After the Army

After serving in the Army for almost a year and a half, Roscoe received his honorable discharge. Looking back, he regrets getting out so soon.

“I got out in December 1978. That first day, I went over to my sister’s and her boyfriend had cocaine. I wanted to try it, and I liked it,” Roscoe said. “In October 1979, I was in prison for writing checks to get cocaine. It was terrible.”

Roscoe spent decades in and out of prison and off and on drugs. There were some positive experiences during his time in prison, including receiving two associate degrees and his EMT certification.

Coming to HVAF

In 2017, Roscoe moved from Illinois to Indiana. The day after he moved here, he went to the VA Hospital for help. They referred him to HVAF and two days later, our case managers moved him into one of our transitional houses: Warman.

Over the years, HVAF has helped Roscoe with housing, pantry items, employment services, and most recently, therapy.

“They have helped me a lot. I’m not used to people helping me without me having to do something,” Roscoe said. “But these people just help me just because it’s what they do.”

Last year, Roscoe went through HVAF’s workforce development program: VetWorks. VetWorks – Veterans Workforce Renewing Knowledge and Skills – is an intensive 3 phase work, learn and earn program designed to skill up our veterans to achieve their earning potential. The program provided funding for Roscoe to complete a recovery coach class and peer mentor training.

Roscoe’s VetWorks employment specialist encouraged Roscoe to get plugged in with Recovery Café – whose mission is to, “support development of the mind, body and spirit of individuals desiring recovery.” Now, he uses his recovery coach and peer mentor training to facilitate a recovery support group there each week.

“It’s keeping me from using drugs because I talk a lot about it,” Roscoe said. “And I don’t want to go backwards. I’ve come a long way to be where I’m at today.”

Therapy

Since March, Roscoe has been seeing HVAF’s therapist, Kascha, every other week. He said he never thought he would go to therapy.

“Growing up, I kept stuff in so long and I never had anyone to talk to,” Roscoe said. “I love it. Every time I’m here in her office, I’m talking. It’s really something and I recommend it now anywhere I go.”

In addition to leading the support group at Recovery Café, Roscoe cofacilitates a class called Nurturing Fathers through Dads Inc. He teaches the men how to be good fathers for their children.

“Because I’m a big guy, they wouldn’t think that I would see a therapist or anything like that,” Roscoe said. “But hopefully I can present it and say Roscoe does it, he’s seeing a therapist, it must not be too bad.”

You can ensure veterans, like Roscoe, can receive all of HVAF’s wrap-around services by making a tax-deductible financial contribution today:

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