Press Releases
Executive Director of the Veterans Transition Center Will Speak at Forest Hill in Pacific Grove About Veteran Homelessness on the Monterey Peninsula
Forest Hill in Pacific Grove is hosting a monthly speaker series and has invited Kurt Schake, Executive Director of the Veterans Transition Center of Monterey County, to speak at Forest Hill on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 3:30pm. The topic of Schake's presentation is Homeless Veterans – Shame and Solutions. The event is free and open to the public.
Kurt Schake is a retired Air Force Colonel. He served 25 years on active duty as a fighter pilot, professor, requirements officer, and commander. In his last two assignments, he served as Dean of NATO's largest school and the Air Force's most senior college. In his military career, he spent a decade in Europe, most of that time with NATO. He graduated from the Air Force Academy and has a PhD in International history from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Since 2017, he has helped expand VTC programs to provide more services to homeless Veterans and families. VTC has twenty duplexes on the old Ft Ord complex in Monterey, where they typically house eighty Veterans, six spouses, a dozen children, and numerous pets. With a staff of sixteen, the VTC provides a wide variety of support services: emergency referrals, food, clothing, substance abuse counseling, medical referrals, furniture, employment preparation, and permanent housing support. VTC receives funds from local, state and federal governments, as well as many donors and service organizations, including numerous Rotary Clubs across the Monterey Peninsula.
The VTC is the Non-Profit of the Year for California's 29th District and the Service Provider of the Year for the Non-Profit Alliance of Monterey County. In addition, it is the lead agency for the biennial Monterey Stand Down, where 1,000 volunteers will help to provide 500 homeless Veterans with a range of critical services.
Schake is married to his high school sweetheart, has four boys, and lives in Carmel Valley.
WHO: Forest Hill
WHAT: Monthly Speaker Series: Homeless Veterans – Shame and Solutions
WHERE: Forest Hill Fireside Lounge, 551 Gibson Ave, Pacific Grove
WHEN: Wednesday, August 28 at 3:30pm
COST: FREE
RSVP: Call 657-5200 for more information.
About Forest Hill
Forest Hill opened in 1955 as the first full-service retirement community on the Monterey Peninsula, and has a long history of offering unparalleled care and a range of modern living options, from independent living in modern apartments and cottages, to an Assisted Living Center, and a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility featuring private suites. Residents discover the freedom of maintenance-free living at Forest Hill, with many choices in housing, services, dining, and amenities. Forest Hill is accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, widely recognized as the gold standard of quality. Forest Hill’s Health Center has earned Medicare's highest rating of five stars. For more information about Forest Hill, visit www.foresthillretirement.org.