HVAF BLOG
Check out our latest stories, events, and the best part of the job: our success stories.
April 17, 2019
When you picture downtown Indy, what do you see? Delicious restaurants? Hip music venues? Entertaining street performers? Monument Circle? What about any homeless camps- or as they are usually called, tent cities? All throughout downtown Indy, in places you would have no idea, homeless camps […]
March 29, 2019
In 1968, Troy Rivers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for four years. When he got out of the military, he said he had zero guidance. This led him to getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. Several times throughout the years […]
February 28, 2019
In 1990, 17-year-old Antonio Johnson enlisted in the United States Navy soon after he graduated from high school. During his time in the Navy, he traveled around the world twice, served on two aircraft carriers, and supervised his fellow shipmates. After he got out of […]
January 31, 2019
In 1990, Jimmy Potts joined the United States Navy. Starting at the Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois for his training and education, Jimmy went on to serve for six years— being a part of Desert Shield and serving for eight months in Iraq for […]
November 30, 2018
It keeps getting better and better: this year, we were able to raise more than $37,000 at Operation Alpha. 5,000 more than last year! The evening was full of tasty cocktails, delicious food, live music, auction bidding and much more. “I am deeply grateful for the strong relationship […]
October 31, 2018
The Home Depot Foundation has continuously helped us over the last 11 years. Some of the projects include redoing our conference room and transforming our old bunk room to a well-functioning pantry for our outreach hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last week, the team came out […]
September 30, 2018
In 2011, Lianna Spencer enlisted in the United States Air Force. After serving for two years, Lianna got out and went back to her home in Arizona, where she went back to school and work. She also spent one year on the reservation taking care […]
August 31, 2018
After graduating from high school, Vincent decided he wanted to fight for our country, and he joined the United States Navy. “I wanted to do something better with my life,” he said. From 2007-2011, Vincent was in active duty. But due to missing his child’s […]
June 30, 2018
After returning from two years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Ray Lay began struggling with service-related mental health issues. Eventually these issues would lead to and be compounded by substance abuse, incarceration, and finally homelessness. Seeking a new start, Ray moved to Indianapolis at […]
December 1, 2011
Fred Young’s father had served in WW2,and with eleven siblings, Fred says he didn’t want to be a burden on his parents. So, in 1975, after graduating high school, eighteen year old Fred Young, wide-eyed and full of hope, packed his bags and headed off […]
December 20, 2011
This month HVAF client Mike C. (photographed on the far right) has been recognized as Back on My Feet Runner of the Month. “Mike takes running very seriously,” says Brian Meyer, program director with Back on My Feet. “He has a positive attitude and I’m […]
December 28, 2011
IUPUI students with the School of Public & Environmental Affairs dropped off more than 60 boxes of warm clothes & canned meat collected by the Public Affairs Student Association (PASA) at IUPUI. “The men and women who entered our military were willing to give their […]
January 4, 2012
As a boy William W. lost his mother. “My childhood wasn’t easy. I felt like my world ended when my mother passed away,” William says. “I went to live with my extended family but felt like I never fit in, because I thought that my […]
January 26, 2012
A longtime supporter of veterans’ causes, Becky O’Conner dedicates much of her personal time to giving back. “My father was a veteran and I have a lot of respect for his service to our country,” says Becky. Becky has been a member of Auxiliary Post […]
January 31, 2012
2011 was a rough year for Bridget. She found herself nearly homeless with no other options to help her and her family survive. Feeling this overwhelming burden, Bridget found out about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) at hvaf.org. “After losing my job, I […]
February 3, 2012
Joel and Candy reunite under one roof Joel, a U.S. Army veteran, and his fiancé Candy were near homeless. Running out of money and hope, Joel was sleeping on his son’s couch. They were madly in love and newly engaged but living apart. HVAF of […]
February 3, 2012
A father to 6-year-old daughter Lakin, Ralph M. came to HVAF near homeless, separated from his family, and determined to recover from addiction and one day gain full-custody of his daughter. Ralph served in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Police Training Officer for […]
February 9, 2012
HVAF veterans ran alongside 28-year-old Cpl. Cory Smith, who had just finished a 565-mile bike and run trek in 28 days from Columbus, Ga. to Indianapolis, Ind., in an effort to raise awareness of veteran issues, such as homelessness. Cpl. Smith, who faced his own […]