BUFFALO, N.Y. — The VA of Western New York Healthcare System accomplished its goals for 2023. The system housed 162 homeless veterans in permanent apartments. Loren Carey was one of them.
“I came up here from Florida because my dad had prostate cancer, so I was coming up to support him and be there for him. If it wasn't for the homeless program, I'd probably be dead in a snow bank somewhere,” Carey said.
It happened to him four times. Four times Loren Carey was homeless.
“I had no place to go. I came up here from Florida with five duffle bags. That's it,” Carey said.
From 1985 to 2002, Carey served in the U.S. military. He gave 18 years of his life in active service. One bad decision turned into an equally bad outcome, making Carey homeless.
However, thanks to the VA of Western New York Healthcare, Carey was able to get permanent housing, and so did 161 others.
“Most veterans don't realize that they qualify. They don't try because they think they don't qualify. I look at it like the worst they can say is no,” Carey said.
He is not wrong.
2 On Your Side met with Kristen Weese, program director for housing the homeless with the VA of Western New York Healthcare System. She says over the years, requirements to be eligible for help have lessened.
“I tell everyone, just call. We have a department that figures out eligibility. If there’s we can do, we will. If there’s anything the VA can’t do, then we will link you to community resources that can help you,” Weese said.
She continued, “Last year, within our continuum of VA homeless services, we served 672 formal homeless veterans.”
Weese says the original plan was to get 100 homeless veterans housed. Instead, they exceeded the amount. She says now she’s waiting to hear about this year's goal, which typically increases by 10%.
Carey is a disabled veteran. He had his left leg amputated because of his diabetes. It doesn’t slow him down because he also has to step down three steps to get inside his apartment.
He said it makes some of his daily duties difficult to do. However, it’s OK with Carey. He’s just happy to call a two-bedroom apartment home.
“I didn't know how exactly things were going to go, but I look at it as I joined the military to get me out of my homeless situation,” Carey said.