Mark's Story

Mark (pictured on the left, at a recent ceremony honoring veterans) is a resident of our Veterans Transitional Housing program, which helps homeless veterans rebuild their lives by providing housing, job training, support services, and more. He’s a New Orleans native who joined the Air Force shortly after graduating high school. While in the Air Force, he served as a K-9 dog handler with the security police and guarded Loring Air Force Base’s nuclear facility among his other duties.

It was during this time that Mark began to develop addictions. He was hospitalized in 1978 and “100% disabled”, he says. Mark gradually recovered from his addictions to pursue college degrees and was married in 1982. Upon moving back to New Orleans in 1990, however, he relapsed, and lost his marriage and family. Mark struggled throughout the 1990’s with his addictions until becoming sober for good in 2000.

Throughout the first decade of the 21^st century, Mark was the primary caregiver for his mother, father, and grandmother. He finally found a home at our Veterans’ facility through Veterans’ Affairs in January of 2010, and has since successfully pursued the personal goals he had struggled to achieve for so long. While in our program, he has built a stronger relationship with his children and wife, found stability, and grown emotionally. He’s become involved in supporting his community and environment, and recently traveled to Louisville for leadership training through the Freret Neighborhood Center. He’s also signed up to volunteer for Volunteers of America and has sought job training. His future plans include working with homeless veterans and working for group homes.

Mark speaks highly of Volunteers of America. “This is one of the better facilities for people in my situation…it’s run in such a way that one can accomplish their goals. The people I’ve met here are like family...they take a very personal approach”.