Steven moved to Spokane in 2018 to take care of his brother. His brother’s health got worse in early 2020. His brother moved to a facility that could provide full-time medical care.
It was hard enough to watch his brother get worse. Then, Steven couldn’t afford the rent for the apartment the two brothers had once shared. So, Steven had to move out. He stayed at the House of Charity for six weeks.
A medical provider gave Steven a referral to Goodwill’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. Steven enrolled in SSVF and began to search for housing. Sometimes, Steven struggles with anxiety and making decisions, but he worked through his problems. He worked with his housing specialist and found a cozy unit in Cheney where he could flourish.
Steven’s property manager described Steven as a quiet, respectful tenant. Steven said he enjoys walking for exercise around Cheney and feels safe there.
Steven applied for a housing aid with help from Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV). He was awarded housing aid in January 2021. He also connected with a SOAR specialist at Goodwill to make a claim for SSI/SSDI. In March, Social Security told Steven he would receive retirement benefits soon.
A Bright Future
After 13 years in the military, Steven was eligible for VA healthcare but had never applied. He decided his health needed more attention than state insurance could provide, so he applied for VA healthcare on his own. His application was a success and the VA granted him healthcare.
In addition to Social Security Income, long-term rental aid and VA medical insurance, the food bank at Cheney Outreach has been very helpful to Steven.
“Without you Goodwill folks, my life wasn’t worth anything,” he said. “I had nothing and nowhere to go. I had no one to help me. You helped me by being on my side.”
For more information about Goodwill’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, visit http://homesforveterans.discovergoodwill.org.
To learn more about other programs that can help people build independence, visit https://discovergoodwill.org/i-need-help/.