“I used to walk to work every day in Crystal City,” Snyder says of the area in Northern Virginia near the Pentagon. Each day, she encountered veterans like Clarke, whose situation astounded her. “I couldn’t believe it. He was homeless, right here in my area.”
That is where the story begins. Lieutenant Colonel Deborah Snyder served for 22 years, US Army, UH-1 Huey Test Pilot, UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot. Her passion to serve was at the center of her military career; so much that, in retirement she found herself with that same desire back here at home. This time it would be to serve and honor our military vets that were most forgotten.
There are approximately 68K Veterans living in transitional shelters, in tent cities and on the streets. “I don’t think we should have homeless vets,” says Snyder, “It’s a fixable problem.”
Lloyd Clarke, a Vietnam-era vet found himself homeless at 66 years old, Snyder and Operation Renewed Hope Foundation assisted in finding him a new home. “She’s very serious about helping the veterans,” states Clarke.
Operation Renewed Hope Foundation (ORHF) is a Veteran-let nonprofit organization providing quality housing and supportive services to homeless Veterans. ORHF partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The organization arranges for permanent housing for homeless Veterans, they provide vehicles, and assist with health care and other services.
“At night when I lay down, I see a ceiling over my head,” Snyder says. “I think of these vets who see the inside of a car or a tent. It’s really nice to see someone go from living in a shelter or in a vehicle and see them happy.”
The story continues on the Brink of Greatness Podcast…
The Next Leap Forward
The 5 words that motivate Deborah Snyder; from the mouth of a veteran… “She has changed my life”.
Mother Teresa summed it up well – “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
Brink Notes:
Website: https://operationrenewedhopefoundation.org/
Donate Here: https://operationrenewedhopefoundation.org/how-you-can-help/make-a-donation/
