Here I am in Reno, living in a men's shelter, in a dorm room reserved for veterans only, sharing some 600 square feet with seventeen other veterans among nine bunk beds (I'm in a top bunk, whee!), within a general population of about one hundred and sixty homeless men altogether. For the fuller story, drop below the orange HOUSE RULES cryptogram and read on.
It's a long story, but I'll be brief. First though, I'm no stranger to DKos. Some several years ago (around 2005, I think), I joined the community under the user name of "cn4st4datrees", and did a few diaries over the next couple of years. Back then I was employed full time as a truck driver, but in 2007 I had a wee accident in my big rig resulting in a fractured vertebra and the end of my truck driving career. I returned to college while healing up, got both an A.A. and an A.S., and in 2012 went on for my Bachelor's in Environmental Science at Humboldt State University. Had a great year, and had only one more to go and I would have had my degree. But I missed renewing my application for federal financial aid in early 2013, and so when Fall 2013 rolled around, I couldn't return to school. So I was living with a friend through the winter of 2013, and had plans to get back to HSU this August. Then I found out I couldn't do that either because I had been out of school for two semesters and so was discontinued as a student. So, OK, I would just get back come January, as I would have reapplied and surely been accepted. Then, I got violently thrown out of my friend's house, and with no place else to go, I contacted the Veteran's Administration, and hey presto, here I am in Reno.
The shelter is run by Volunteers of America, which I found out is some kind of offshoot from the Salvation Army. It's an OK place, which is to say it beats living on the streets, but I can't wait to get out of it. That's where the Veteran's Administration comes in.
Since I have no disability, service-connected or otherwise, and I have no substance abuse issues, I'm fully employable, but haven't worked since 2007, and I don't drive at all any more. The VA has been helping me out. I really need this kind of help.
One thing about Reno: there's lot's of work available, and I just interviewed for a job as dispatcher for a big air conditioning/plumbing outfit. I'm waiting to be called back for a second interview, but they said they won't be sending out calls until probably Wednesday of this coming week. I very confident that I will get called, as I'm highly qualified for the job except for not having recent work experience in the field.
There is also a lot of other work around, including day-labor agencies, and I'm being helped by a VA rep in the Homeless Veteran's Supported Employment Program (HVSEP). So with perseverance and some luck, I should be able to get out of the shelter soon. Another program the VA has is help with getting into an apartment of my own once I have full-time work. The VA will pay for the deposit and first month's rent as soon as I produce a letter from my employer certifying said employment and salary. Wow! That would be super.
So, other veteran's horror stories about the VA notwithstanding, the VA is so far doing good by me.
Now, all I need is that job. I'm confident I'm going to get it, or at least some other that pays well, which can't come soon enough, really, 'cause honestly, living in a men's homeless shelter has more than its fair share of crazy-town moments, believe you me.