Winter 2024

64 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 Photo: Kelli Uldall R etired from a distinguished Army career,Tom Griffin saw many of his fellow veterans struggling in civilian life. “I ran the homeless program at the Housing Authority of Monterey County,” he says. “I saw a lot of homeless vets on the streets and thought, ‘There but for the grace of God go I. We must do something.’” Griffin was moved to found Veterans Transition Center of California (VTC) in 1996. When VTC was formed, the group acquired 40 homes, Martinez Hall (former post headquarters) and two warehouses that had been part of the Fort Ord Army base. “My dream came true,” Griffin says. “We were granted the property with the proviso that we housed low-income or homeless vets.We raised $1.2 million to rehab the first 20, began housing people and haven’t looked back.” VTC currently houses 121 veterans and family members and is in the process of building 71 apartments. “In three years, we’ll be housing 300 or more.” Over 10 years, Griffin organized six “Stand Downs” with VTC and Monterey County sponsorship, providing food, clothing, medical, legal and personal services in a “military-like environment” for an average of 300 homeless vets at each event. For more information, visit www.vtcofcalifornia.com. VOLUNTE ER PROF I L E Tom Griffin