From homeless to hotel

At the end of 2020, Army veteran Nicki was living in her car with nowhere to go. Thankfully, she reconnected with a friend who told her about HVAF.

One of HVAF’s case managers was able to place her in a hotel. But a few weeks later, she received devastating news: breast cancer. Over the next year, Nicki went through three surgeries, 13 weeks of chemotherapy, and five weeks of radiation. During that entire time, HVAF paid for her hotel stay and provided her with the support she needed to stay strong.

Battling breast cancer

“I wish I had never gotten cancer. But if it wasn’t for HVAF I would have been dead,” Nicki said. “No doubt about it. I’m very appreciative and very grateful.”

“I don’t know what I would do without Cherelle,” Nicki said.

Nicki is especially thankful for her case manager, Cherelle. She said she doesn’t know what she would do without her.

“Nicki is resilient and strong and committed,” Cherelle said. “Just like her service for our country – she exemplified that in her life.”

Next steps

While going through treatment, Cherelle helped Nicki get her HUD-VASH voucher so she could live in her own apartment. The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In addition to having her own apartment, Nicki is also able to receive food stamps and disability. Her next steps are finding a job and hopefully giving back to HVAF and cancer nonprofit organizations.

“I want to start my life back. I’m not ready to just sit back,” Nicki said. “Once I get on my feet, I want to give back. I feel like that’s my purpose.”

If you want to give back to support veterans like Nicki, donate today!

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