Once homeless, St. Cloud veteran starts fresh

Aug. 30--Leaning back in his favorite living room recliner, Dennis Martin buries his mind in John Sandford's novel "Shock Wave."

He's so engaged that he'll take it along to work, protecting it in a zip-close bag so he can carry it in a cooler with his lunch.

"I just started reading again," Martin said. "I used to do it a lot.

"Keeping busy is the main thing right now."

After relapsing with alcohol 18 months ago and living a week in a sleeping bag in his station wagon during the winter, the U.S. Air Force veteran has his life back on track. Reading provides the perfect escape.

Martin is among St. Cloud-area veterans who have known homelessness. According to a 2012 Wilder Foundation study, there were 47 homeless veterans in Central Minnesota and 538 throughout the state at the time of the research.

"My message to communities is veterans took care of all us. It's the entire community's responsibility to take care of the veteran," said Kathleen Vitalis, the CEO of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV).

'A place of my own'

Martin's Air Force days in the late 1970s found him stationed in Grand Forks, North Dakota, working in the personnel office. His roommate was Jeff Gau, now president of Marco in St. Cloud.

These days, Martin is working in the packaging department of Bluestem Fulfillment Inc. through Doherty Staffing Solutions and has the prospect of being hired full-time.

He lives at a fully furnished St. Cloud home, one of two veteran transitional housing sites owned by the St. Cloud Housing & Redevelopment Authority and managed by Catholic Charities. Martin is planning on obtaining his manufacturing certificate through St. Cloud Technical & Community College.

And he's sober.

"My ultimate goal is to get a place of my own," said Martin, who has lived in the transitional housing since December. "(Living in my car) is something I don't like to think about."

To stay in the house, it's required that Martin has employment. He pays rent, cleans the house and does yard work, rotating with roommates on mowing the lawn.

He's taken over caring for the backyard garden, which was started by a former roommate.

He's allowed to stay for two years at the house. The utilities are paid through donations.

"Dennis is doing an amazing job getting his life on track," said Lana Faber of Catholic Charities. "He has a strong work ethic and really cares about the property. He keeps open communication. His success now relies upon his ability to remain sober."

Getting help

For veterans, there's a multitude of resources for those experiencing homelessness. There also are services geared toward homelessness prevention.

Vitalis' organization, MACV, operates a transitional house in St. Cloud for veterans similar to the one Martin lives in. For rent, residents pay 30 percent of their income with the total capped at $330.

Her philosophy: "They served you. Now it's time we serve them when they need help."

Veterans, who tend to be at a higher risk of homelessness because of the stress of adjusting back to civilian life, are linked to different organizations through the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

They also work closely with the Place of Hope -- where Martin stayed before his move into transitional housing -- and the St. Cloud Area Salvation Army.

Both locations offer meals and a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

"For veterans, there's a web of services available," said Ellen Dinsmore, the St. Cloud VA coordinator of homelessness. "Everyone's situation is different. We work with everybody on an individual basis and get people the help that they specifically need."

And for Martin, the help he's received has helped get his life back on track while allowing him to rediscover an old passion.

"I have a lot of long-term goals," Martin said. "I'm excited to try and reach all of those."

Helping homeless veterans

There are multiple ways the community can help homeless veterans:

--Catholic Charities: To volunteer or donate items to transitional housing, call 229-4590.

--MACV: To volunteer or donate items to transitional housing, visit www.mac-v.org/donate.html.

--VA: To volunteer in the St. Cloud VA Health Care System, call 255-6365 or visit www.stcloud.va.gov/giving/

About this series

For the rest of this year, the St. Cloud Times will write about homeless people in our community and issues related to homelessness. We aim to encourage public discussion of ways big and small to help solve the problem.

Follow Jake Laxen on Twitter @jacoblaxen.

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