Local nonprofit Battle Born describes veteran drop-in services, housing and transport work in Northampton County

Chris, co‑founder of nonprofit Battle Born, told the Northampton County Human Services Committee that his group provides drop‑in services, peer support, trauma‑informed yoga and transportation for veterans across the Lehigh Valley and neighboring counties. He said the group partners with the VA, Palmer Recovery Center, Catholic Charities and other community organizations to connect veterans to benefits, housing and treatment.

The presentation outlined what Battle Born calls a hub model: the organization provides direct services where possible and refers to partners for needs it does not meet. “If we don’t provide what you need, we’re gonna find someone who does,” Chris said.

The group described weekly and monthly programming at Palmer Recovery Center in Easton, including trauma‑informed yoga, peer groups and on‑site VA assistance by Alex Carrillo, a VA representative who meets veterans at the center to answer claims questions. Chris said Battle Born serves veterans and family members across Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe and Carbon counties and beyond, and that the organization recently renewed a contract with Northampton County Drug and Alcohol services.

Battle Born provided counts from recent reporting periods. At the Palmer Recovery Center, the group reported 52 unique veteran walk‑ins for services in the first quarter (one day per week), and more than 157 attendees across weekly yoga and drop‑in programming during the same period. The presenter said the organization’s van transported 32 Northampton County veterans since January. For calendar year 2023 figures the group tracked, staff reported: 482 families fed, 45 veterans transported, 53 veterans assisted with housing, 350 peer support group attendees and 120 referrals to VA benefits; the group said comparable 2024 figures showed increases (for example, food shares rising to about 780 and transports increasing to 57 in 2024). Battle Born also described a three‑bed veterans transition home in Easton established since the group’s founding; the first resident used the program and moved into independent housing after about seven months.

Panel members asked about trauma support and therapeutic workshops. Chris said Battle Born provides trauma‑informed yoga directly and coordinates referrals to licensed clinicians and partners for one‑on‑one therapy. He said the nonprofit planned an MST (military sexual trauma) support group developed with a 2023 grant but that referrals and transportation barriers limited enrollment and prevented launch. “We do the yoga. We have community partners that will work with individual counseling,” Chris said.

Committee members and Battle Born representatives discussed outreach and contact methods; Chris said the group uses a website and social media and distributes a QR code for clients and referral sources. He also asked county officials and community partners to share device and transportation resources that could help veterans complete benefit applications or travel to services.

Why it matters: the presentation placed local veteran needs — transportation, immediate benefits access, trauma‑informed supports and transitional housing — in front of committee members who oversee human‑services contracting and county partnerships. The group requested continued partnership and noted specific gaps (referral pipelines, transportation and county grant support) that affect whether programs can scale beyond weekly drop‑in offerings.

Battle Born’s remarks were discussion and information; the committee did not take formal action during the presentation. The nonprofit supplied specific service counts and described ongoing partnerships and a county contract renewal that it said just occurred.