shelter&stability
Summer
2017
News from Willis Dady Homeless Services
From Shelter to Stability Meet Terry
“I don’t see why you would want to use my experience as a success story...I guess no one in my life has told me I am successful, so I’m not sure what to think”. Terry, SSVF Participant In April 2017, we received a call regarding a Veteran who had been homeless for nearly 10 years, since the Cedar Rapids flood in 2008 when he lost his job and his home. After completing the paperwork to get Terry approved for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, we got him into a Veteran overflow cot at Willis Dady and began to search for housing. The first day I met with Terry he was hesitant to receive services, saying he “didn’t feel deserving of this program when there are so many people and children who need it more”. Terry moved into his apartment 3 days after that meeting, where he has been housed for the last 4 months with SSVF assistance. Terry’s now working with Compensated Work Therapy through the Iowa City VA Vocational Rehab program and we’re working together to apply for various kinds of disability, stemming from an injury received during his service in the US Army.
Terry also struggles with PTSD alongside his physical limitations, and was recently approved for the Pets for Vets Program with the Cedar Valley Humane Society. He struggled with getting transportation to the Humane Society to find his new best friend, so one [extremely hot] June day; he and I went to find her, his little girl, Bailey. Since bringing Bailey into his home there was an instant increase in his mood and his spirits were lifted. I saw him the following day on his lunch break, and he showed me pictures of the two of them on his phone for our entire meeting, just like a brand new proud dad. After 10 years of living on the streets and not being ready to address his PTSD in order to maintain housing and employment, Terry has told me he still fears he will lose his housing. He called me at 9pm one night to tell me that he received his HUDVASH voucher; I was the first person he wanted to tell, his “VA Angel”. In the upcoming months Terry and I will continue working together so he is more confident in his abilities to maintain housing, and I will keep advocating for him until he is ready to advocate for himself. Operation Home may be a housing assistance program for homeless Veterans, but we are much more than that. We are advocates for those that have specific needs-that from the outside may not seem like a need; we are advocates for those who have lost their voice; we are serving those who have served.
Willis Dady Homeless Services Board of Directors Sam Jones, President
Rob Bowers
Kayla Lyftogt
Janet Slimak
Sam Bergus, Vice President
Al Fisher
Dave McInally
Gisele Tallman
John Oates, Secretary
Nathan Fisher
Joy Newhouse
Jason Vestweber
Stephanie Harris, Treasurer
Jim Koch
Mike Schulte
Ben Weber
Phoebe Trepp Executive Director