By JuliĂĄn Aguilar
Retired Lt. Col. Hope Jackson expected to be helping homeless female veterans in El Paso get back on their feet by now. But her efforts to open a shelter hit a snag when fundraising fell short, and she lost out on a contract with the local veterans administration.
That Jackson didnât get the nod wasnât as much of a surprise to her as who did: a privately run company on the cityâs outskirts located next to a halfway house. She sees the decision as a sign that, despite the growing number of female veterans in Texas, their unique needs are not being met when they face challenges transitioning to civilian life.
In October 2011, Jackson paid $70,000 for a house near El Paso’s Fort Bliss on the cityâs northeast side with plans to turn it into a shelter for women veterans. She hoped to have the eight-bed facility, called the HOPE Institute,
finished by December 2014. Her plan calls for programs including classes on topics ranging from basic hygiene to finances and credit repair, homeownership and career searching. The 
first 16 weeks would be free, Jackson said. After that, tenants will need to have a job and help with rent.
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