VETERANS ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION
"Veterans Helping Veterans"
The photos of homeless veterans on this page are not affiliated with these testimonials
This is a biography on my stay at the Veterans Assistance Program (VAF) in King, WI. which lasted 372 days from May 24, 1995 to May 31, 1996.
My journey began on May 24, 1995 but I want to try and explain where I was in my life prior to entering the (VAF) for the month before the 24th. I was living or I should I say existing in a small motel room in Appleton WI. I was unemployed, broke, homeless, and doing whatever I had to do to stay drunk or high 24 hours a day. I was sleeping maybe an hour at a time and I would go to the Salvation Army Kitchen every few days for something to eat.
My time was running out at the motel because, my rent was due the 26th of May and I was broker than I had ever been in my life. There was nothing left to sell or trade and what was left fit into two grocery bags. I felt like I was dying a slow and miserable death both physically and emotionally. If my story sounds pretty bleak, its suppose to because it was. I had given up on myself and I thought my life was over and I’m sure my family and friends thought so to.
There was no one left to turn to. I had used or alienated myself from everyone who was ever close to me. Due to my addictions to drugs and alcohol I had lost everything I had ever worked for. My beautiful wife of 12 years, the privilege of watching my two children grow up everyday, houses, cars, job opportunities, thousands of dollars and most importantly all of myself esteem and self respect. At this point I had already been through two inpatient Drug and Alcohol treatment programs, a 16-week relapse prevention group and a psychotic evaluation all to save or attempt to save something which was all lost anyway because I was never doing anything for myself. I had given up, my life was over or so I thought. Circumstances brought me in contact with the VAF on May 22, 1995 370 days ago. Two days later it was arranged for a van to pick me up from my room, and so on May 24, Bob P and Dan D. picked me up and brought me to King. Like most of the people I’ve seen come to the program I was not very excited about being in a place for homeless people and being around all these people. I did not know nor wanted to know them, but at this point my options were extremely limited and this seemed like my last change for survival.
It would serve no purpose for me to go into a daily diary of everything I’ve done over the last year, so I will highlight the accomplishments and disappointments as briefly as I can. Dan S told me this only had to be a page or two but I can’t possibly put everything from the last year in a couple of pages because it has so dramatically changed my way of thinking and living.
First of all, after being in King at the center for a couple hours it was agreed that I go to the Veterans Hospital in Iron Mountain MI, and complete the inpatient Drug and Alcohol program before I could enter the VAF program. I remember how relieved I felt being there around other Alcoholic’s and Drug addicts because for the first time I was finally doing this for myself and no one else. There was no one else left to, I think I felt there was a chance this time. The 35 days I spent in treatment went by pretty fast but I still felt like shit about myself. I was sober and clean but with no home or job to go back to. Things still felt pretty hopeless.
But for the first time after going through a program there was a safe place to go at the VAF where these people I did not know seemed to genuinely care about Bret B. After returning to the VAF, I was very uncomfortable but the staffs made the transition seem easy as I look back. I feel as though the staff that was here during my stay could not be replaced anywhere or time. Bob, Judy, Pete, Tom and my Case Manager Julie all were there when I needed someone to be. I was treated like an equal from the start although in the beginning I did not treat myself like an equal.
Things began happening extremely fast for me and I could not see what other people saw in me. I started working on July 17, 1995 for custom Fiberglass molding. With my past work experiences I started as the Quality Controller and with in a few months was promoted to Production Manager. Suddenly I realized that not only did the staff believe in me but my boss saw what I was capable of and let me take more and more responsibilities on to the point where today, I am in charge of all Plant Operations, Purchasing, Hiring-firing and most everything dealing with the fabrication of our fiberglass products. It was at this time that myself esteem and self-respect began growing to a level today that I have not experienced before.
Before coming to the VAF, I had destroyed the near perfect credit rating I had just six years prior, and was not even able to open a savings account. Thanks to the people at a Bank in town, Noreen, Theresa, Kelly, Mary Jane and Sharon who were working with the VAF in helping us to reestablish some sort of credit so that we could at least start over. I have accomplished more in one year than I ever dreamed possible. Presently I have the following accounts with Bank One a checking account, Savings, Money Market accounts, secured Visa, Secured loan and a security account for trading stocks and mutual funds. Through the VAF program offering me a safe place to live while I was learning to live a clean and sober life and the help of the people at Bank One and my own desire all of my accounts have a value of over $8300.00. Which is all mine to start my life over with I might also add that my boss gave me a 1992 Chevy Truck valued at over $12.000.00 free and clear as compensation for the job I’ve done for him. I’ve also paid child support of an average of $500.00 a month and over $3000.00 in past due bills. My savings and the bills I’ve paid off account for approximately 80% of my take home pay over the last 12 months.
During my stay at the VAF, I also attended classes at the Fox Valley Technical College. I completed 1 semester of goal Math averaging 96.2% on all the tests I took. I also completed three Management Courses, which my boss paid for with straight A’s. After leaving the center I plan on continuing to take classes and pursue a degree in management.
Although it hasn’t been easy I am working on restoring my relationship with my family and friends but that is not very high on my list of priorities because I’m still working on the relationship I have with myself. The first seven or eight months in the program I was very involved with AA and was responsible for starting the Sunday night AA meeting at the center. I guess I got to comfortable with where I was and began slipping away from AA and this caused me to make the decision to drink one Saturday night but fortunately it did not go undetected by the staff and I had to pay the consequences. I would not let this destroy what I had accomplished and did learn from it.
One of my biggest regrets since being in the program was that I wasn’t completely honest about the legal mess I had hanging over my head when I came into the program. I had a 3rd and 4th DUI arrest that I had not faced and I saw how the staff was helping others clear up their past but since I wasn’t honest in the beginning and everything was going so good it got harder and harder to face. After about six months I had to explain to each staff member the trouble I was in because I felt these people were my friends and once again I betrayed my friends. Although I risked being discharged because of my dishonesty from the Program I could not go any farther in my life until that situation was cleared up. The staff did not agree with my decision to lie about my past but nonetheless they supported me. I was fined $2700.00, which I am easily making payments on today and I was sentenced to 90 days in jail. I paid the VAF for transportation to and from work from jail and the staff still supported and believed in me for every one of the 62 days I was there.
I’m sure I haven’t covered everything but these are the important things that have happened since being here. This program may not be for everyone and like any program you only get out of it what you are willing to put in to it. The staff at the VAF can only point you in a direction or open a door but you have to walk through it. I have been given a chance to start my life over and with out the VAF, I truly believe I would be dead today. I am truly indebted to all of the staff members and everyone who has believed and support me through this year. One year ago I did not have any real friends left and today all of those people I call staff members are my real friends and for everything they’ve done for me. I will always be there for them to help in anyway I possibly can and that includes the VAF Program. I want to be able to give away to others what was so freely given to me (A Chance), to start over. Julie I tried to cut it short but it didn’t turn out that way.
Your Friend Always,
Bret
If it were not for the Veterans Assistance Foundation, I would have not been able to take care of my medical, legal and personal problems. For example, I would not have my teeth, glasses, and major plastic surgery done on my left eye.
The Veterans Assistance Foundation assisted me in my legal problems by setting up court hearings over the telephone with the Judge. There was no way for me to be present every time I had to appear in Madison, WI.
For obtaining permanent employment there is no other organization, where you have clean, safe and secured living conditions. Free of cost and where you can save all your money. So you can secure a place to live where you are ready and able to live on your own.
Anthony
PO Box 51
King, WI 54946
President, Veterans Assistance Foundation
Dear Mr. P,
I am a graduate of the VAF program. I
wanted to write this letter to show my appreciation for what the program did
for my life. When I entered the program, I had been homeless for a number of
years, bouncing from one place to the next, with no stability in my life
whatsoever. Most of this was caused do to alcohol and drug abuse, which also
created some psychological disorders that I was never getting treated for
until I entered the VAF program. I also spent a great deal of my life in and
out of jail and eventually ended up in prison. I was going nowhere fast and
at this point in my life, became very suicidal. My family and the few
friends I had left could no longer help me, nor did they want to. Needless
to say, my back was against the wall and I had to get help or die. I was
told to call the CVSO in my county who sent me to the VAF program in King,
WI. After arriving at King, I knew I was in the right place. There many
other veterans there with the same problems that I had, some even worse, and
were being given the opportunity to change they’re lives around. I knew
there was some hope if I chose to make the changes that were necessary for
me to get back on the right track. It was not going to happen overnight
because I spent years messing it up, so I had to be patient. Your staff, who
were veterans themselves, were very understanding and bent over backwards to
make sure the veterans received everything they needed to get squared away
again. To them, I owe my deepest gratitude. I am a productive member of it.
I still work on my issues and try to better myself. I’m not perfect, or
cured, but I am way better off than I was a few years ago. I still call the
VAF at times when I'm having a problem or in need of some guidance and they
always take the time to make sure that I’m ok. Thank you so much for the
love and support you’ve shown other fellow veterans and me.
Sincerely,
Thomas, Veteran, USN
To the Veterans Assistance Foundation:
My name is Peter and I entered the Veterans Assistance Foundation in August of 1997, I came off the streets of Madison with no where else to go. I have a big problem with depression, and have been battling with this for a number of years now. I reached a point where nothing really mattered anymore and living on the streets was less stressful then trying to hold a job and deal with people in a work setting. I have a problem also with anxiety and I won’t allow myself to enjoy life and be close to people, I tend to isolate myself because it’s easier that way. I went through the Program at King, Wisconsin, and was very determined to make this work, no matter what!
I kept myself busy in the kitchen from almost the first day I was there. I found a very good friend in Diane, who was in charge of the kitchen. Sometimes if I keep myself busy it took my mind off my depression, and I also feel I am accomplishing something. I really appreciated the single rooms they have at Kings, because that became my own personal space when I needed it. I want to give a very special thanks to Randy, who always treated you with the utmost dignity and respect. You always felt comfortable around him! I spent the first couple of months driving vans for the Foundation and avoiding as much I could, going out to look for work! I shared with my caseworker that it would be the hardest thing that I would have to do. (Dealing with people in a work setting). But finally the time came, and I mustered up all the courage I could and went to work. In the next two months, I put away the $1,500.00 that they required to graduate from the program, also I bought a car and got it insured. When the time came that I felt the program had done all it could for me, I wanted to return to Madison, where I had lived for the past 15 years. I moved into a house that the Veterans Assistance Foundation ran in Madison and made myself-right at home. Within two weeks I had found a driving job for a courier company here in Madison. I had failed to get a steady job in the factory world for many years, and I was determined to break that cycle of not being able to hold down a job very long. That’s why I was looking into a driving position; to be on my own, in a truck and travel whatever routes it is you have. Well, I have held that job now for about 7 to 8 months, and I feel pretty good about myself! I’ve been able to save money and plan for the future. Right now I am looking for my own place to live and have applied for a federal housing loan. I want to say that I really appreciate what the V.A.F. had done in the past year of my life, it’s given a new start and a little bit more hope for the future. I have set goals and am determined not to let homelessness happen to me again. Something’s you have to live with in life and learn to accept others you can change and better yourself. As I am writing this letter, I have been in the V.A.F. about 1 year, and it has been a very fruitful and productive year! As I near the ending of this letter, I want to give a special note of thanks to Bob P who saw things in me, and always encouraged me to utilize them in helping others and myself. When the time finally comes for me to move on I will leave with a heart full of appreciation for the changes that the V.A.F. has given me in the past year. I also hope that everyone who has a chance to be a part of this program will better themselves and take advantage of all the opportunities that are out there for veterans. I was pretty fortunate to be living in Wisconsin with a program like this available! Thanks again to all those people who helped me along in this past year, I am very grateful to all of them. And its always a nice feeling to know that if things don’t work out in the future, I can always get back in touch, and know that its there if I need it.
Thanks
Peter
