Homeless Vet Finds Hope
Catholic Charities’ East Region Director Tiffany Goble received a call from our front desk stating that a gentleman was in our lobby requesting help. When she went to the lobby, she immediately noticed the man was wearing a veteran’s hat. As Tiffany introduced herself, she asked if he is a veteran, to which he replied, “Yes, ma’am.” Spending time volunteering to help veterans, these heroes hold a special place in Tiffany’s family. She thanked him for his service and told him she would do whatever she could to help him get the assistance he was promised.
Slouching in a wheelchair, this 80-something-year-old’s clothing was soiled and unkempt and had the signs of being malnourished. Tiffany asked him how we can help. He explained that he has money, but his bank account is in Indianapolis, and he has no means to get to Indianapolis to get his money. He reported he had been in a nursing home which is what brought him into the Fort Wayne area, but after his stay was up, they took him to the shelter. They left him there without any of his personal possessions, including his driver’s license or any form of identification. He stated he left the shelter because of a situation that occurred, and he has been staying on the streets.
After further discussion with the man, Tiffany was able to gather appropriate documentation and consent forms from him to call the VA and other agencies to assist him with permanent housing. This man came into our doors as a homeless veteran and by the end of the day had his own place to live.
As the weather grows colder, the homeless population needs items to stay warm, food to eat, and shelter. While there are several homeless shelters, there are typically more homeless individuals than there are available beds in shelters. Some individuals may have also had barriers to staying in shelters or finding their own place to live. These barriers can consist of mental health diagnoses which makes it difficult for them to share living spaces with others, so they would prefer to stay outside if they are unable to secure their own home. Many homeless individuals face substance use addictions, which the onset is typically stemmed from a trauma of some sort. While there are several outpatient substance use services, there are not many residential services for this population in our area. Due to the pandemic and the end of the rent moratorium, we are seeing new individuals and families who are facing homelessness for the first time.
Catholic Charities is fortunate to partner with the City of Fort Wayne to have funding for case managers to walk alongside these individuals who are struggling with homelessness and other related issues such as mental health, eviction and criminal histories, employment issues, and substance use addictions.
In our Mission Possible Program, we work with the Rescue Mission on coordinated entry for their clients. Our case managers are knowledgeable in the services and resources available to these individuals and aid four to six weeks before clients transition out of the shelter. Catholic Charities helps them overcome barriers of self-sufficiency, such as: job development, applications of assistance, housing applications, opening a bank account, accessing healthcare, filling out applications for government aided cell phones and more. These services are instrumental to the homeless population to help them find hope to move forward in becoming self-sufficient. In most cases, it isn’t because they don’t want to, it is because they have never been shown how. At Catholic Charities, we are teachers and mentors to our clients while they uncover their God-given potential.