VillageNews SUMMER 2011 | St. Vincent de Paul Village


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Volunteers and active military personnel were on hand to lend support to the Village’s veterans.


access to a wide range of services that are specifically designed to assist and to promote skills development. Services include an initial assessment, transitional housing, medical and dental care, addiction treatment, educational classes, individual and group mental-health counseling, and job readiness programs. The Village’s veterans program is supported in part by the Veterans Administration, which funds 60 beds in the transitional housing program. But it’s not all business and on Veterans


Day eve that point was clear. To honor vets residing at the Village, the team organized a special holiday lunch and invited those veteran alumni who have already found jobs, stability and independence as Village graduates. The celebration was held at Jinny Jo’s Playground, a small park located on the St. Vincent’s campus. David Stivale, program supervisor for


VVSD. and a member of the Veterans Team, helped coordinate the lunch. “The team provides necessary support for veterans by helping them navigate a system they’re unfamiliar with,” he said. “Vets are used to a highly specialized, structured existence and, once they’ve left active duty, that existence gets pulled out from under them. Many end up losing their equilibrium. Our team tries to reintroduce


them to society’s unstructured lifestyle and to provide the tools they’ll need to live independently and safely.”


Raising the flag of independence Carl G. sat waiting for the celebration


to begin. A former Marine who fought in the Vietnam conflict, he was discharged in 1977 and eventually ended up on the streets for lack of housing. He came to St. Vincent de Paul Village last April after having lived in the winter shelter for homeless veterans operated by VVSD. A current Village resident, he took a moment to comment on his experiences. “It’s beautiful,” he said of the Village


and its staff. “They’ve helped me so much. The Challenge to Change program has helped me to keep a positive outlook and to build my self-esteem. It’s allowed me to maintain a positive outlook on life.” When asked what his greatest achievement has been so far — excluding his military service, of course — Carl reflected for a moment before stating decisively, “I’m right with myself.” Another veteran sitting nearby


agreed. Arthur B. became homeless when he lost his job. The Village helped him obtain immediate shelter and, through its comprehensive job-training


Breaking bread with their brothers.


program, eventual employment. He now drives a delivery truck and keeps his own apartment. According to Arthur, the Village “is a


good place to get back on your feet. It gave me a second chance.” To prove his point, he produced a letter he recently wrote to the Village. It read,


“When I came to St. Vincent’s, I was homeless and unemployed. They provided food and showers until my number came up on the list for a bed. Today I am working, have my own place and things are going good, but I have not forgotten what Father


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