Living with my son, the only reason I am not still homeless, when a Veteran friend Beatrice McGahee called me excitedly to share her experience.  She attended a Soldier On Financial Workshop at Veterans Place in Pittsburgh, PA in September 2024.  Soldier On provided her with direct free financial counseling, and within months I saw Beatrice raise her credit score, get pre-approved for her first VA home loan.  I couldn’t believe it, Beatrice and I were both in a homeless shelter just months ago and she was urging me to take the next step.

Beatrice immediately called David Ramirez from Soldier On who scheduled my first consultation the very next day.  I then started working with my financial coach Jacob Merritt, gaining a trusted support system to move forward.   For the next 3 months we would meet monthly, Jacob provided clear directions on what debts to pay off and how, when we started my credit score was in the low 500’s, however I was never discouraged or lost focused, especially hearing Beatrice would be closing in 2025 on her first VA home.  In early Mach 2025, Jacob advised me my credit score had improved over 100 points to 623 since our initial consultation and congratulated me on reducing debts.

Saving more money and I plan to pursue a VA Home Loan, just like Beatrice.  She motivated me to address my finances with the right group who made me feel anything was possible.  I encourage other Veterans to start the conversation with their finances especially if you don’t know where to start.   I am overjoyed to know I am in a great position to finally have a place of my own to share with my Veteran son Lee.