From Marine To Mentor

Jovid joined the Marine Corps right out of Pike High School in December 1999, carrying on a family legacy of service. His mother served in the Navy, his father in the Army National Guard, and his grandfather was a retired major general. While his brothers signed up to join the Army, Jovid chose a different path. “The few, the proud,” he says. “I always lead from the front, so I knew the ethos and motto of the Marine Corps fit with who I was.”

For Jovid, serving as a Marine Corps Military Police Officer meant living by honor, courage, and commitment. “Being in the Marine Corps was one of the best decisions I ever made,” he says.

But like many veterans, his transition back to civilian life brought real challenges. The structure that once defined his days disappeared overnight.

Jovid’s life changed dramatically again in 2022 when he lost his mother, the person who had always been his steady support. “She was a bedrock. She was a keystone,” he says. “I didn’t have a lot of familial support, so when she fell, I felt like the person who knew me best was gone.”

At his lowest point, living isolated in Carthage, Indiana, things began to spiral. Jovid lost his job, housing was tenuous and not secure, and he had his young son relying on him.

Thankfully, you were that someone Jovid could rely on.

After learning about HVAF through the VA, Jovid was able to find that support that had been missing from his life since his mom died.

“It was almost like she sent one final gift from heaven,” he says.

A HVAF case manager reached out with an extraordinary opportunity, offering Jovid permanent supportive housing at our Proctor Place property.

That sense of community has given Jovid a refined purpose, to be that community for his fellow veterans. Since moving in, Jovid has become what he calls a “lantern” for his fellow veterans at Proctor Place, a guiding light for anyone who feels lost or excluded. “If I don’t see you for a couple days, I’ll just give you a knock, just to check on you,” he says.

He even drives an elderly neighbor, battling terminal cancer, to and from VA treatments. He supports that neighbor’s grandchildren. He shows up. Just like YOU showed up for him.

“I see now that my voice, my presence, my energy is really needed more. I’ve become more vocal and try to help other veterans here who feel excluded or isolated, to feel included.”

Your generosity doesn’t stop at a roof overhead. It ripples outward through every life Jovid touches.

“At one time, I let my prideful self convince myself that I could do it alone. The struggle can be real, and it’s never, ever too far gone that you can’t ask for the supportive services of HVAF.”

Today, Jovid has a full-time job, has taken advantage of HVAF’s financial literacy classes, and is working toward his next goal: becoming a first-time homeowner.

Every service HVAF provides, every veteran welcomed home, starts with you.

“I want to say thank you to all the donors who have contributed goods and services to HVAF so that they can sustain their mission statement to end veteran homelessness. Your ongoing show of support is heartfelt, it’s noticed, and it’s appreciated by myself and countless others. I want you all to know that your support makes all this happen, and we thank you.”

Your gift changes lives. It gave Jovid a home, a community, and a renewed sense of purpose. It’s helping him become the lantern for other veterans who still feel lost.

Donate Today & Help Veterans Like Jovid!