Army Veteran Aaron still remembers the feeling of finally holding the keys to his apartment at Arlington House.

“When I had the keys in my hand, it was overwhelming,” he said.

For years, Aaron had been living in vehicles across Minnesota while trying to rebuild stability in his life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Aaron served three years in the Army, an experience he says still shapes how he approaches life today.

“I love the military. It’s still with me in every decision I make,” Aaron said. “Give me a mission, and I want to complete it.”

Before experiencing homelessness, Aaron says life once felt stable and predictable. He graduated from high school, got married, worked a variety of jobs, became a homeowner, and later earned his barber’s license. But over time, life changed, and eventually, Aaron found himself living in vehicles full-time.

For a period, Aaron lived in a camper van while working as a personal assistant, a role he deeply enjoyed.

“It made me feel like I was part of the world,” he said.

After the person he worked for passed away, Aaron struggled to regain a sense of purpose and stability. He continued trying to move forward while surviving multiple Minnesota winters in vehicles.

Eventually, Aaron received a HUD-VASH voucher through the VA, but finding housing before the voucher expired became increasingly difficult. At the same time, the vehicle he had been living in stopped working.

“The car I was living in was dead, and my time to use my voucher was running out,” Aaron said. “MACV saved me right at the right time.”

With support from MACV, Aaron moved into Arlington House, a MACV-owned and operated affordable supportive housing for Veterans.

“I can’t appreciate MACV enough,” he said. “MACV does a lot for me and continues to support me.”

Today, Aaron says the transition into housing still feels surreal at times.

“Going from a vehicle to Arlington House… no running water to having a nice and fancy bathroom,” he said.

Aaron now enjoys the stability of having a place to call home. He helps around Arlington House, uses the gym regularly, and appreciates simple things many people often overlook.

“Being here is awesome,” he said. “Laundry on site is really nice.”

After years without stable housing, Aaron says he does not take any of it for granted.

“I’m so appreciative of what I have,” he said. “I appreciate everything.”