Boise VA medical center to open new facility

July 21, 2024

BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) - According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than two out of ten veterans with PTSD also have a substance abuse problem.

The Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center was allotted a $5 million budget to house local veterans who need help.

Veteran Karen Sufficool says the VA Recovery program is important to her.

"They validate your fears, they validate everything and they keep you from demoralizing yourself from your past and your traumas," Sufficool said.

She says the old facility was not up to par.

"The old one was kinda like a hospital beds, and kind of like, you know, kind of just like the back of a closet," Sufficool said.

Director of the new Transformation and Recovery Center, Tom Hogan, says it was time for veterans to have a place like home for recovery.

"We needed more beds so we added more beds, it's just has much more of an open concept, much more home-like than the hospital where the veterans were staying before," said Hogan.

The old facility had eleven beds used for substance-abuse treatment only. A total of seven beds were added, making room for patients with PTSD to get residential care.

Veteran Allicia Arredondo has been involved with the program since 1997, and says she hopes this improvement of space will make room for female veterans to receive services.

"The current building was actually very limited space, only two beds for females. I think now we have a female group going and I hope to see more females coming through the program," said Arredondo.

Hogan says this kind of residential care is going to start a whole new phase for the program.

"And they do deserve a nice environment," said Hogan.

The new Transformation Recovery Center won't be open until Monday, but there's already a waiting list.

Programs range anywhere from four to eight weeks, depending on the veteran's needs.

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