Because of you, this veteran found hope to rebuild again.
“I felt safe here. I felt like I could finally take a deep breath, and I feel lucky to know this place.”
US Army Veteran Leslie has kind eyes and a calm, caring presence about him. He loves spending time outside with his dog, Nova, and today, he is grateful to feel stability with a roof over his head.
When Leslie was 15 years old, he enlisted with the Army during the Vietnam War. At that time, the draft age was still 18 but it was possible to enlist with parental consent.
“I love this country. I felt compelled to do something to help. I enlisted as soon as I could.”
Leslie grew up with a sense of respect and reverence for the military because his father had a 20-year career in the Navy.
“It taught me a lot of things I still used to this day. It helped me grow up. It was a difficult time to serve in the military, but it was worth it.”
When he returned home, Leslie was determined to successfully transition into civilian life. He got a job and worked his way up the ladder to live comfortably.
“I had a dream life. I was married for 35 years. We had a house, a daughter, and my wife and I had good jobs. We were happy. I never would have believed anyone if they told me I was going to end up homeless.”
It all happened so fast, and Leslie could feel it slipping away.
“So many things happened in a short period of time. My wife battled cancer on and off for 25 years. I took care of her and worked. I tried to retire to take care of her but had to get a full-time job again to pay for medicine and treatment.”
On top of it all, Leslie fell and fractured his hip. The pain was excruciating, and he couldn’t work anymore.
“Then one day, I woke up and my wife had passed away in my arms. I was devastated.”
Because of the extreme medical bills, Leslie lost his house and everything he had worked so hard to build.
“When I became homeless, I was scared. I had nowhere to go.”
At that time, Leslie felt lucky to still have a vehicle to sleep in. He stayed near a homeless camp where a local church often delivered food.
“I was scared to death. I didn’t know what to do or where to turn for three months. Then at one point, someone from the church asked me if I was a veteran… I said, ‘yes’ and they said, ‘you need to get connected Volunteers of America!’ And they set me up with someone to talk to.”
At the Veterans Resource Center, Leslie was given a place to rest, recover, and heal, surrounded by veterans with whom he can relate.
“I felt safe here. I felt like I could finally take a deep breath, and I feel lucky to know this place. The other guys here, we’re brothers. They’re there for you, they care about you, they know what you went through.”
“The staff here are so kind and go above and beyond to help the veterans who come through here. I was introduced to services to help me get back on my feet. And they’ve stuck with me to help make sure I have what I need.”
Today, Leslie has stability in a place of his own where he can spend time with the sweet beagle puppy he rescued, who he named Nova.
“I was angry for a long time. But now, I’m grateful every day just to see the sunrise. I don’t take anything for granted anymore.”
You can help more veterans like Leslie find the hope they need to thrive.