Casey is a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force.  When Casey J. completed high school, she chose to serve our country by joining the Air Force. During that time, she served with distinction, receiving multiple decorations, including the Air Force Training Ribbon (awarded upon completion of initial accession training), the National Defense Service Medal (awarded for honorable active military service as a member of the armed forces), Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (awarded to units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that sets the unit above and apart from similar units), the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (awarded to USAF enlisted personnel for exemplary conduct during three years of active military service), and the Honors Training Graduate Ribbon (awarded to honor graduates of basic military training who have demonstrated excellence in all phases of academic and military training and limited to the top 10 percent of the training flight).

Casey served for nearly four years, and following her discharge, she successfully transitioned into civilian life and started her family.   Sadly, her relationship eventually reached a point where she fled with her 6-year-old son to a domestic violence shelter where she felt safe and was very appreciative of everything the shelter provided for herself and her young son.
All along, however, Casey simply wanted to live in a safe place to call her own, raise her child, and start the healing process, which proved to be a challenge on her limited income.

Through her case manager at the shelter, Casey was connected to VHS. Following an initial meeting with her and her son, she was accepted into the VHS program, where she was provided with a safe, affordable single-unit apartment and domestic violence case management. She was also provided furniture and food assistance to help her get back on her feet.
Casey, who joined the VHS program shortly before the holiday season, was humble and grateful for the assistance and did not request additional help. However, she was pleasantly surprised when her small family received a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner from VHS. And it did not stop there: She and her son were overjoyed when VHS provided him with gifts “from Santa” from his wish list.

As she was settling into her new, independent life, VHS also connected Casey with resources to help her navigate the arduous process of obtaining the benefits she was eligible to receive through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and her local Vet Center, which offers confidential help for veterans at no cost in a non-medical setting. Services offered there include counseling for needs such as depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), as well as connecting her with even more support in her state and community.

And now, as she is finding her way, Casey wants the supporters of the Americans Helping Americans® Veterans Housing Support program to know:
“From assisting me with housing to connecting me tailored resources for individuals with income constraints, VHS went above and beyond to meet my needs. I cannot express enough gratitude for the invaluable support and care I received from the VHS program.
“The VHS Program Manager’s unwavering dedication and compassion made me feel seen, heard, and supported every step of the way, and the organization truly embodies what it means to empower and uplift survivors of domestic violence and homelessness.
“I am forever thankful for the positive impact it has had on my life.”