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What Veterans say to other Veterans who experience homelessness

The three veterans stand together facing the camera smiling.
Three Veterans arrived at the VA2K event hosted by the Coatesville VA Medical Center on May 15, 2024, to share their stories of working with the Homeless Outreach Team and thank them for their support. The annual event promotes healthy living and collects donations for the homeless outreach mission. Pictured from left to right: Army Veteran Christopher Zimbardi, Navy Veteran Eoighin McGilligan and Army Veteran Faruq Muhammad.
By Kirk Fernitz, Director of Community and Congressional Affairs

Veterans who experienced homelessness or near homelessness have one common message to their fellow Veterans who may find themselves in similar despair, “reach out to the VA right away, there is hope and you will get the help you need.”

Faruq, Chris, and Eoighin expressed their heartfelt appreciation and gave glowing remarks to the Coatesville VA Medical Center’s (VAMC) Homeless Outreach Team for their due diligence, caring attitude and for helping these Veterans gain access to additional benefits.

Faruq Muhammad 
Army Veteran Faruq Muhammad was homeless for 6 months and credits his daughter for starting the process of his recovery by reaching out to the VA to get him the help he needed. 

“After my daughter called the VA, a Homeless Outreach Coordinator contacted me and made arrangements to immediately get me off the streets and into a hotel.” 

His journey continued by being accepted into the Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, searching for and finding housing fairly quickly.

Christopher Zimbardi 
Christopher Zimbardi, an Army and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, suffered from high rent costs and just couldn’t find affordable housing. With the help of the Coatesville VA Medical Center’s Homeless Outreach Program, he was able to avoid homelessness and secured permanent residence for himself and his pet. 

“It’s comforting to know that there are employees at the VA who care and will go the extra mile to help Veterans.”

Eoighin McGilligan 
Five months after moving into the new residence provided through HUD-VASH, Navy Veteran, Eoighin McGilligan, 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 Coatesville VAMC to the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program for substance abuse treatment and recovery and said the social workers went beyond what they needed to do for him and his family when they provided Christmas for McGilligan’s kids two years in a row. 

Faruq, Chris, and Eoighin willingly shared their stories to support the Homeless Outreach Program at the 14th Annual Coatesville VAMC VA2K Walk and Roll, an event that encourages an active lifestyle while supporting our homeless Veterans through voluntary donations.

Veterans or family members seeking immediate 24/7 assistance for a Veteran are strongly encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.