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| Randy D. outside Warman |
Several
years ago, Randy D., 61, an Air Force veteran, was in rough shape and vowed to get healthy. Suffering
a heart attack, stroke, and the loss of his mother in three short years had
taken its toll on Randy. He was battling depression and memory loss from his
stroke, which eventually led to unemployment. Before he knew it, he had become
homeless.
Randy
isn’t the only veteran affected by physical and mental health issues. Veterans
are particularly at risk for homelessness because of their health. Depression,
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, physical disabilities, and overall health make
it particularly hard for veterans to handle stress and adjust to society.
Randy
commented, “You have all these skills for survival, but none of those apply to
the world of Craigslist and Facebook.” Luckily, Randy heard about HVAF through
his oldest brother, Joe, who is also a veteran. Randy qualified for
transitional housing at HVAF.
With the
help of his case managers, Randy is now doing well and became the Senior
Resident of the Warman property for HVAF, where he resides. He holds his eight
fellow veterans accountable and ensures that all house rules are followed.
Randy remarked, “I’d probably be on the streets if it weren’t for HVAF…now I
see their faces and I know I’m taking care of them and it feels good.”
