Destiny was emotionally drained, living in her car with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. She couldn’t get her husband to help with their situation, which left her feeling scared and alone. She was looking for resources and applying to different places to live, but none of her efforts were working. Because she was in debt and had two previous evictions it was very hard to find an apartment that would approve her application.
She found herself in a very bad state mentally. But as a veteran, she was able to look for help through the Veterans Affairs (VA). And one day, while she was looking on the VA website for mental health resources, she found Goodwill’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). This is what would change her life for the better.
Her case manager with SSVF began working to get Destiny off the streets and into her own home. And for the first time in a long time, she felt heard, like someone was finally willing to listen and help her. “Goodwill provided me with a home and someone to support me when I felt like I had no one,” she said.
But it wasn’t easy for her to receive the help. Destiny said, “When you’re in the military you believe you should leave help for the right people, but I learned I deserved the help just as much as everyone.” Grateful for the help she received, Destiny now lives independently in her own home with her pets. Not only that, but she is also going to school full-time and working a part-time job that she loves.
With her new life and new home, Destiny said finally feels free and independent. “I didn’t think I could do this on my own, but with the support from SSVF I was able to,” she said. “Without Goodwill, my life would be the way it was before, but I probably would have given up hope.”