For Valerie James, life after the military brought another fight.
The U.S. Army veteran said she faced homelessness and mental illness after her service. “I went from homeless to housed to homeless, and then housed again,” said James. “After suffering from psychiatric illness, my job became working on the psych ward.”
James said she suffered two bouts of homelessness due to mental illness. After she connected with the U.S. Veterans Initiative, she began receiving housing and support services. She later started working for the program as a case manager.
The help and acceptance she received led her to start a non-profit, VAST, and earn a degree in psychology.
“VAST, Veterans Advocates Services & Training, it was born out of trauma,” said James. “Bouts of homelessness and getting to be among the homeless, overcoming mental illness, and then coming back and being able to help and serve, with that experience, others who have suffered the way that I have.”
VAST supports at-risk veterans whose mental or behavioral mindset keeps them constantly homeless or incarcerated. Its services include housing support, job training, mental health assistance, mentoring and specialized courses for incarcerated veterans.
Team member and U.S. Army veteran Terry Elder said that as a trans woman, she was unsure at first about getting help from VAST and the U.S. Veterans Initiative.
“Before I even came here, I was homeless, alcoholic, drug addict, all those things,” said Elder. “So I was really going no place and I was going there fast.”
Elder said James encouraged her and made her feel welcome, helping her find a supportive community.
“She gave me the courage to come here,” said Elder. “I thought, all these vets here are straight men and they will hate me. She calmed me down, got me to realize it’s not as bad as you’re thinking. I’m just thankful. That’s all I can do is be thankful because I never knew the road would turn like it did.”
James said her own experiences now shape the way she supports others.
“From jail to homeless to thriving, you don’t forget your time on the street,” said James. “What it does for me is just, seeing everybody coming together, not being broken any more, but knowing they have self worth like I do. That’s what it does.”
For more information on VAST and services for veterans, visit vasttx.org.
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