Volusia Values Veterans Program Reports Early Success

Posted On: October 23, 2026

The new Volusia Values Veterans Program (V3P) has made a significant impact in a relatively brief amount of time, according to an update presented to the Volusia County Council on Oct. 20.

Launched in May 2025 with public and private partners, Volusia Values Veterans has implemented a multi-faceted plan designed to help veterans in numerous areas of their lives. The program has helped homeless veterans move into housing, placed veteran families in permanent homes through a partnership with West Volusia Habitat for Humanity, and saved veterans more than $49,000 on county services.

In addition, V3P unveiled a Vietnam War Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Daytona Beach and hosted the Veterans Stand Down event; a Veterans Leadership Summit; and Camouflage to Corporate, a free workshop that helps Florida employers recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

The program also gave veterans 2,443 complimentary admissions to the Marine Science Center, more than 400 Ocean Center event tickets, and 617 library Patriot Passes. It also played a pivotal role in installing reserved parking spaces for veterans and Gold Star families at County facilities and celebrated the opening of The Neighborhood Center's Gary and Eunice Maris Veterans House, which provides transitional housing for up to five veterans.

For its own workforce veterans, Volusia County adopted a service-connected administrative leave policy, giving veteran employees leave to receive treatment for conditions related to their military service, and named Corrections Officer Miguel Aviles, a Marine Corps veteran, the inaugural Veteran Employee of the Year.

Community fundraisers have raised $32,500 for the Veterans Support Endowment since the program's adoption, and the Veterans Private Support Fund received $4,647 in private donations.

Veterans seeking assistance may contact Volusia County Veterans Services at 386-740-5102 or visit www.volusia.gov/veterans.

Volusia Values Veterans Program Key Accomplishments

• Involved public and private partners, including Habitat for Humanity
• Saved veterans more than $49,000 on county services
• Installed Vietnam War Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Plaza
• Hosted the Veterans Stand Down event
• Hosted the Veterans Leadership Summit
• Hosted the Camouflage to Corporate
• 2,443 complimentary veteran admissions to the Marine Science Center
• 400 complimentary Veteran Ocean Center event tickets
• 617 library Patriot Passes
• Reserved parking spaces for veterans and Gold Star families at County facilities
• Celebrated the opening of the Gary and Eunice Maris Veterans House at the Neighborhood Center in DeLand
• Implemented a service-connected Volusia County administrative leave policy
• Launched Veteran Employee of the Year program
• $32,500 raised for the Veterans Support Endowment
• $4,647 raised in Veterans Private Support Fund donations