VA support helps Veteran avoid homelessness

Candance Thomas could have been one of those Veterans who slipped through the cracks during the transition to civilian life. But, with a helping hand, Thomas was able to access the VA services and support she needed to avoid becoming homeless.

That hand belonged to Steven Brown, her sergeant major in the Army and now a vocational development specialist in social work services at VA. “She’s got that resiliency about her. But just like many of us who wore the uniform, we focus on other things versus ourselves,” Brown said of Thomas.

How to be a civilian

Thomas joined the Army in 2003 and served 17 years. As a military medic in Iraq, she took care of everything from stomach aches to traumatic injuries. She went out on combat patrols and helped with local humanitarian efforts, including administering childhood vaccines.