Good News Spotlight

Our Good News spotlight for this Quarter is an Army National Guard, and Navy Reserves Veteran with almost 10 years in the service.  We will call her Sue.  She is now 29 years old, enjoys being active with sports indoor and outdoors and has recently become interested in surfing now that she lives in California.  She moved here just recently to start a new business but issues stemming from PTSD and a dangerous domestic abuse situation has set her behind on her goals.

Sue moved to California shortly after separating from the military last year, with the intentions of starting a business with a long-time friend of hers.  Shortly after their arrival in California, our Veteran began to have serious issues with her business partner.  They were sharing a home in Marina, but their mission had devolved into simple survival after drugs and alcohol became the priority for them both.  Our Veteran was forced to leave the home and live on the streets to escape the substance abuse temptations.  While it was a wise decision, she was without resources, family or friends.  She was having difficulty finding employment due to the substance abuse, and lack of permanent residence.  At the same time, she was suffering the additional hurdles that come with PTSD and military service.

Struggling to cope with the depression and feelings of hopelessness, while fighting off the demons of her substance abuse was beginning to weigh on Sue.  She wasn’t aware of the services offered to Veterans or even how to investigate the options to use all available benefits due to her for her military service.  She was unemployed at the time, and while she had an idea for her business and the skills to make it happen, she was having difficulty finding clients to build the business.  Our Veteran lacked the financial resources to secure new housing, and the cost of living in California was making the task even more difficult.  Without family or friends to rely on, Sue wasn’t even sure where to go or who to ask to start digging her way out of the situation in which she had found herself.

While scouring town and turning in random applications for employment, Sue happened to meet another Veteran who was enrolled in VRSI’s services.  They had a brief conversation, and the Veteran passed her one of our business cards, hoping she would reach out and get some assistance.  Several days went by before Sue reached out to us and had a phone conversation with a Marina Employment Specialist.  During that conversation, the Veteran outlined her situation, expressing dire need for assistance with employment and housing, as well as admitting that she had no means of providing herself with food or clothing.  We outlined the services offered by VRSI, highlighting our ability to assist financially with interview clothing and food.  Additionally, we discussed developing an online training curriculum, so she could update her skills and employability.  The Veteran and ES set a meeting for the next day with the local Veteran’s transitional housing, so she could begin the intake procedures to receive a roof and bed under their program.

ES and Veteran met the next day at VTC to enroll Sue under VRSI’s services.  The Veteran was hopeful but in obvious mental/emotional distress.  She spoke of how difficult it was to reach out and ask for help, but even more difficult admitting to herself that she did need a hand.  Both ES’ expressed that they had been in similar situations in life, and both had utilized VRSI services in the past.  We shared our stories, our trauma, our mistakes, and made sure the Veteran was aware that they were not alone; brothers and sisters in arms for life.  Immediately afterward, we assisted the Veteran in enrolling under the VTC so that she could receive a temporary home under their program.

In the days and weeks to follow, we had regular meetings with this Veteran.  VRSI provided training to update the Veteran’s familiarity with computers (online self-paced video training) and link her with a quality substance abuse meeting each week.  We introduced her to several peer organizations that specialize in assisting marginalized women in today’s economy, notably Gathering for Women and HERS (Helping Empower Reentry Services) to provide positive, healthy role models as the Veteran moves forward on her journey to success.  Sue was able to promote and market her business, which provides massage and trauma therapy, to a broader base of Veterans and civilians due to the networking assistance provided by the VTC and VRSI employees.  While building her new business, VRSI provided a referral to a new business in the community, The Brass Tap and arranged an interview where the Veteran was hired on the spot.  Veteran is now working full-time with that company making $17 an hour, as well as continuing to enhance and grow her clients for the business she owns.

During our time with this Veteran, she has blossomed and is now a regular participant in community events for Veterans.   Sue discovered an interest in golfing and surfing and is pursuing both with the fellowship of other Veterans in monthly outings arranged by peer organizations (VTC, Vets 4 Vets, Veteran’s Surf Alliance).  She is still living at the VTC but is involved now with HUD-VASH and is just waiting to receive a housing voucher so that she can secure a more private residence and regain her independence.  The Veteran is now drug and alcohol-free and is interested in someday mentoring or sponsoring another Veteran suffering the same pitfalls she has experienced.  Sue recently contacted VRSI with the interest of offering discounted/free trauma-work massage services to the Veterans involved and enrolled under our program, feeling that the assistance and compassion she received from the Veteran community must be paid forward.

Sue is a shining example of the success Veterans will always find if they are provided the tools and resources that they need and deserve.  This Veteran cooperated and participated with VRSI to create a partnership, where she was able to lift herself back into the light and begin living her life to the fullest again.