Women Veterans Support Services, Inc. (WVSS) is the State of North Carolina’s first state-wide dedicated non-profit for women veterans. WVSS’s Founder & Visionary is Patricia A. Harris, Past(American Legion) State Commander and Gulf War / Iraq combat veteran DV/SA (MST) survivor that came home. She realized there was not much available for women veterans, so she began to advocate about women veteran’s issues. Harris, along with Rev. Shirley King, M.Div, and Rev. Barbara Falana, MA, LPC, two wives of veterans together, established our organization in 2008. However, our work began in the year 2007 after a 03:15 am call came about a homeless woman veteran, and Harris went into action.

As our women veterans leave the military, they envision themselves stepping up in society to a better life. Frankly, no man or woman exiting the military service ever imagines him or herself in a situation so dire as being homeless or a victim of abuse. Often when reaching this point, there are complications with family, jobs, law, and personal safety. The network of comrades that they left behind in the military is long gone, and they face despair and feel that they are alone. Leaving no one to talk to about the secrets of abuse they suffer or the homelessness experience; we step in so that they can step up to that better life. We have been there.

Women Veteran Support Services, Inc. (WVSS), since 2007, still specializes in crisis management. Women veterans have unique needs that many community agencies that serve her don’t know that she has served. Not realizing her veteran status is a problem as she often is missing out on essential services, benefits that she is entitled to. WVSS has chosen to serve women veterans as a priority because women who are homeless are far more vulnerable than homeless men; also, the increased numbers of sexual abuse/domestic abuse. Learn More