When Kyla graduated from high school, she wanted to become a nurse. After becoming waitlisted for her community college’s nursing program, she decided to enlist in the Army National Guard and wait to join the program later.

While in medic school during her military training, she received the devastating news that her father had passed. She said the loss sent her life to spiral out of control for almost a decade. Due to this, she did not go back and join the nursing program.

“I was overcome with guilt, sadness, anger, and resentment. I was only 19 and not close to being prepared to deal with that loss,” Kyla said. “My coping mechanism was to run away and do whatever I could to numb the pain and fill the void. That instability affected my entire tenure with the military and carried over into my civilian life after discharge.”

It wasn’t until 2021 when Kyla began her healing journey, which brought her to HVAF. While at another organization for help, she was referred to HVAF for housing services.

“I am so thankful for the program and the amazing people that make it all possible,” Kyla said. “HVAF has helped me get into stable housing, they have connected me with other services and resources that have provided me with additional opportunities to better myself and my life.”

Kyla also has really enjoyed time with her case manager, Anne. She said Anne is a blessing because of how supportive and encouraging she has been throughout the entire process.

Anne said she made an effort to ensure Kyla wouldn’t feel discouraged if things didn’t come together as quickly as she wanted. After her supervisor placed her in housing, Anne helped her purchase a car.

“There were bumps in the road with the financing, down payment, and credit repair, and just she would get so far and then there was something missing or something that we thought was going to be available, wasn’t,” Anne said. “Then all of a sudden, she sent me a text saying everything happened, everything fell into place. It was like the heavens opened up and things just worked out.”

Anne says she’s noticed this happens a lot with the veterans she serves.

“In this society we tend to want everything right away, immediate gratification, but if you’re patient and you continue to work, and it might not be right now, it might be a little later – things tend to work out,” Anne said. “And many of the times things work out better than what we had hoped for.”

Kyla’s dream is to create a wellness center/farm homestead where they would find peace and healing in nature.

“I know my transition into civilian life was very difficult, I know that is a struggle for a lot of veterans. I don’t want to just help veterans, I want to help people in general, because I feel like there are so many things that I have overcome,” Kyla said. “Not just my transition from military to civilian life, but also overcoming sexual abuse, overcoming domestic violence, overcoming addiction, lots of different things.”

You can ensure other veterans, like Kyla, receive healing from their past and reach their goals in order to have dreams and plans for their future. Please consider making a financial, tax-deductible gift today:

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