9th HVAF Recovery Day event a success
September 26, 2013Motorcycle ride through northwest Indianapolis helps veterans
September 30, 2013Poor health and circumstances leads homeless veteran to relief and hope at HVAF
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| Randy D. outside Warman |
Several years ago, Randy D., 61, an Air Force veteran, was in rough shape and vowed to get healthy. Suffering a heart attack, stroke, and the loss of his mother in three short years had taken its toll on Randy. He was battling depression and memory loss from his stroke, which eventually led to unemployment. Before he knew it, he had become homeless.
Randy isn’t the only veteran affected by physical and mental health issues. Veterans are particularly at risk for homelessness because of their health. Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, physical disabilities, and overall health make it particularly hard for veterans to handle stress and adjust to society.
Randy commented, “You have all these skills for survival, but none of those apply to the world of Craigslist and Facebook.” Luckily, Randy heard about HVAF through his oldest brother, Joe, who is also a veteran. Randy qualified for transitional housing at HVAF.
With the help of his case managers, Randy is now doing well and became the Senior Resident of the Warman property for HVAF, where he resides. He holds his eight fellow veterans accountable and ensures that all house rules are followed. Randy remarked, “I’d probably be on the streets if it weren’t for HVAF…now I see their faces and I know I’m taking care of them and it feels good.”