Jeffery, an Army Veteran
Jeffery served in the Army from 1979 to 1983. Jeffery struggled with life after the military and turned to drugs to cope with life’s problems. His drug use prevented him from maintaining a job, and then turned to a life of crime to support his habit. By the time Jeffrey learned about the VIC, he spent over 15 years in and out of prison. After his release from jail, Jeffrey was at a halfway house and determined to change his life for the better. A roommate told him about the VIC and he called us to see what we could do for his situation. After speaking to Johnny, a case manager for Transitional Housing, Jeffrey decided that going to the VIC would be the first step to his positive recovery. Working weekly on plans that would help him be successful, Jeffrey was connected with a Veteran Service Officer for VA Disability for PTSD, which would end up helping support him as he worked toward independence. As Jeffery began to see the light at the end of the tunnel, he also qualified for a HUD-VASH voucher that enabled Jeffrey to afford living on his own and not looking to crime or drugs to cope with life’s struggles. Jeffrey received financial assistance to move into his own apartment that included a security deposit and two months’ rent and utilities so that he could establish his new home and not struggle with limited income. His VIC case manager encouraged him to go back to school and Jeffrey is now working to become a teacher to encourage others to stay away from drugs and crime. He knows his background may prevent him from securing a teaching job, but he is determined to show children how someone can turn their life around if they have the drive and use the resources available to them. Jeffery stops by regularly and has brought several Veterans to the VIC for services. Jeffrey doesn’t view his check in as a crutch, but more of a long-term commitment to help others when he can. Jeffery knows when he graduates, everyone at the VIC will be cheering his continued success.
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