What We Do
The XO Community Development Initiative was founded to provide transitional, affordable housing to the people in our own community that need and deserve it most: our veterans. Along the way, allied social services, such as re-entry education, were acknowledged as essential building blocks for successful and prosperous futures. We serve the underserved.
Why we do it
America is the greatest country in the world. One important reason for this is the quality and strength of our armed forces, and compassion and caring of our neighbors. Thousands of men and women made the selfless act of voluntarily joining the military to defend our country’s way of life. They have served with honor, dignity, and valor. None of these proud veterans should have to return to our great country only to face hunger and homelessness, or to struggle to reintegrate into our communities.
They were there when we needed them. XO’s mission is to be there for them when they need us. It’s that simple.
Our Methods
Through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the XO Initiative is proud to partner with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, The Department of Housing and Urban Development and other governmental agencies that provide funding to charitable organizations allowing us to provide the much needed services in our community. Together with our local partners, we acquire residential property in Houston area “Opportunity Zones” and preform any necessary repairs or remodeling that might be needed to the property. This revitalization not only assures that the veterans get a clean, safe, well-maintained home but the community as a whole benefits from our investment. The XO organization then manages the properties and leases them back to qualified veterans enrolled in the HUD-VASH voucher program, as well as other deserving low income families, at a lower than market rate. Being a Nonprofit organization, we then take all the income generated through the housing program as well as from generous donors and continue to invest it in the places and programs where a need has been identified such as our re-entry education program. Our partners not only provide some of the financial resources but also some of the professional services and materials required to succeed in achieving our goals. While we were founded by serving our veterans, we’ve established programs that all low-income residents can benefit from. Allied social services, such as the “Re-entry Education Program” funded by a grant and our “Take a Vet Fishing” program which is funded by generous donors. You can be one of our partners. If you’d like to help, please reach out and let us know.
How It Works
In addition to seeking grant partners for re-entry education programs, our long-term vision is to acquire residential properties in the Houston area that are suitable for our purposes of housing veterans and to provide a boost to the local community. These residences will provide easy access to public transportation and local VA facilities. Any repairs or renovations that might be necessary for these properties are addressed before our veterans move in so the properties are clean and safe. Then we honor our mission statement by making the residence available for lease to HUD, in combination with the VA, so they may offer a qualified HUD-VASH applicant the opportunity to lease the property from us at a lower than market rate. Once a Veteran leases his or her new home with the assistance of HUD, the VA is ready with a wide array of support services, such as housing vouchers, health care, mental health treatment, and substance abuse counseling. A key component of the program is VA’s case management services. These services are designed to assist Veterans in obtaining and sustaining permanent housing and engage in needed treatment and other supportive services that improve Veterans’ quality of life and end their homelessness. Case Management is the heart of this program and is a requirement for participation in the HUD-VASH voucher program.
All the qualifications for the HUD-VASH Voucher program are located on the va.gov website.
Please help us provide transitional, affordable housing to homeless veterans in our community. They need us now.
“THOSE WHO HAVE LONG ENJOYED SUCH PRIVILEGES AS WE ENJOY FORGET IN TIME THAT MEN HAVE DIED TO WIN THEM.”