I came here from a shelter in Janesville after hearing about this place by word of mouth from my Job Center VA Representative.
Prior to the shelter in Janesville I had spent 2 ｽ years off and on the streets of Beloit, WI (more on the streets than off).
I am now, since coming here, coming back to being a human being, not a bag person and am learning money management and job skills. Through on-site programs I have started coming to terms with some of the demons that put me on the street to begin with. Not so much drugs and alcohol, but mental issues repressed over the years.
All in all, I知 thankful to the program. I知 now able to bid farewell (hopefully forever) to the horrid part of street & shelter life and look forward to a new beginning as a whole human in her own habitat.
Kathy S.
Tomah Per Diem Program
I was incarcerated for 8 years and was released to this program. Being in this program is really going to help me get reintegrated in the community. Since being in the program I am doing a correspondence course - Medical Coding and Billing, which I am doing really well in. Also, I had surgery on my right foot, which I値l be able to work again.
I am very thankful for this program
Lorri M.
Tomah Per Diem Program
My name is Bruce and I arrived in this program 10 months ago. My reasons form coming here were to get my driver痴 license back and to maintain sobriety.
So far I have achieved both goals. I work through the CWT program in the wood shop. We make log tales and sometimes cut down plywood.
I worked outside the VA at Ocean Spray for about 2 months and then was laid off and went back to the wood shop. Hopefully, I will have my life together enough to survive once I leave here. It is really a great program and I知 glad that I came here. I would recommend it to any Vet that wants to get back on their feet.
I was in the U.S. Army from 1979-82 and was honorably discharged. I was born and raised in Wisconsin and hope to reside in the Midwest for the remainder of my life.
If I was to fall back on hard times once I leave here I would definitely look back into coming back into the program. Like I say I have no regrets and I believe the staff treats everyone equal.
Bruce W.
Tomah Per Diem Program
I was a homeless person for about none months before I came to the VAF. I had been living out of my van. When the weather started to get cold in October, I needed to find a safe place to live. The Salvation Army in La Crosse, WI was filled up with needy women and children. I knew about the VAF program in Tomah, so I called and talked with them about it. I got on the waiting list and thankfully be November I got in and had a safe place to live. I知 grateful that I知 here. Everything has been going good. I have gotten dental work done, a complete physical, and the medication I need. I also go some pre-cautionary medical exams . I also got some free legal advice as well as educational opportunities and some part-time work to help with expenses. The staff has been helpful and the program is working good for me, and things are going in the right direction. I知 looking to the day I知 ready to leave, with a positive attitude and be on my own again.
Sincerely,
Gary D.
Tomah Per Diem Program
Before describing how the VAF Step-Up Program has helped me I must refer back to the VAF Tomah Program that preceded my entry into the Step-Up Program.
On March 22, 2005 I walked out of the Dane County Jail as a homeless convicted felon, scared to death, with no money, no place to live, and no job.
After living at the Madison homeless shelter for about a month I was accepted into the VAF Tomah Program. I was able to stop worrying about shelter and food; and could now concentrate on finding employment and on getting back to a normal life.
After finding employment at the Tomah VA Medical Center and working there for over a year, I was able to get back on my feet financially enough to return to Madison where I prefer to live and it has become my home city.
The VAF Madison Step-Up Program has made it possible for me to return to Madison, and continue to have a safe, clean, and respectable low-cost place to live while I continue to rebuild my life.
I now have a great permanent job at Wisconsin Council of the Blind here in Madison, and have continued to improve my financial situation with the help and support of the Step-Up Program. I feel I have come a long way from homeless ex-offender to where I am now.
Raymond C.
Madison Step-UP Program
Prior to the shelter in Janesville I had spent 2 ｽ years off and on the streets of Beloit, WI (more on the streets than off).
I am now, since coming here, coming back to being a human being, not a bag person and am learning money management and job skills. Through on-site programs I have started coming to terms with some of the demons that put me on the street to begin with. Not so much drugs and alcohol, but mental issues repressed over the years.
All in all, I知 thankful to the program. I知 now able to bid farewell (hopefully forever) to the horrid part of street & shelter life and look forward to a new beginning as a whole human in her own habitat.
Kathy S.
Tomah Per Diem Program
I was incarcerated for 8 years and was released to this program. Being in this program is really going to help me get reintegrated in the community. Since being in the program I am doing a correspondence course - Medical Coding and Billing, which I am doing really well in. Also, I had surgery on my right foot, which I値l be able to work again.
I am very thankful for this program
Lorri M.
Tomah Per Diem Program
My name is Bruce and I arrived in this program 10 months ago. My reasons form coming here were to get my driver痴 license back and to maintain sobriety.
So far I have achieved both goals. I work through the CWT program in the wood shop. We make log tales and sometimes cut down plywood.
I worked outside the VA at Ocean Spray for about 2 months and then was laid off and went back to the wood shop. Hopefully, I will have my life together enough to survive once I leave here. It is really a great program and I知 glad that I came here. I would recommend it to any Vet that wants to get back on their feet.
I was in the U.S. Army from 1979-82 and was honorably discharged. I was born and raised in Wisconsin and hope to reside in the Midwest for the remainder of my life.
If I was to fall back on hard times once I leave here I would definitely look back into coming back into the program. Like I say I have no regrets and I believe the staff treats everyone equal.
Bruce W.
Tomah Per Diem Program
I was a homeless person for about none months before I came to the VAF. I had been living out of my van. When the weather started to get cold in October, I needed to find a safe place to live. The Salvation Army in La Crosse, WI was filled up with needy women and children. I knew about the VAF program in Tomah, so I called and talked with them about it. I got on the waiting list and thankfully be November I got in and had a safe place to live. I知 grateful that I知 here. Everything has been going good. I have gotten dental work done, a complete physical, and the medication I need. I also go some pre-cautionary medical exams . I also got some free legal advice as well as educational opportunities and some part-time work to help with expenses. The staff has been helpful and the program is working good for me, and things are going in the right direction. I知 looking to the day I知 ready to leave, with a positive attitude and be on my own again.
Sincerely,
Gary D.
Tomah Per Diem Program
Before describing how the VAF Step-Up Program has helped me I must refer back to the VAF Tomah Program that preceded my entry into the Step-Up Program.
On March 22, 2005 I walked out of the Dane County Jail as a homeless convicted felon, scared to death, with no money, no place to live, and no job.
After living at the Madison homeless shelter for about a month I was accepted into the VAF Tomah Program. I was able to stop worrying about shelter and food; and could now concentrate on finding employment and on getting back to a normal life.
After finding employment at the Tomah VA Medical Center and working there for over a year, I was able to get back on my feet financially enough to return to Madison where I prefer to live and it has become my home city.
The VAF Madison Step-Up Program has made it possible for me to return to Madison, and continue to have a safe, clean, and respectable low-cost place to live while I continue to rebuild my life.
I now have a great permanent job at Wisconsin Council of the Blind here in Madison, and have continued to improve my financial situation with the help and support of the Step-Up Program. I feel I have come a long way from homeless ex-offender to where I am now.
Raymond C.
Madison Step-UP Program
