportation or consistent childcare — barriers that made it difficult to stay enrolled and keep moving forward. With support from VOA Texas, Lameshia received…

HOUSTON, TX – For most of his adult life, Birthon built his career around hard work, precision and physical endurance. A U.S. Army veteran who served from 1976 to 1979, Birthon left the military with an honorable discharge and went on to become a millwright. For decades, he worked in a role that required strength, stamina and long hours, the kind of work that kept him busy and proud. But as the years passed, the job became more than just demanding. It became unsustainable. Birthon reached a point where continuing as a millwright was simply too hard on his body….

Jimmy’s path to stability wasn’t easy. For more than three years, he experienced homelessness in several Texas cities — Willis, Wichita Falls, and finally Conroe — where he often slept on the sidewalk next to a concrete barrier along State Highway 105 West. “Times were tough,” he said. “Sometimes I was bullied, never felt safe, and lived outside in the elements.” Everything changed one afternoon after a simple meal at a nearby Hartz Chicken. Jimmy met with his Tri-County caseworker, who accompanied him to the Volunteers of America Texas office seeking housing assistance. There, he met Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)…

Tamyka thought the worst was behind her when she left the Army in 2010. Years later, a seizure behind the wheel sent her car into a highway median, cost her a job and forced her to ask for help she had long avoided. “I’m grateful I reached out,” she said. “I needed to support my family, and I couldn’t do it alone.” From Combat Medic to Civilian Life Tamyka served from 2003 to 2010 as a sergeant combat medic, including a deployment to Iraq. The work demanded split-second decisions and steady hands. Back home, a different battle began. The corporate…

For nearly two decades, Rene has been a familiar face at H-E-B, greeting customers, bagging groceries, stocking shelves and gathering carts from the parking lot. This year, his dedication was recognized with an award and $100 for 19 years of service. Behind that achievement is a story of resilience and support. For nearly 15 years, Rene has received help from Volunteers of America Texas through its Vocational Opportunity and Training Services program. The program provides him with two to four hours of job coaching each week, depending on his needs, helping him navigate the ups and downs of part-time work….

HOUSTON — When Lina walked through the doors of the Volunteers of America Texas in Houston, she carried more than the weight of her books. She carried the loss of her father, who was murdered, and the scars of a turbulent relationship that left her displaced and searching for stability. Despite the heartbreak, Lina was determined to build a different future. Referred through the Harris County Department of Community Supervision, she became one of the first participants in the Disabilities Workforce Program–Teach Reach at VOA Texas. With guidance and resources from the program, Lina enrolled at Houston Community College to…

EULESS, Texas — Volunteers of America (VOA) Texas announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer Angela King will retire on December 31, 2025, concluding a distinguished career of nearly four decades in service to the mission. King’s leadership has been a model of purpose-driven excellence. With 39 years of dedicated service—including pivotal leadership at the national office of Volunteers of America—she has consistently embodied what it means to lead with integrity, courage and innovation. “When Angela stepped into the role of interim CEO during one of the most challenging periods in our organization’s history, she brought vision, strategy and…

Forth Worth, TX (VOA Texas) – When Brenda Tolliver returned home from Saudi Arabia after serving in the Army during Desert Storm, she carried more than just memories of her deployment. She carried an invisible wound—one that would shape her journey for decades: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lingering Sirens Brenda first noticed the signs shortly after leaving the military in 1992. She had just given birth to her son and was driving through her neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee when a siren pierced the air—eerily similar to the ones that signaled scud missile attacks during her time in the Middle East….

FORT WORTH — When Ruth relocated from New York to Texas, she hoped to start a new chapter in her life. But without a network of support and full-time employment, she quickly found herself homeless and uncertain of what the future would hold. “I did receive some short-term help,” Ruth said, “but the lack of contacts and job opportunities made it impossible to stay afloat. I ended up homeless and living at Union Gospel Mission.” Despite her circumstances, Ruth’s spirit remained unshaken. She began volunteering at the day resource center for the homeless, offering help to others even while seeking…

CONROE — In the spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives across the country, Brandon was facing another crisis of his own—chronic homelessness and unmanaged diabetes. Navigating the process to obtain identification, verify a qualifying disability, and document long-term homelessness can be overwhelming. But in Brandon’s case, the path to stability unfolded quickly. Volunteers of America Texas first connected with Brandon on April 14, 2020. His intake into the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program took place the very next day—and just one day later, on April 16, he moved into housing. In just three days, Brandon went from…