Our Story

Operation Dignity has been providing emergency and transitional housing to homeless veterans since 1993. We have housed more than 875 people since opening. Our goal has always been to quickly take people right off the streets, without a complicated referral process or waiting period.

As a Vietnam Veteran, Alex McElree has sworn to never forget. “We don’t leave our people on the battlefield and we consider the streets the battlefield.”

After returning from 3 tours of duty in Vietnam, Alex was homeless himself several times and battled alcoholism. When he looked around and saw the number of homeless veterans, he vowed to do what he could to help them. Starting with his own Social Security check, he rented a house in Oakland, bought some beds, and brought home some vets. In 2009, the California Legislature Assembly selected Alex McElree as the 16th District Veteran of the Year for his work.

From that beginning, Operation Dignity, Inc. has grown to a full-fledged non-profit 501(c)(3) veteran run, service-enriched provider serving primarily the homeless veterans and displaced populations of Alameda County. Our goal is to provide safe housing, nutritious meals, and a full array of services to help homeless veterans so they can being their rehabilitation process. Our Board of Directors work to offer clean and sober residences with on-site support for sobriety and other self-help groups to those who need a hand.

Our residents collaborate with us and help operate the facilities, including both day-to-day operations and long range planning. Many of our residents work at paid staff positions and are compensated for the lower pay rates through reductions in rent and food. We also utilize professional staff from the VA, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program, the VA Compensated Work Therapy Program, Health Care for the Homeless, Travelers Aid Society, the Jobs Consortium, and BOSS.