A soft drizzle hit the brim of Danny’s hat as he walked
through a puddle of the parking lot towards where he used to live at Manchester
Apartments, a supportive housing property provided to homeless veterans by HVAF.
After
experiencing homelessness for 7 years Danny isn’t letting rain get in his way. Just two years before, he stood at the same corner
with only a 10-speed bike and a black trash bag.
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| Danny with HVAF Case Manager Jerrika Pence |
Danny joined the US Army in 1981 and completed basic training at
Ft. Campbell. He served in Korea for 14 months but he never imagined how difficult
it would be transitioning home from service. Once at home, Danny worked for the tree trimming company his family
owned but after a job-related accident he was met with setbacks. He describes those days as hazy and the years turned
into “one continuous party” marked by drinking alcohol.
Danny eventually could not pay for food and rent
anymore and became a familiar face among homeless service providers offering
shelter (Wheeler Mission) groceries (food stamps). He regularly lugged his bike throughout
the city for services.
“I told God that I needed his help,” he says.
“I told him I was ready to walk away from the booze and the drugs.”
In 2014, Danny says he got his life back on
track. He quit alcohol and
drugs cold turkey and called HVAF for housing and the next day he packed his belongings and left Martinsville and
headed to Indianapolis where he moved into the HVAF's Manchester Apartments and worked with Case Manager Jerrika Pence. Tree trimming took a backseat. His dreams of returning
to work was on a hiatus.
Once Danny had a roof
over his head he wanted nothing more but to return to work. He attended several
career fairs before accepting a job in landscaping. He also enrolled in the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program
through the VA where he will complete two months of a paid training program in
supply and housekeeping work which is designed to help veterans become more
marketable in the workplace.
Last
month, Danny moved out of HVAF housing and into permanent housing but he is
still receiving help from HVAF through the Supportive Services for Veteran
Families (SSVF) program. The program has helped Danny with employment
referrals; deposits on both his housing and utilities; a new bed; moving
services; and referrals to outside agencies to assist with furnishing his
apartment.
“The
improvements that I have seen with Danny stem from his attitude and outlook on
life,” says HVAF Case Manager Jason Murrey. “Danny has defined a purpose and acknowledges
that a lot of the troubles he experienced were self-inflicted and could have
been avoided if he asked for help. And he credits the help from HVAF as being
the hand-up that assisted with putting him back on his feet.”
Danny
isn’t letting his past slow him down and sees that there is light at the end of
the tunnel.
