I’m not sure I’d called call it a New Year’s Resolution, but at the beginning of this year, I set out to spend more time out in the field with our staff and the veterans we serve. I want to be closer to the work, and see firsthand the daily successes and struggles involved in our important mission. I haven’t been everywhere yet. In fact, as I type this (in a lobby waiting on a flat tire repair), I’m missing my time with our maintenance team conducting inspections on our permanent housing properties.

What I’ve seen so far reminds me why I love this work, and why I love HVAF. I’ve spent time in our pantry, on street outreach, at our permanent housing properties, and at special events for our veteran families. And, I’ve seen the big hearts of our staff as they care for the veterans we serve and their families with such compassion. Our core values are HVAF CARES (Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Effectiveness, and Selfless Service), and my teammates embody our values every day.

From being quizzed on military history by veteran residents at Veterans Villa (thank you history degree—I passed with flying colors) to weighing and bagging clothing in the pantry, to pointing out hidden eggs to children at our Easter Egg Hunt, I’ve come away from every experience this year refreshed with a renewed focus on our mission to end veteran homelessness in Indianapolis.

We had 70+ in attendance at our annual Easter Egg Hunt for veteran families. Many of our staff volunteer their time as part of our Veteran Engagement Committee to host fun events for families in our Permanent Housing Programs. While the squirrels proved to be worthy adversaries in egg hunting (seriously—they opened eggs and ate quite a bit of candy!), the joy of kids of all ages frantically searching for eggs was contagious. One veteran who lived in our nearby transitional housing facility shared that he hadn’t heard so much giggling and laughter in years.

I’ve also seen the hard part of our work. On street outreach, I visited with those living unsheltered in our city. As we passed out food, water, and clothing, asking for updates on veterans who used to stay in the area, it’s impossible not to have a broken heart. Dreams and lives obviously shattered, for whatever reason, now struggling to survive in our neighborhoods. I wanted to stop at a camp I’ve seen near my house. When we arrived, we were told 8 individuals lived there, but at the moment, 6 were at work. We left food and water for everyone. As we drove away, I wondered if most people realized the large percentage of those experiencing homelessness who also work. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 53% of individuals in shelter and 40% of those unsheltered work. They simply cannot afford to live in a home in our community.

I look forward to many more opportunities to work closely with my teammates. Hopefully, on the next maintenance inspection date I won’t have a flat tire!

As a partner in HVAF’s mission, I invite you for your own behind-the-scenes experience serving our Hoosier Heroes. Volunteer at HVAF by visiting our website to donate your own time and see firsthand the impact we are making—one veteran at a time!

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