https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lets-help-homeless-veteran-asap-carrie-nowocin
July 20,2015
Meet James. I’m not disclosing his last name because he feels embarrassed about this whole situation, but right now he said he’ll try anything. James and I were talking on a Facebook thread that a mutual friend shared. I learned that James is a homeless veteran. Two words that should NEVER be in the same sentence next to each other. Once I found out about his living situation, I reached out to Vet Hunters Project. They then started contacting people they knew in the Dallas/Arlington location. They were able to provide James with new shoes, hygiene items, and underwear, among other essentials. God bless them! So now what? This is where we, the community, come in to help one of our discharged service members. Here’s what I know about him, and then I’ll explain what he needs from us. James is 50 years old. He has a misdemeanor charge that is blocking him from finding housing. He was supposed to start working earlier this week, but the manager never returned his call to tell him where to meet for work. I’m assuming it was some labor job. He’s homeless because he was kicked out of his girlfriend’s place for not being able to be placed on her lease, so now he sleeps under a bridge. I’ve researched the cost of studio apartments in Arlington, and they typically range from $500 to $ 600 per month. I’m hoping we can all come together to cover the cost for 6 months so that he can get back on his feet. He’s looking for work, and I’m helping him search for something ideal for him. Updates will come as he progresses. We won’t give the money directly to him, but we will arrange his living situation so he can get settled. He doesn’t trust the VA, for they keep giving him the run-around.
Something needs to be done to help these soldiers. Please share this post to raise awareness about the current situation in our country. We spend billions on wars we cannot fund, yet abandon our soldiers when they return home.
