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You have served our country with pride and honor and deserve to be recognized, not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the year.
Too many of our veterans, though, are experiencing homelessness. United Way and volunteers like Robert Wiggins want to put a stop to it. Robert knows firsthand what it’s like not to have a roof over his head. He served in the U.S. Army for almost 10 years. When the onboarding process for a job in Arizona took longer than expected, Robert had no income or home and lived in his car for a month. He’s now helping other veterans in similar situations. “As a veteran, there were many people along the way that helped me get to where I am now,” Robert said. “I see another veteran in need, I can’t just walk by. I need to participate and get engaged and see where I can help out.”
Organizations like Arizona StandDown are also helping veterans experiencing homelessness. Arizona StandDown is an alliance of community-based organizations that connect homeless and at-risk veterans to services that’ll allow them to regain independence. Volunteers help veterans find vital resources including housing, employment, health care, legal aide, clothing, and meals.
Gabe is a veteran who for 8 years lived on the streets before moving into United Way’s Tempe’s Permanent Supportive Housing Pilot. There, he received the medical attention he needed to get healthy, rebuild relationships with his family and achieve his dream of working in the restaurant industry. Now, he lives in his own apartment where his family gathers for meals.
