MACV Veteran Story: Mike
“This year in recovery has been the hardest year of my life, but MACV didn’t judge me. They helped me grow.” -Housed Marine Corps Veteran Mike
Mike reached out to MACV for help rebuilding his life from housing insecurity, dealing with past trauma, and dealing with the loss of employment opportunities.
At 64, Mike has not given up on helping others or himself. Recently Mike graduated from the Warriors Path program at Every Third Saturday, and Mike’s MACV case managers are very proud of him. More importantly, Mike is proud of himself. Mike shared, “I was able to refind my center. I have rebuilt my confidence, and I believe in myself.”
“Until the pain of changing was greater than the pain of staying the same, I wasn’t going to change.” -Mike.
MACV was able to support Mike in his recovery and housing search. For Mike, learning to budget and developing a close network of friends has been vital. Currently, Mike is living in MACV transitional housing and is grateful for the chance to stabilize and work towards finding permanent housing. He loves his job at Catholic Charities, where he is a peer recovery specialist.
If you are a Veteran in need of support, Mike advises that you “let go of your ego and ask for help” as he did. MACV supports veterans with housing, legal, and employment services. If you require support or know a Veteran who might be, click here.