Employee spotlight - Curtis Wiliamson

Each veteran who walks through the doors of the Residential, Employment, Substance Abuse Treatment program known as REST opens up to share a part of his past with Social Worker Curtis Williamson. Whether they have experienced bouts of joblessness, untreated illnesses, or addiction, they all have experienced chronic homelessness.

Curtis Williamson (left) with HVAF clients

With the support of Curtis and the REST program, these former soldiers are able to surmount challenges and re-enter the workforce after military service and/or find permanent housing.

At a recent recovery program graduation one man said he slept under a bridge until he got the help he needed. He got help at HVAF under Curtis’s guidance. The veterans who tell their storiesof completing the program speak with clarity, pride and wisdom. They leave the program changed.

Curtis graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and went on to complete his Master’s in Social Work from IUPUI. In May 2013, he joined the staff at HVAF,working with REST Coordinator Fred Young in helping 22 veterans at a time who are in recovery.

“My grandfather was a homeless veteran – it was intermittent and he struggled for years so it’s very meaningful to do what I do,” says Curtis.

Curtis who is originally from Tennessee adds that HVAF’s 12-step recovery is a dedicated 6 months of working with a sponsor and ultimately completing 58 homework assignments. He says the intensive recovery program holds veterans accountable for their actions while supporting them.

“I enjoy connecting veterans with services that are available to them whether it is primary, or mental health care and if they are not eligible for insurance I help get them signed up and with those barriers eliminated we are able to focus on recovery,” says Curtis. “It’s a really good feeling to know that when a veteran calls you and tells you how they are doing and you hear the program has worked for them and they are now self-sufficient – you have made a difference. And we encourage veterans to find something that they are passionate about and re-focus energy.”

In his spare time Curtis enjoys walking his dog, a pit-bull mix, Mae, and reading or painting.

Once homeless veteran uses his past to help others

Not too many homeless veterans have dedicated their career to helping others in need. But then again, 58-year-old Fred Young isn’t your average guy. Young is the kind of guy whose spirit shines brightly like a meteor streaking through the night sky. But, Fred says it wasn’t always like that. At one point, in his early days out of the military, his thoughts went to darkness. “I’ve spent time in jail and I was previously homeless for 5 years living on the streets in Indianapolis,” he said. “It’s kind of been up and down for me.”

Fred Young

The US Army veteran says his dependency on drugs and alcohol escalated while serving in the military. Alcoholism (alcohol use disorder) is a disease that affects over 14 million people in the US.

“I was good at hiding my addictions, at least I thought I was,” says Fred. “And once I came back home from serving in the military my plan was to take a full year off and party but that year turned into 30 years.”

Fred was not yet committed to changing his life around but he landed a job in production at General Motors where he worked for 15 years. He says after watching his life spin further out of control, he decided to quit his job in fear he would get fired.

Fred sought help at the US Department of Veterans Affairs SATS (Substance Abuse Treatment Services) program.

“The best recovery is when the individual is honest with himself, is open-minded and willing to use the guidance and direction provided by those who have made that journey before him. That is what I did and it works,” says Fred.

Fred is 14 years clean and sober and quit smoking cigarettes 7 years ago.

In March of 2005, Fred was hired at HVAF to work in the Critical Time Intervention (CTI) program. Soon he worked his way up to Coordinator for the Residential Employment Substance Abuse Treatment (REST) program. And in 2011, Fred was certified by the State of Indiana FSSA Division of Mental Health as a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) and was upgraded in July of 2014 to an Indiana Community Health Worker/ Certified Recovery Specialist (CHW/CRS).

As Coordinator, Fred says he enjoys seeing positive changes in the veterans’ lives and says he can relate to these men and women who struggle with addictions. He uses the 12-step recovery curriculum to help veterans overcome fears and obstacles.

When you walk past Fred’s office you notice stacks of files of the veterans that he serves and case managers and veterans stop in and out of his office. Fred’s light is always on, shining bright.

Employee spotlight

Rex Miller is one of our Transportation Specialists, and he’s been doing his job to the fullest for almost 2 years. Rex began at HVAF while we were in the midst of growth. He enjoys the freedom of the road and is helping make a difference for the veterans we serve.

Where are you from?

“I grew up on the southeast side of Indianapolis near the Marion County Fairgrounds. My entire family of 7 siblings and I would go to the fairgrounds often. My grandparents grew up on what was a stereotypical Midwest farm and raised cattle and grew wheat and corn.”

Rex Miller, Transportation Specialist at HVAF

How did you get started at HVAF?

“When I left my job as a truck driver for 30 years I was looking for work. I applied to over 5 places in the Indianapolis area, including HVAF. HVAF always stood out, because I respected what they did in helping veterans. I think HVAF is doing something good in the world.

What’s your favorite thing about working here?

My job doesn’t just have me on the road. I go into food pantries, grocery stores and big-box chain stores. I like the variety and not knowing what the next day holds. Plus, I get to meet veterans from all walks of life who simply need a helping hand. 

Employee spotlight

Chasiti Herring, 26, joined HVAF in November 2013 as our first Employment Specialist. She meets with veterans to help them improve resumes and job readiness skills before connecting the veteran with employers in the area. She has a Master's Degree in Social Work.

Chasiti, what attracted you to this job?

HVAF is a wonderful organization with such a great cause. The organization has touched the lives of so many veterans and families and has been a pillar of service within the community. HVAF’s mission is dear to my heart because I have witnessed a close relative, who is also a veteran, experience extreme hardships in trying to receive veteran services. Therefore, it is very important for me to play a part in giving back to those have served our country. I am so excited to be a part of the HVAF family!

I love being able to help the guys and being able to connect them with the resources they need for a new beginning and I like being able to put a smile on their face when they are looking for a job.

What do you do?

I work with veterans to provide a variety of holistic services to help them establish employment. My goal is to help clients to become “Job Ready” by providing them with a combination of services such as resume/cover letter workshops, interview prep, computer training, occupational skills assessments, post-employment counseling, job leads/ job referrals, etc. Overall, I really want to see our veterans succeed in the workforce so I do my best to provide them the services they need to find and secure suitable employment and make the transition from the military to the civilian workforce.

What do you enjoy most about working at HVAF?

I enjoy helping to make a difference in the lives of the clients that I work with. Many of our clients face so many barriers in regards to securing employment. I enjoy helping them see that there is light at the end of the tunnel! Helping veterans to establish stable employment helps them to feel a sense of empowerment and self-sufficiency. I enjoy working with this population! Overall, I am truly honored to be able to serve the many men and women who served our country.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

My family is my rock! Therefore, any free time that I can get is spent visiting with them. Family time is always guaranteed to be full of laughter and fun! I also enjoy relaxing and reading a good mystery/suspense novel.