HVAF - Helping Veterans And Families

"My last relapse was last fall and was four months straight. It landed me in rehab. I went in there, and lost everything: my marriage, kids, house, vehicle, and job. I was literally homeless, everything was gone. Just one bad decision with a weak mentality and not being emotionally mature enough to handle the situation I was put in. Being at rehab I had a lot of self-healing, reflecting, and growth.

And while I was there, they asked where I was going when I leave here. I was like, 'I have nowhere.' I literally tried anything and everything with everybody and just kept getting rejected because my credit score was bad, I have evictions, I don't make enough monthly income - and I said, 'Lord, what am I gonna do?'

You guys went ABOVE and BEYOND over anything I could ask for. And got me into the nicest apartment ever! The biggest thing we're working on is getting furniture for the apartment and getting my a mom vehicle. They're all four together under my mom's roof. I'm going through all of the DCS steps right now and doing anything and everything they ask me to do, and I'm just being patient and waiting.

I am SO grateful for you guys!" -Army National Guard Veteran Katie

We are excited to attend the FREE screening and conversation for "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness" happening this Tuesday, August 20!

Want to join us? Register here: https://butlerartscenter.org/performance/beyond-the-bridge/

Film Promo Trailer: https://vimeo.com/967780711

JCC Indianapolis has spent their summer supporting our Hoosier Heroes and we couldn't be more grateful! 🥰

YOU are helping Brandon live his best life! Your August 2024 Newsletter is here:

YOU are helping Brandon live his best life!

Did you catch the big news we announced last week?! HVAF's 11th Annual Operation Alpha is Friday, November 8! 🥳🥃💛🎉

Join us for a fun evening filled with Hotel Tango spirits, whiskey pull, wine toss, cigar veranda, and supporting Hoosier Veterans! https://www.hvafofindiana.org/events/

We are excited to attend the FREE screening and conversation for "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness" happening next Tuesday, August 20!

Want to join us? Register here: https://butlerartscenter.org/performance/beyond-the-bridge/

Film Promo Trailer: https://vimeo.com/967780711

Meet Army Veteran Roscoe🇺🇸

After serving in the Army for almost a year and a half, Roscoe received his honorable discharge. Looking back, he regrets getting out so soon.

“I got out in December 1978. That first day, I went over to my sister’s and her boyfriend had co***ne. I wanted to try it, and I liked it,” Roscoe said. “In October 1979, I was in prison for writing checks to get co***ne. It was terrible.”

Roscoe spent decades in and out of prison and off and on drugs. There were some positive experiences during his time in prison, including receiving two associate degrees and his EMT certification.

In 2017, Roscoe moved from Illinois to Indiana. The day after he moved here, he went to the VA Hospital for help. They referred him to HVAF and two days later, our case managers moved him into one of our transitional houses: Warman.

Over the years, HVAF has helped Roscoe with housing, pantry items, employment services, and most recently, therapy.

“They have helped me a lot. I’m not used to people helping me without me having to do something,” Roscoe said. “But these people just help me just because it’s what they do.”

Last year, Roscoe went through HVAF’s workforce development program: VetWorks. VetWorks – Veterans Workforce Renewing Knowledge and Skills – is an intensive 3 phase work, learn and earn program designed to skill up our veterans to achieve their earning potential. The program provided funding for Roscoe to complete a recovery coach class and peer mentor training.

Roscoe’s VetWorks employment specialist encouraged Roscoe to get plugged in with Recovery Café. Now, he uses his recovery coach and peer mentor training to facilitate a recovery support group there each week.

“It’s keeping me from using drugs because I talk a lot about it,” Roscoe said. “And I don’t want to go backwards. I’ve come a long way to be where I’m at today.”

Since March, Roscoe has been seeing HVAF’s therapist, Kascha, every other week. He said he never thought he would go to therapy.

“Growing up, I kept stuff in so long and I never had anyone to talk to,” Roscoe said. “I love it. Every time I’m here in her office, I’m talking. It’s really something and I recommend it now anywhere I go.”

In addition to leading the support group at Recovery Café, Roscoe cofacilitates a class called Nurturing Fathers through Dads Inc. He teaches the men how to be good fathers for their children.

“Because I’m a big guy, they wouldn’t think that I would see a therapist or anything like that,” Roscoe said. “But hopefully I can present it and say Roscoe does it, he’s seeing a therapist, it must not be too bad.”

Thank you to the Vigilantes MC for raising $3,100+ for our veterans!! ❤❤ We couldn't be more thankful for your support these last several years!!

These Give Bags are amazing! Thank you to Heritage Construction + Materials for being so kind & generous to put these together filled with food & clothing for Hoosier Heroes in need❤

“I am so thankful for the program and the amazing people that make it all possible. HVAF has helped me get into stable housing, they have connected me with other services and resources that have provided me with additional opportunities to better myself and my life.

I know my transition into civilian life was very difficult, I know that is a struggle for a lot of veterans. I don’t want to just help veterans, I want to help people in general, because I feel like there are so many things that I have overcome. Not just my transition from military to civilian life, but also overcoming sexual abuse, overcoming domestic violence, overcoming addiction, lots of different things.” -Kyla | Army National Guard

A huge thank you to the American Legion Beech Grove Auxiliary for their monetary contributions to our Hoosier Heroes ❤ We're so thankful for your support!!

Shouting HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our fearless leader, Emmy! 🎈🎁🎊 Be sure to send all the birthday wishes in the comments🎉

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE 11TH ANNUAL OPERATION ALPHA!🎉✨

Hotel Tango Distillery's Founder and CEO, disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran Travis Barnes, started Operation Alpha in 2014, as a way to raise funds for HVAF's operations, programs, and services. And we are excited to announce that this year, 's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino is our presenting sponsor!

Join us for a fun evening filled with Hotel Tango spirits, whiskey pull, wine toss, cigar veranda, and supporting Hoosier Veterans! https://www.hvafofindiana.org/events/

We want to thank everyone who participated in our first-ever Facebook Fundraiser!! You all raised $6,092 and thanks to our board match, we raised a total of $13,592!!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Thank you all for wanting to make a difference in Hoosier Heroes' lives ❤️🇺🇸❤️

Our Facebook Summer Match Challenge ends TODAY! With Facebook Fundraiser & online donations, we've raised $6,092! Who is going to get us to $7,500??

When you donate, our board will MATCH your donation, making your support go TWICE as far! 🙌❤️🇺🇸 Donate today: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3511537992310398/

Our Facebook Summer Match Challenge ends TOMORROW! With Facebook Fundraiser & online donations, we've raised $5,631! Who is going to get us to $7,500?? When you donate, our board will MATCH your donation, making your support go TWICE as far! 🙌❤️🇺🇸 Donate today: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3511537992310398/

NEW EPISODE OF ROGER THAT🎙

If you’ve ever visited HVAF, then I’m sure you’ve met Katie. She is the first face and smile you see when you visit, as she is our Community Center Specialist. Katie helps oversee our Community Center – including our food, clothing, and hygiene pantry. She has been on Team HVAF for 13 years! And on today’s episode, you’ll see why she’s been here for so long as she’s so passionate about our veterans and mission to end veteran homelessness: https://www.hvafofindiana.org/roger-that-podcast-ep-21-meet-hvafs-community-center-specialist-katie/

Only a few more days to donate to our first-ever Facebook Summer Match Challenge!! 🥳 And when you donate, our board will MATCH your donation, making your support go TWICE as far! 🙌❤️🇺🇸 Donate today: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3511537992310398/

Help us close the gap! With your help, we can get to our goal of $7,500 - with the board match taking us to $15,000! 🤩 Donate today: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3511537992310398/

"I woke up one morning and went to the restroom and for the first time, when I looked in that mirror, I saw who I was. Never had before, out of all the years that I was getting high, I was thinking that I looked normal. I was a drug addict that didn’t have no control over myself, over my life, over nothing, I was a drug addict, I saw me for the first time and that was a scary sight that I couldn’t get out of my head. And I called my mother-in-law and I told her 'I really want to stop using, I really want to change please help me.' And so she brought me here. This program changed my life, look at me now. 13 and a half years clean and sober, two new cars, a house, raising my kids." - Army National Guard & Army Veteran Steve

Our veterans get that "winning the gold" 🥇🏆 feeling when you support them! 🤩🥳🇺🇸💛 Our Facebook Summer Match Challenge ends THIS TUESDAY!

When you donate, our board will MATCH your gift, making your support go twice as far! Donate now: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3511537992310398/

VetWorks is an intensive 3 phase work, learn, and earn program designed to skill up our veterans to achieve their earning potential. You can find out more about the program, and hear from the program coordinator, on our podcast - check it out: https://www.hvafofindiana.org/roger-that-podcast-ep-4-vetworks/

This week's goes to Permanent Housing Coordinator Bobby! Check out what one of his team members said:

"Bobby has really made an effort to make sure his team is heard. By doing the work to learn and find resources, by reading, and sharing with the team what he is learning and sharing with us vulnerable parts of himself. I am really proud to have him as a supervisor." 😊🫶

We are SO close to our goal of $7,500 for our Facebook Fundraiser Summer Match Challenge!!! 🥳🎊 Don't forget - when you donate, our board will MATCH your gift, making your support go twice as far! Donate now: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3511537992310398/

We had a great time showing Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc.‘s CEO Fred Glass our food & clothing pantry, as Gleaners helps us provide lots of food for our veterans in need. 🥫🙌🏻🥰 Fred also came on our podcast, Roger That! Be on the lookout for that interview soon 👀

Our blog is available for you anytime, anywhere! Read more on the veterans we serve, meet our team, and more! Check it out:

HVAF Blog | HVAF July 1, 2024 July 1, 2024Roger That Ep 19: Meet HVAF’s Longest Serving Employee, Fred!Today on Roger That, you get to meet the one, the only Fred Young. Everyone here on knows and adores Fred, and after this episode, I know you will too. He struggled with alcoholism before and after his ...

Our Veteran Engagement Committee had an amazing Saturday putting on a fun carnival full of food, games, face painting, and prizes for our veteran families 🎟️🌭🍔🎉🎁❤️ And 55 kids were provided personalized backpacks filled with everything they needed to start the school year! 🎒

A big thanks to Alpha Health and Wellness LLC, American Legion Post 500 & Auxiliary, and HVAF staff & volunteers who made this wonderful day possible 🙌🏻