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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Tennessee Marine Vet sleeps in car VA ran out of vouchers

WONDERFUL UPDATE for this homeless veteran!
"WREG was contacted by a Florida real estate broker, Kim Caliendo, who wanted to help. News Channel 3 passed her number along to Whitfield. She had seen the story online about him living in his car after his roommate moved, leaving him no where to live.

Whitfield tried to apply for housing help through the Memphis VA, but was turned away. They said they didn’t have enough housing vouchers to help him.

He said he’s been trying to get back on his feet and is taking classes at a community college to become an accountant.

Caliendo said she understands Whitfield’s struggle. She once had to live under a lifeguard stand on the beach. So she decided to use her connections with renters in Memphis to call and offer him help." read more about this wonderful story from above link
Disabled, homeless veteran living in car; Memphis VA says it can’t help
WVLT
Jun 18, 2014

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A disabled veteran and father is living out of his car, because he said the Memphis VA will not help him.

Lonnie Whitfield was living with a friend, but ran out of options when that person decided to move.

The VA sent WREG a statement explaining the programs they have in place to help people like Whitfield.

They have vouchers for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and VA Supportive Housing Program, or HUD-VASH as it is called.

However, they only had 380 vouchers for the Memphis and Jackson areas, and said they are currently out.

“This is my place, for right now,” disabled Marine veteran Lonnie Whitfield said sadly, motioning to his small car. “I stay between here, and I have a friend’s house that I stay with from time to time…Wash my personal things or whatever.”

The car is not just a way to get from place to place for Whitfield, it is where he is living.

“I lost my place three weeks ago,” he said. “I have two kids that I share custody with, that stay with their mother, because I can’t do anything right now.”
read more here


Homeless Veterans
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