Navy Vet Finds New Career

Catholic Charities Community Services has more than 20 programs helping the most vulnerable in Central and Northern Arizona. We provide shelter, protect the abused and strengthen families.
Jessie is a success story for our Veterans Services program. He was excited to leave Georgia for a job in the West. He had been promised a job near the Grand Canyon but when he arrived, the job had been given to another.
Alone, Jessie hitched a ride to Flagstaff. He didn’t have a place to live or a support system. He knew he needed help and found Catholic Charities.
Jessie arrived just after 5 p.m. as the homeless outreach manager, was locking up for the night. The manager stayed and talked to Jessie for a while and learned about his situation. He also learned that Jessie was a U.S. Navy veteran.
He then found a place for Jessie to stay for the weekend and told him about Catholic Charities veteran’s services. He told him to expect to hear from the veteran services case manager, on Monday.
Immediate Assistance- “I was able to make contact with Jessie quickly and enroll him in our program,” said the case manager. “He stayed briefly at the men’s shelter and then we placed him in a studio apartment just walking distance to the Catholic Charities office in Flagstaff.”
Catholic Charities was able to provide food while Jessie’s benefits were being approved by U.S. Veterans Affairs.
Catholic Charities purchased a new bed, bed frame and all bedding to make sure Jessie had a comfortable place to sleep. He was also supplied with hygiene items, toiletries and house cleaning supplies. A local thrift store made a very generous donation and supplied all of this kitchen items.
Providing for the Future -Jessie was looking for work when the case manager recommended a local training program. Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona had a partnership with Coconino County Community College that Jessie enrolled in and completed.
As a certified maintenance technician, Jessie is nationally certified in all area of maintenance. This certification will allow him to find work anywhere in the country. “We used Catholic Charities Veterans Services funds to purchase all of the tools recommended upon his graduation,” said the case manager.
Jessie immediately started applying for jobs and was offered an entry level position for $13 per hour.
Helping Veterans Experiencing Homelessness -Catholic Charities is committed to providing permanent solutions to individuals in need. The skills and tools we gave Jessie will take him anywhere he needs to go.
You can help the most vulnerable including veterans like Jessie by supporting Catholic Charities Community Services, Inc. CFC#29740