Homeless outreach team navigates a Veteran and his family through difficult times
After leaving the Navy, Eoighin McGilligan’s transition didn’t turn out as he had planned. Problems started piling up, his world started to cave in on him and he had difficulties finding housing for himself and his family of five children.
“I figured I call the VA for help.”
A VA social worker from the Homeless Outreach Team at Coatesville VA helped McGilligan secure housing through the Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
However, about five months after moving into his new residence, he nearly lost everything, turning back to drugs, falling behind on bills, and feeling hopeless again.
“It’s the VA social workers who helped me stay in the HUD-VASH program to keep my residence, to include providing me and my family with food stamps, finding childcare, and helping me get caught up on my bills.”
McGilligan was admitted to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) program, which is one of the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs at the Coatesville VA Medical Center.
He said “the social workers went beyond what they needed to do for me and my family. We couldn’t even afford Christmas, and the only reason our kids had a Christmas for the past two years is because of the generosity of the VA and social workers.”
Having been at rock bottom, McGilligan claims that his life has changed for the better. He shared that he found passion and joy again thanks to his social workers Nichole Chalfont and Stephen Raquet, who cared enough to stay in touch with him throughout his difficult times and get him the care, he needed.
Today, his wife works as an assistant manager and he’s presently a stay-at-home dad and will continue in this important role until he’s ready to work again. Meanwhile, McGilligan is enrolled at a scuba diving center, taking lessons to become a certified professional diver.
Licensed clinical social worker, Nichole Chalfant expressed how rewarding it is to be a part of helping Veterans recover, “rebuilding a Veteran’s life takes time and some Veterans experience setbacks. That’s why the Homeless Outreach Team is here to support the Veteran and their family at every stage of their journey and seeing Eoighin and his family thrive brings us joy.”
McGilligan said that Veterans who find themselves in similar despair should “call the VA right away, there is hope, lay it all out and you will get the help you need.”
If you are or know of a military Veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838.