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SPRING 2015
SUCCESS STORIES
Working with homeless
Veterans to improve their lives.
HELPING HOMELESS
VETERANS
BOARD MEMBER
PROFILES
James “Rock” Amick
HELPING HOMELESS VETERANS
FIND A HOME OF THEIR OWN.
I n 2010, t he Wh it e Hou s e a nd t he D epa r t ment of
We are making great progress toward the goal of ending
Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a strategy to end Veteran
Veteran homelessness! In 2014 we provided assistance
homelessness by the end of 2015. One80 Place is one
to 351 Veterans and their families (668 people) through
of thousands of VA-partner organizations to implement
the SSVF program – that’s a Veteran household a day.
these plans. One80 Place shelters have 40 beds dedicated
to male Veterans and seven beds for female Veterans,
In 2015, we are working hard on our part to end Veteran
in addition to beds for their children. Last year, 85%
homelessness nationally by the end of this year.
of Veterans living in our Veteran dorms successfully
returned to community-based housing. Support from
DID YOU KNOW?
the community makes this possible!
•
In 2010, t he White House and VA issued a plan
to end Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.
•
“WE’RE NOT GOING TO REST UNTIL EVERY
VETERAN WHO HAS FOUGHT FOR AMERICA
HAS A HOME IN AMERICA.”
– PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, AUG. 2014
The VA also created a Supportive Services for Veteran
Families (SSVF) program. The purpose is to help Veterans
and their families before they find themselves in a shelter.
As an SSVF partner, One80 Place provides temporary
assistance to Veterans to help them get back on their
feet as well as budgeting assistance, housing support,
counseling and more.
The nu mb er of Vet er a n s who a r e homele s s i s
down by 67% nationally since the initiative was
announced in 2010.
•
One80 Place is proud to be one of thousands of VA
partners nationally aiming to achieve this goal.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
and got a job at Comcast. Within two weeks of working,
One80 Place staff conducts boots-on-the-ground outreach.
he was promoted, and after 30 days of working and saving,
Team members connect with Veterans in need of assistance
Jeremy moved into his own home. Six months later,
by visiting homeless camps and working with other
Jeremy is still working at Comcast, continuing to take
agencies and organizations. The outreach team visits
on more responsibility in his job and ultimately ensuring
anywhere from 10-30 sites every week all throughout the
a stable and self-sufficient future.
Lowcountry. To get Veterans back in a home, staff builds
relationships with private landlords in order to ensure
Veterans find affordable housing. These private landlords
all over the Lowcountry are truly making a difference as
we strive to end Veteran homelessness!
ARMY VETERAN BATTLES
HOMELESSNESS.
Jeremy was raised in a military family and knew from
a young age he wanted to ser ve h is count r y. A f ter
graduating high school, he enlisted in the army and
immediately began his ser vice. After eight years he
retired from the military, and, for the first time, embraced
life as a civilian. He moved to Virginia to start a new
position with a small, star t-up company. After only
three months of working, his position was eliminated
and Jeremy found himself unemployed. Jobless during
the height of a recession, Jeremy was unable to find
steady employment. He moved to South Carolina to live
with a friend, hopeful the move would bring a fresh
start. His hopes were not realized. At age 26, Jeremy
was jobless and homeless.
His first day at One80 Place was somewhat of a whirlwind,
but after meeting with his case manager it was ver y
clear that Jeremy was a determined man who was ready
to find work. Within his first week of working with the
employment services team at One80 Place, he interviewed
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that their own lives could be the cost of that service.
It seems only right that we should return that service
with our commitment to ensure that no Veteran goes
without a place to call home and three ‘squares a day’.”
Inde ed, Veter a n s a nd a l l i nd iv idua l s de ser ve a n
opportunity to find stable shelter and food. But it is
more than just food and shelter that our Veterans need.
HOMELESS VETERAN OVERCOMES PTSD.
REUNITES WITH FAMILY.
Rock explains: “One80 Place not only provides food and
Darrell’s addiction to alcohol caused his separation from
the important and ongoing care, training and support
his wife and children at age 51. Despite the sadness and
that can ensure that they are never homeless again.”
difficulty surrounding the separation, it was ultimately
One80 Place is committed to ending Veteran homelessness,
the catalyst for his recover y. When Darrell came to
and that’s why we focus on providing programs and
One80 Place, he was very focused and ready to commit
services that are more than just a roof and a hot meal.
to a program that could rehabilitate his life. He began
Rock is a strong supporter and believer in this holistic
attending substance abuse education classes, support
approach and challenges us to answer the question,
groups and worked one-on-one with a case manager to
“ if t his effor t does not deser ve our suppor t, t hen
understand his addiction.
what does?”
shelter to our Veterans but is committed to providing
Through these meetings and sessions, Darrell realized
that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder
and using alcohol as a coping mechanism. He has since
lear ned better and healthier ways to cope w ith his
militar y t rauma. This past holiday season, he was
reunited with his family and was able to move back
home. Dar rell left One80 Place sober, w ith a better
understanding of his illness, and t he suppor t of a
loving family. Darrell is glad to be home again, but,
most impor tant ly, he is glad to lead a healt hy and
positive lifestyle.
HOMELESS VETERANS DESERVE OUR
SUPPORT.
James “Rock” Amick’s long history with One80 Place
as a volunteer, donor and Board Member star ted in
1995, but his connection to our mission began much
earlier. Rock graduated from Wofford College in 1983
and immediately enlisted in the army after graduation.
He served on active duty for five years as Bravo Battery
Fire Team Leader, Fire Direction Officer and Headquarters
Batter y Executive Officer. With his own experience
in the ser vice shaping his viewpoint, Rock believes
that “Veterans occupy a special place in our society;
these men and women volunteered to serve us, aware
COURTESY MCG PHOTOGRAPHY
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #1589
CHARLESTON, SC
P.O. Box 20038
Charleston, SC 29413-0038
CAN’T VISIT US IN PERSON?
Our website, www.one80place.org/donate, is open 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. It is a fast and secure way
to support One80 Place while you’re on-the-go!
LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS
TO VOLUNTEER?
We’ve moved into the new center, and we continue to
hear from many volunteers that they are eager to help.
Interested in getting involved? You can sign up to volunteer
at www.one80place.org/volunteer.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The second annual Lowcountr y Giv ing Day w ill be
May 5, 2015! Learn more at LowcountryGivingDay.org.
#LifttheLowcountry
VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY THE NUMBERS
1.4 MILLION VETERANS
11%
at-risk of homelessness
of the homeless population
is Veterans (a decrease from
~33% in 2013)
24% OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
INTERVIEWED
i n C h a r l e s t o n i n d i c at e d t h e y
had ser ved in the armed forces
received services from One80 Place
in 2014
50,000 VETERANS
are homeless on any given night
524 VETERANS
8.1%
76%
of Veter a n s i n C ha rle ston
County are living in poverty
of homeless Veterans in the
85% OF VETERANS
Charleston area have received
who received ser v ices f rom
or a re c u r rent ly receiv i ng
One80 Place successfully moved
t r e at m e nt f o r s o m e f o r m
back into homes of t hei r ow n
of disabilit y