When I first reached out to Soldier On, I had just been evicted and was homeless. I felt completely hopeless and was struggling with addiction. On Christmas Eve, when I truly had nowhere else to turn, my case manager Derek stepped in and met me with compassion and support at one of the lowest points in my life.

Derek and, his supervisor Mark, helped get me off the streets and into temporary lodging while they worked to place me in a veterans transitional housing program. Once I entered the Valor program, Derek and my case workers at the facility continued to support me and set me up for success. They helped me apply for a rental assistance program, which eventually gave me the opportunity to move into the apartment where I am now.

Looking back at where I started compared to where I am today, my life has improved tremendously because of the support I received from Soldier On. My case manager believed in me during a time when I no longer believed in myself.

My next goal is to return to the healthcare field. Before addiction took me off course, I worked in healthcare and found purpose in that work. I plan to use the Veteran Readiness and Employment program to complete my recertification so I can rebuild my skills, learn new ones, and successfully re-enter the workforce.

I would not be where I am today without Soldier On. I would never be able to thank everyone who helped me when I was at my lowest. The people that took a chance on me when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you all.