HVAF BLOG
Check out our latest stories, events, and the best part of the job: our success stories.
August 2, 2019
Because we are a non-profit, HVAF has many generous and loving supporters in the community who hold events to give back to the veterans. A delicious deal The most interesting (and delicious) fundraising event? A hoagie eating contest. This past summer, locals participated in […]
July 31, 2019
Army veteran and former homeless vet Whitney Hamilton found July to be a monumental month. At age 63, he became a first-time homeowner! But this was not an easy journey for Whitney. When the addiction began “About 1985 … when the cocaine era was […]
June 28, 2019
In 1980, Autumn Rush enlisted in the United States Army as a medic. “I grew up in a town where there weren’t a lot of jobs available, and I didn’t go to college right out of high school,” Autumn said. “So I decided to […]
June 3, 2019
Here at HVAF, we cannot do what we do alone. Thankfully, we have several community partners such as VOA, Veterans Affairs, and the Gene B. Glick Company…. and together, we all were able to serve and house Marine veteran Michael Holliday. Find out more […]
May 6, 2019
In 1985, right after high school graduation, Pamela Coleman decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. She wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, and be able to grow as a person. Pamela served for six years as a military police officer. She said her […]
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 […]
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 […]