Tag: homeless veteran

Our spotlight this week features a 51-year-old Army Veteran. He was happy to share his story but wished to remain anonymous. Growing Up Old School This Veteran grew up in Springdale, AR and “found out real early there is nothing in life for free.” At nine years old, he began working with his dad blocking mud on construction sites. He recalls returning to school in the fall as “quite a buff kid.” He credits his country, old-school upbringing for his work- and life-ethic. Connecting to Home at Last After losing his home, this Veteran found Home at Last after talking with the local VFW and Springfield VA hospital. Shortly after connecting with the program he had a major health crisis. In December 2019, he was admitted to Mercy Hospital unconscious.…

As a case manager, we are steadily finding the balance between office work and providing direct real-time service to our Veteran clients while out in the community. No day is the same as life happens, and we handle ongoing circumstances as they occur.  Working the Case We are present at the beginning stages when a Veteran is looking for permanent housing, but really step in after they are housed. It is unrealistic to expect someone to focus on other goals before their basic needs of shelter and safety are met. Once the Veteran is stably housed, we help the Veteran work through a housing stability plan and budget to ensure they are taking active steps towards maintaining their housing.  Case managers engage in regular contact with clients to ensure they…

Glendy is a 62-year-old Army Veteran from Riverside, IL. She spent about 20 years in Sacramento, CA before finding her way to Springfield over a year ago. Glendy became homeless in 2019 after fleeing an abusive and hostile environment. Finding Home at Last Glendy found Home at Last through a referral from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Within a month, she was able to move into her new apartment. Glendy likes her landlord and was happy to find a place that allows her Cocker Spaniel, Artemis, to stay with her. Working Towards Stability Once stably housed, Glendy worked with her case manager, Patrick Haenni, on goals that would allow her to maintain stability after the program ends. Patrick helped Glendy complete the paperwork for a housing choice voucher through the…

What is Home at Last? Home at Last is a program of The Kitchen Inc. that works to end Veteran homelessness in our community. Home at Last is funded by the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Who We Serve Home at Last serves very low-income Veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. We serve families in Greene, Christian, and Webster counties. More information about specific requirements can be found on our webpage or by contacting the office at (417) 225-7410. What We Do The focus of the program is housing stabilization. Home at Last provides individualized supports to help Veteran families rapidly secure and maintain permanent housing, which may include: Outreach to connect eligible Veterans with…