Alan Winninger, a 60-year-old veteran, has spent his whole life serving and caring for others. He served his country in the Air Force and volunteered to help with recovery efforts at Ground Zero, supporting others through one of the most devastating tragedies in American history.
A Veteran and His Son Face Housing Instability
Alan has been a single father for several years, caring for himself and his son, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite doing all the right things to create a stable life, he eventually found himself struggling financially.
Now living on a fixed income and unable to work due to medical needs, he knew he needed to find a solution to keep himself and his son housed. But time was running out. When he initially came to Catholic Charities seeking help, he had received his first eviction notice.
In addition to these financial struggles, Alan was also receiving counseling through the VA for a variety of mental health concerns that impacted his daily functioning and ability to maintain housing.
Serving Those Who Have Served Us
Catholic Charities’ Veterans Services program was ready to step in and help Alan, just as he had helped so many others. Veterans Services connects low-income men, women and families who are facing a housing crisis to stable housing, case management and resources.
Alan received nine months of rental assistance through Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), a VA-funded program that allows organizations like Catholic Charities to provide the assistance veterans need to remain housed and stable.
He then successfully transitioned into the Shallow Subsidy program, which covers half of his rent every month. Now that he has the proper support, Alan is able to stay current on rent payments and no longer lives in fear of homelessness.
Building Relationships and Advocating for Others
Despite all he went through, Alan’s desire to serve others has never wavered. He maintains positive rapport and a good relationship with his current case manager and helps veterans like himself have a fresh start by donating clothing and electronics. He also advocates for other veterans who are in the same position he was, referring them to Catholic Charities for assistance.
You, too, can support vulnerable veterans by donating the items they need to achieve stability. View our Amazon Charity List to see needed items and donate them directly to the Veterans Services program.
