By TJJD Communications —
In 2019, the Cameron County Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) had a dream to build houses and donate them to local veterans. From the veteran receiving the home, to the youth who built it, to several community partners in between, their efforts would impact hundreds of lives across the community. In 2020, with the help of grant funds provided by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and the Texas Legislature, the dream became a reality.
The Cadets for Vets program is an innovative initiative that connects partners from across the county to build and gift a house to a local veteran. The core purpose of the program is to donate a house to a deserving veteran, but in the process, the youth residents learn important lessons about the construction trade, selfless service, and making an impact. With proper oversight, the Cameron County youth build the house from the ground up. The JPD works hand-in-hand with the Veteran Service Office, the ISD Superintendent, the permit department, and other community stakeholders to make the program a success.
In September, TJJD officials participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for Mr. Francisco Sanchez Amador’s new home. Mr. Amador served in the United States Marines and is a Desert Storm Veteran. Two years ago, his family’s house burned down. Discouraged and upset, Mr. Amador was not sure what he and his family were going to do. “When my house burned, it felt like I was going to be living under a bridge,” he said at the ceremony, “but today, it feels like America is helping me…I am grateful from the bottom of my heart.”
Cameron County Juvenile Probation Chief Rose Gomez described the Cadets for Vets program as a remarkable success, explaining that several youth who graduate the program OSHA-certified, go into the construction field and thanked TJJD for providing the seed funding needed to develop the program into what it is today.
Transforming young lives and creating safer communities is the mission of TJJD — and with the grant dollars provided by the legislature, the agency is proud to provide funding for innovative programs like Cadets for Vets that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.