Our Impact

As Bastion’s community has grown, so has our impact. We’ve supported veterans from all across New Orleans and beyond through our programs, services, and growing community of life-changing support and connection for veterans.

Residential Survey

Highlights:

Our most recent study found that an enriched life is positively influenced by reducing loneliness and increasing engagement in meaningful activities.
Loneliness emerged as the strongest negative predictor of well-being, while greater engagement in meaningful activities was linked to more enriched life outcomes.

What does “enriched life” mean?

The Enriched Life Scale is an assessment measuring veteran wellbeing across five categories: genuine relationships, sense of purpose, engaged citizenship, mental health, and physical health.

Presentation of this research

Bastion’s residential survey research was presented as part of ongoing work to better understand veterans’ wellbeing, loneliness, engagement, and enriched life outcomes within the community.

Annual Report

2024 Edition

View Bastion’s most recent annual report as a flipbook.

In honor of the 10 year anniversary of our residential community groundbreaking, we’re compiling a 10 year impact report with veterans’ stories, historical community photos, and video interviews with peopole central to our story. Stay tuned for more updates!

2023 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

Testimonials

Residential

Rick Hall was born and raised in Ohio. He enlisted in the Army in 1999 as an infantryman. He served in Texas, Colorado, South Korea, Belgium, Kuwait, and Iraq. Rick left the military in 2009. He had a hard time reintegrating. He also suffered from mental and physical injuries sustained while serving. Rick struggled to maintain employment and sometimes even housing.
Rick found Bastion in 2017 and was their first resident. Rick had finally found his community. Bastion offered him a place to call home where he was able to stabilize and begin to address the issues in his life surrounding his physical and mental health. Through the many programs offered at Bastion, and the great network of caring people there, Rick was able to reintegrate back into society and heal.
Rick left Bastion in 2019 and travelled to Colombia, where he met his wife. He spent 4 years there before coming back to the United States with his wife and young son. Rick currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he works in Peer Support helping other veteran in the Veteran Affairs Mental Health and Homeless Program. Rick attributes his current success to his time living at Bastion. He is grateful for the services they provided him and the community they built together. He is still in contact with many of the people from Bastion.

Rick Hall, Resident from 2017 to 2019

Headway

Angry, bitter, lost, and unable to control my emotional and mental health, Headway was a cornerstone of my adaptation and recovery of a Traumatic Brain Injury while in the military. The empathy and care I received from the staff was exceptional, and the brotherhood of the other servicemembers and veteran who were with me in this journey only hardened my resolve to accept these circumstances and become healthier in body and in spirit. There is no doubt or question, I would not be here today, a better father, husband, and transitioned veteran, without the exceptional care provided by the Headway family

Adam Van Hoozer, Headway Program Alumni

Wellness Intensive

Participating in the intensive helped me gain a deeper understanding of my mental health and how my tendencies, habits etc. differ from other people. I now have areas I intend to focus on that were not previously considered.
The Wellness Intensive definitely grounded me mentally. It strengthened my coping skills and added several techniques I was previously unaware of to my repertoire. It connected me with my fellow veteran and the social work staff of Bastion, providing me with a clear and compassionate support system if I need it.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Wellness Intensive as a veteran who shares many personal struggles as Bastion residents. From my perspective as a board member, I was blown away by the Team’s professionalism and compassion for the veteran community. I’m extremely proud to be a part of the Bastion story.

2024 Inaugural Cohort Graduates

Previous Studies, Research and Data from our Programs

The Impact of Bastion’s Headway Program on Veteran Health Outcomes

The purpose of this study is to provide evidence supporting occupational therapy’s efficacy in community integration programs and advocate for the expanded implementation of occupational therapy services in more mental health and community settings for post 9/11 veteran.

The Effect of an Intentional Residential Community on the Reintegration of Veterans with a Traumatic Brain Injury and their Families, 2022

Resilience scores peaked at Bastion during the pandemic. These findings suggest that peer networks, social support, connectedness, and appraisal, or social capital more broadly, can improve health and wellbeing in a predominantly disabled community.

Community Reintegration for a Returning Warrior, 2018

This case study examines the challenges associated with mental health among military veterans, and the opportunities to improve the continuum of care for this population.