For many veterans, the stress of war does not end when they return home.
Today, with global conflicts once again dominating the headlines, many veterans are feeling that stress all over again. Memories resurface. Anxiety grows. For some, personal challenges that were already difficult become overwhelming.
Jonathan, a Vietnam veteran who served from 1969 to 1972, knows this struggle firsthand.
One morning last summer, his life changed in an instant. Police arrived at his townhouse and informed him he had just 20 minutes to leave.
“I really needed help,” Jonathan recalled. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Already under intense stress, the situation pushed him to the brink. The anxiety took a serious toll on his health, causing him to lose weight and leaving him fearful about his future.
“I was under so much stress,” he said. “I thank God that the Lord didn’t take me. I was that close to having a heart attack.”
Desperate for help, Jonathan turned to Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.
The moment he walked through the door, he felt a sense of relief.
“As soon as I stepped into the office, I felt more relaxed,” he said. “I felt like they were trying to help me.”
Through Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s Legal Services for Veterans (LSV-H) program, Jonathan was connected with the legal help he desperately needed. The program provides free legal services for veterans experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, helping them resolve legal issues that can stand in the way of stable housing.
Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, LSV-H assists veterans with issues such as eviction defense, landlord disputes, divorce and family law matters, access to public benefits, and other legal challenges that threaten housing stability.
For Jonathan, receiving a referral to a lawyer through the program gave him hope during one of the most difficult moments of his life.
“At one point I felt like I was being slammed to the ground,” he said. “But the support gave me hope.”
With help from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, along with support from his sister and fellow veterans, Jonathan was able to navigate a difficult legal situation and begin rebuilding his life.
Today, he reflects on the experience with gratitude.
“I’m so grateful,” he said. “Grateful for the help, grateful for the support, and grateful that I served my country.”
Your generosity helps ensure that veterans like Jonathan are not left to face crisis alone. When legal barriers threaten their housing and stability, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i is there to help them find a path forward, and a place to call home.
Because when those who served our nation face crisis, they deserve more than gratitude.
They deserve support, stability, and hope.
