You could say service to his country is part of Steven Andres’ DNA. Born in Camp Pendleton, Oregon to a father who served as a marine, a grandfather who served in the army and uncles who dedicated their lives to services -- military pride and discipline were a way of life.
“I graduated from Tigard High School and spent some of my later schooling in Southern California but I eventually came back to Oregon. I went in (enlisted) in October of ‘97 and I got out a couple of months before the whole 9/11.”
Andres officially enlisted at a Columbia Gorge Community College career fair in the Dalles where he was enrolled. A couple branches of military were represented at the fair and before he knew it, he was enlisted in the Air Force.
He was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina during the Kosovo conflict and served an important role maintaining aircraft.
“Everything from a Cessnas to cargo planes. I worked on the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.”
The disciplined lifestyle would last for three-and-a-half years.
When Andres was discharged he had little money and difficulty adapting to everyday life. He struggled to find direction and eventually settled-in with friends. He would work as a personal assistant -- cleaning, shopping and fixing household items in need of repair. The work however, would not turn into a career.
Instead, Andres would become chronically homeless, couch-surfing and staying with friends from the East to West Coast for years. He would pick up jobs here and there, cleaning houses where he could.
In March of 2014, after a long and unstable road, Andres came back home to Oregon, but he didn’t have a home.
“I had no idea what I was going to do. I knew I didn’t want to be a burden on the family. It was just one of those things.”
He ended up on the streets.
Andres considers himself one of the lucky ones.
As a Veteran, he knew he was entitled to certain medical benefits. One of the first items of business when he arrived in Portland was to transfer his medical care and sign up for housing through Department of Veterans Affairs of Portland.
He hung around the right places at the right times and was able to meet advocates with organizations like Transition Projects at the Clark Center, Doreen’s Place (emergency housing) and the Portland Rescue Mission. Despite the high demand, he was able to get into a winter shelter programs through the Rescue Mission and was eventually connected with a job through the Portland Habilitation Center, which provides paid job training and employment to people struggling with disabilities.
His most daunting challenge was housing.
“There was a waiting list that I was on in April or May of 2014 and I got a letter from them saying that they had people on the list from December of 2012 and I was number 1,976 on the list.”
In the meantime, he waited on the streets, watching his back, even while trying to sleep.
He feels fortunate he wasn’t stabbed, beaten or robbed. Other Veterans describe nightmares fending off the elements, violence and/or battling their own demons in the form of physical or mental illness. One homeless Veteran described waking up next to a homeless man who froze to death overnight. Others described surviving attacks that would land them in the hospital. It’s just a fraction of the battles many homeless Veterans must wage while waiting for the prospect of housing.
“It was frustrating. In some cases, I was just waiting to find out from various programs whether I qualify to get on waiting lists. I was also maintaining positions on waiting lists which can be frustrating. If you miss calling in – they take you off the list.”
After roughly six months of persistence and patience, Andres number was selected on the HUD-VASH waiting list. The HUD-Vash (Veterans Administration Supportive Housing) program is a partnership through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA which provides rental assistance vouchers with case management and clinical services.
Even with the voucher in hand, Andres was still lucky to snag a studio apartment in less than two months. He found a place at Yards at Union Station, affordable housing owned by a nonprofit.
He empathizes with other Veterans and many of his friends - still on the streets.
“I’ve heard tales of people who’ve gotten fed up with waiting lists and gone to other programs and they’re getting calls two years later. They get letters and phone calls and they’re like I’ve already got a place.”
“They’re our Veterans. We should be housing them.”
Alana Wilson works for Income Property Management or IPM, which owns and manages properties in Portland-metro area. IPM also oversees management at the Yards at Union Station where many previously homeless Veterans now live. In the past year, the company has ramped up its efforts to rent apartments to homeless Veterans on the HUD-VASH program. The units, when they become available, rent within 24 hours.
“Does the clientele comes with barriers? Yes, but that’s the second layering of case management. Each case manager is assigned to so many residents. They’re very hands-on.”
Wilson says the transition from being homeless to an apartment can be difficult with challenges from not smoking indoors to mental health battles. But it’s made easier with VA case workers, strict adherence to lease agreements and back-up plans.
“If somebody breaks the lease we write them up and refer them to case management. We explain the consequences of what will happen if it continues and our case managers will help stabilize them and stop what’s going on.”
In January 2015, A Home for Everyone, the shared governance structure that was formed to address the crisis of homelessness in Multnomah County, committed to join the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, which set the ambitious goal to end homelessness for all Veterans by the end of 2015.
The federal government has provided significant new resources and strategies to local communities to strengthen local capacity to identify and house homeless Veterans. In response, Multnomah County, City of Portland and Home Forward have increased the local resources needed to put the federal funds to work.
“Our biggest challenge is finding available units,” according to Marc Jolin, initiative director for A Home for Everyone. “We have the vouchers and the supportive services available, but in this tight rental market, we need landlords to be part of this effort.”
This week, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales asked property owners and property managers throughout the county to give the first shot at vacant units to homeless Veterans.
The call to action comes with a package of additional support, from rental assistance for past-due rent, tenant damage, move-out expenses and security deposits to 24-hour rapid response from frontline staff to address urgent issues.
The initiative has also launched a “Veteran Registry” which will identify all currently homeless Veterans and match the Veteran with the appropriate housing and services as quickly as possible.
“The goal of ending homelessness for Veterans is within reach,” said Deborah Kafoury, the Chair of Home for Everyone. We will provide the assistance needed to make them successful tenants, but we need landlords and property owners to join us by making rental units available for these Veterans.
For Wilson, a strong management team coupled with community support is the basis for what she considers a civic duty.
“When you can actually house someone that’s been on the streets, even if it’s a tiny little house it’s worth it,” said Wilson. “I’ve had people crying before when they find their home, they literally have their own space. I want to make sure they are happy.”
Steven Andres has lived in his home for a couple months now. He works Monday through Friday, renovating homes for the Portland Habilitation Center and is able to pay bills. His HUD-Vash voucher takes care of rent.
“I don’t have to worry about not making rent. It’s there and I don’t have to worry about losing it unless I cause serious problems or break the rules. This is my place. Its great knowing that you can sleep and not have to worry.”
