A brand-new veterans wellness center on Mirabeau Avenue in Gentilly is now open, offering free therapy, group classes and a central hangout where local veterans can actually see each other face to face instead of just in a waiting room. The Bastion Community of Resilience says the new hub is meant to expand its clinical programs so any veteran in New Orleans can access them, not only those living in its intentional community, and both veterans and staff describe the space as equal parts clinic and neighborhood gathering spot.
Designed as a clinical hub and community space
The two-story, roughly 10,000-square-foot Mirabeau building was laid out to include treatment rooms, flexible group areas, an auditorium, a community garden and solar panels that are intended to keep services running when storms roll through, according to the project's owner’s representative. As described by Urban Focus, the whole place is set up so clinical care and public programming literally share the same roof.
Open to all veterans
Bastion opened the center to any veteran in the city, and in its first month roughly 500 veterans came through the doors, according to Fox 8 New Orleans. Navy veteran Jermaine Price, who voluntarily admitted himself for treatment in February 2024, told reporters that tension- and trauma-releasing exercises (TRE) at the center have helped him process both deployments and post-Katrina work, recalling, “You never forget that actual smell.” His daughter Zion, now serving as a Navy chaplain, said the Bastion community has helped her recognize triggers and feel safe enough to be vulnerable.
Programs and services
Inside the building, Bastion plans to host the Headway brain-injury rehabilitation program, a free 10-week Wellness Intensive, weekly TRE sessions, community yoga and sobriety groups, along with a coffee cart and an outdoor pavilion for workouts and casual meetups. Most offerings are free, although some classes and clinical tracks require intake or enrollment, and the organization says the center will create clinician-supported roles for veterans while expanding partner services for the broader community, according to Bastion Community of Resilience.
Funding and recognition
Private donors teamed up with public financing to get the project built: Fox 8 New Orleans reports a roughly $10 million package that included support from Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, the Rejuvime Foundation and Boysie Bollinger alongside federal backing. The center also used New Markets Tax Credits and was recognized with a Novogradac QLICI award last year for its community-development financing structure, according to Novogradac.
How to access services
Bastion says many offerings are walk-in friendly, so veterans can simply drop by the coffee cart or attend open community events, while formal clinical programs like Headway and the Wellness Intensive require an intake process or RSVP. Veterans and family members can check the calendar, review program details or reach out to staff for enrollment information. For schedules and eligibility, see Bastion Community of Resilience.
