When Veterans return home, too many of them find returning to civilian life is even more challenging than being on active duty. Over 40,000 veterans are homeless and approximately 22 commit suicide every day.
Research shows that veterans recover best when they are in fellowship with other veterans. City Mission veteran residents participate in the Life Recovery Program designed for veterans’ specific needs and also receive care from local veterans’ services.
By providing an environment that allows veterans to grow and heal together, while in the safety of a serene, Christ-centered environment,City Mission assists veterans and greatly improves their chances of a successful transition to independence. City Mission has seen every higher transition success rate for its veterans than the rest of its facilities due to the specialized facilities and programs.
At 64 years old, Bill has experienced both success and hardship. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Bill once had what many would consider the “American dream” — a career, a home, a family, and financial stability. But after years of struggling with anxiety, depression, and alcohol use, everything began to unravel. “The train went off the tracks, if you will,” Bill said.
Before coming to City Mission, Bill lost his job as a manager at Walmart after a three-day drinking binge that landed him in the hospital. Soon after, he spent three weeks living out of his car during the middle of February, using the last of his gas to stay warm through freezing nights. “I had no direction,” Bill said. “My mental and physical health were deteriorating.”
One day, Bill saw information about City Mission’s veterans program while shopping at Shop ’n Save. He called Brad, City Mission’s Manager of Clinical Services, who encouraged him without pressure. “Brad knew I had to make the decision on my own,” Bill said.
When Bill entered the program, he quickly connected with the structure and accountability City Mission provided — something that reminded him of his time in the military, where he had learned discipline and self-reliance as a nuclear missile systems analyst in the Air Force.
During work therapy, Bill found purpose again through morning devotions and serving in the warehouse. Over time, he was asked to become a Resident Assistant in the veterans dorm and later began helping transport other residents to appointments and work. “It gave me confidence in myself again,” he shared. “I felt better about myself because I was doing something for myself and others.”
Through City Mission’s Career Training and Education Center, Bill updated his resume and connected with job opportunities. Today, he works full-time at PA Transformers, where he has a steady union job, health insurance, and a renewed sense of hope for the future. “If you work the program, the program will work for you,” Bill said. “I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
But for Bill, the greatest transformation has been personal. During his time at City Mission, he repaired his relationship with his son and recently welcomed a new grandson into the world. “I had all the material things before — the house, the boat,” Bill said. “But right now, with a relationship with my son and grandson, I have everything I need.”
After 14 months at City Mission, Bill is preparing to move into his own apartment and begin a new chapter of life with confidence, stability, and purpose. “I feel very hopeful and optimistic about my future,” he said. “City Mission has been integral in that.”
Donate online, or by check to City Mission, 84 W Wheeling St, Washington, PA 15301, or call (724) 222-8530
You can make a difference in a veteran’s life TODAY! There are many ways to donate to continue to support City Mission’s efforts at the Crabtree-Kovacicek Veterans house.
