SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – A home for homeless veterans could make big changes that could continue to provide shelter for veterinarians in the future.
“Veterans would know they don’t have to sleep in abandoned buildings or in their cars. You could come here, ”said Irvin Goodwin, the CEO of a nonprofit that operates veteran shelter in the East Foothills of San Jose.
CONTINUE READING: UPDATE: Child found safe after a yellow warning notice for stolen SUV was issued in Pittsburg
Goodwin was homeless himself once.
“I lived in People’s Park in Berkeley 27 years ago. But when I was on a drug program and got my life under control, God gave me the spirit to help other homeless veterans, ”Goodwin said.
Since then, Goodwin has run homeless vet programs for the Veterans Administration and established a nonprofit to house homeless vets. Eight years ago he rented a former retirement home called “10 Kirk” with enough space for 150 homeless vets and provided them with drugs, alcohol, PTSD and other psychiatric services.
“I was convinced there was no way out, that this would be my life,” said
Kenneth Vernale, who was living under a bridge in San Bruno, when the Veterans Service found him a bed here two years ago.
CONTINUE READING: UPDATE: Crash at Golden Gate Bridge injures CHP officials while protesting vaccine mandates
“I came here and they were nice to me. I have a bed and I said I’ll try
not be homeless. So now I have a job, I have a car. “
Vernale said he was moving into his own apartment.
Goodwin says he can help many more veterinarians in similar situations if he changes
Leasing the 6-acre gated community for $ 60,000 a month to fully own it.
“That would give us a lot of stability,” said Goodwin.
Goodwin has raised over $ 1 million through private donations and is hoping to receive federal, state and local source grants to buy the property and potentially increase the number of beds.
MORE NEWS: Oakland residents are shocked by the latest gun violence shot
Goodwin said the move from tenant to owner would be another turning point in his
Combating the homelessness of veterans.
