Community Corner
Veteran Prepares to Leave Homelessness at New Beginnings Center
For Veteran's Day, Corte Madera native Michael B. finds himself among homeless veterans making headlines across the nation.
Michael B. applauds the goal of eliminating veteran homelessness by 2015, he’s skeptical that the issue will be solved quite so soon.
Michael, who lives at Homeward Bound’s New Beginnings Center, holds a perspective born of experience. He’s a veteran of 8 years in the U.S. Navy and has struggled with homelessness for five years.
A native of Corte Madera, Michael graduated from Redwood High School and worked in a shoe store before joining the Navy at 20 years old. He served in Asia, including a memorable period when his ship ferried refugees around the Philippines after the fall of Saigon in 1975.
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He lived in Pennsylvania for 14 years but came back to Marin after getting laid off from his retail job and finding nothing to take its place.
“The Veterans Administration put me in touch with Homeward Bound right away,” he says, since the agency partners with New Beginnings Center to reserve 16 beds for veterans. Through a federal voucher program, he moved to an apartment in Ignacio after six months.
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“I should have been more aggressive about finding a good job,” he says. When his rent went up, he knew his budget wouldn’t cover it. Realizing an eviction record could impact his housing in the future, Michael chose to leave on good terms and return to New Beginnings Center.
He’s among 96 veterans served by Homeward Bound in the year ending June 30, 2014. Veterans’ services at the agency got a boost this week with a $25,000 grant from Wells Fargo & Co.
“There are a lot of resources here and people to let you know about help,” he says. Since January, he’s been working eight-hour shifts in the kitchen – washing dishes and cleaning up for The Key Room, an event venue with on-site catering operated by Homeward Bound.
“I’m grateful and happy for it. It will look good on a resume,” he says.
With his mother in a retirement home in Sacramento, he’s thinking of moving there and plans to look for a retail or customer service position.
With some work experience and a little savings put aside while at Homeward Bound, Michael says, he’s prepared for the next step. “Homeward Bound has been a good place to get organized,” he says.
