Letter from Veterans Services Client

My name is Henry Stevens. I'm a married, disabled Gulf War veteran, former business and homeowner, Master's degree holder, former certified command financial specialist, and father of a soon-to-be seven-year old son. I don't drink alcohol, gamble, smoke or use drugs.

My only vice is that I play Airline Manager games on my smartphone. In a million years I would never have thought I'd become homeless. Yet it happenednot once, but twice! The most recent being a month ago. Initially, I was not eligible for homeless veterans housing assistance from the Veteran's Administration and thus I was referred to Catholic Charities Veteran's Services by my wife. Upon contacting Catholic Charities, I was directed to Mr. Christopher Tucker, the case manager for Veterans Services.

Mr. Tucker, being a military veteran himself, was able to understand me in a way that a non-veteran case manger had not been able to do. We spoke the same military language. I was treated with dignity, respect, and reminded that I had value and that my present situation did not reflect upon me as a failure. Mr. Tucker and I discussed my immediate and long-term needs and the goals required to achieve personal stability beyond my current housing need situation.

Mr. Tucker went above and beyond the call of dutyassisting with the smallest of things, such as driving to my residence to deliver a fuel card so that I could work when I didn't have fuel or money. His tireless efforts to make sure that problematic events which were interfering with my decision-making process were addressed so that I could make good, sound-judgment during this process of developing a plan of attack against my chronic homelessness.

Catholic Charities Veterans Services weren't the only agency assisting me during my period of homelessness, but without them my family would not be in a warm, nice, two-bedroom apartment we can call home. I repeat, my family would not be in a warm, nice, two-bedroom apartment we can call home, if Catholic Charities had not assisted us. For me, Catholic Charities is a God-send and blessing that I cannot express in words. Their assistance was invaluable, immeasurable, and possibly life-saving.