RD was raised in a single parent household in New Haven, CT and enlisted in the Army when he was eighteen years old. He served in the US Army from 1975 to 1978, when he received an honorable discharge. After leaving the army, RD struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction for many years and was incarcerated for a total of thirteen years.

In 2004, RD found himself unemployed and sleeping in his car. He called the VA and asked for help with his substance abuse problem and completed a 21 day substance abuse treatment program at the Errera Community Care Center at the VA Hospital in West Haven. After completing the program, RD lived in several emergency shelters. He left a shelter to enter the transitional housing program at Homes for the Brave in July of 2004. When RD came to Homes for the Brave, his only source of income was from a small Social Security Disability pension. Soon, however, RD reentered the workforce and began to work part-time in construction. He then began to work full-time and gave up his disability pension. RD began to work for Homes for the Brave in maintenance, and because of his excellent work ethic and responsibility soon accepted a full-time position as a House Manager. In this position, he was able to help other residents and to share his experiences with them as they worked to recover from substance abuse and mental illness.

RD moved into permanent supportive housing at Waldorf House after being at Homes for the Brave for about a year. While living there, RD demonstrated his ability to responsibly pay his rent, maintain his apartment, and to remain free of drugs and alcohol. He was able to maintain close ties with Homes for the Brave through his job and by participating in house activities. RD frequently donated his time to come and take the residents at Homes for the Brave to weekend activities and to cook meals for them. He demonstrated an excellent ability to budget his money and saved enough to purchase a more reliable car.

After being at Waldorf for a year and a half, RD moved to his own apartment. His record of sobriety, steady employment, and responsibility with his rent payments at Waldorf helped overcome the obstacles he faced in obtaining housing due to his criminal record. RD remains clean & sober today, and has maintained a steady job that he enjoys and where he can make a difference in the lives of other men who are facing what he has been through. Inspired by his love for his work and by his own experiences, RD is preparing to go back to school to study Human Services.

JM is a 55-year-old veteran who was admitted to Homes for the Brave with a history of alcohol and cocaine use and after being diagnosed as experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was treated at the West Haven, CT, VA Medical Center and remained in treatment until he was admitted to Homes for the Brave. Upon admission, JM was characterized as being depressed, withdrawn and reserved. Those symptoms began to improve shortly after he was admitted. He attended all of his scheduled meetings with his case manager and vocational specialist, and participated in creating a plan for his treatment. In addition, he continued his treatment program at the VA medical center and attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the community. After six months, JM was offered a part-time position at Homes for the Brave as a house manager. His success in that position eventually led to his full-time employment as a resident manager, and he was able to move into his own apartment. He is now employed full-time as a counselor for other veterans at the VA Errera Community Care Center. His progress serves an inspiration for other residents who are admitted into Homes for the Brave.

Prior to becoming homeless, JM had a successful life. He served in the United States Navy as a radioman on the U.S.S. Nimitz for five years. JM joined the navy looking for opportunities after high school graduation. During his time in the service, JM was able to learn a trade, and he returned home to start a successful communication and data networking company. He bought a house, helped put his wife through nursing school, and raised two children.

However due to his alcoholism, JM lost his business and family. When he had no other options left, the VA presented JM with the opportunity to come to Homes for the Brave. HFTB helped JM further his education and manage his alcoholism and clinical depression. JM has taken advantage of training opportunities offered through the HVRP program such as the State of CT Lead Supervisor and Inspector Training Programs and the weatherization program offered by the Green Team. JM says that his time at HFTB has been a life changing experience due to the camaraderie of the veterans and the support of the staff.

When he arrived, JM was humbled, defeated, and broke. Today, he is restructuring his life. Job opportunities are becoming available due to his training, and he hopes to have his in the next six to eight months. JM plans to stay connected to the VA and HFTB and give back what he received by speaking to other veterans and community groups about his experiences at HFTB.

DM spent 12 years in the U.S. Air Force between 1989 and 2003. With the air force, he traveled all over the world, including time in Kuwait and Iraq. In 2003, DM was working in munitions and was stationed in Japan when he experienced a psychotic breakdown. DM had a difficult time accessing appropriate mental health treatment while in the military. His marriage and career suffered, and eventually he could not find a job.

DM ended up at the VA in West Haven where he spent eight months adjusting to his medications and working with Dr. Laurie Harkness. In 2006, DM came to HFTB. The program helped him regain structure. He was able to get a job, take care of himself, pay rent, have responsibilities, and understand his illness and how to live with it. During his time at HFTB, DM says he learned how to creatively handle his problems. He regained his interests in music and spirituality and reconnected with his family.

Today, DM owns his own apartment. He started in a low level job in at the VA Hospital, but he worked his way up to the Accounts Receivable Technician where he bills customers, processes payments, and does the weekly payroll for CWT workers. He also advocates for other veterans, especially female veterans. He stresses the importance of better mental health treatment in the military and the need for specialized programs for female veterans as they return home.