From Crisis to Confidence: A Veteran’s Journey to Stability with Working Wardrobes

Hard hit by adversity, Veteran Catherine and her teenage daughter found themselves taking refuge in the only space they had. Her car. On the brink of hopelessness, she didn’t want a handout, she wanted a hand up. She was then connected with Working Wardrobes’ Peer Navigator, Cris. He immediately found them temporary housing. Guiding Catherine through Veterans’ services, he helped her obtain access to resources and she was able to secure permanent housing.

Thanks to Cris’s unwavering support and kindness, this Veteran was empowered to seek the assistance she deserved. With a place to call their own, Catherine and her daughter are actively rebuilding their lives together.

After a full career of service, sacrifice, and a facade of invulnerability, asking for assistance can be tough. Should Veterans and Servicemembers be facing housing, food, and transportation insecurity? The inability to access behavioral healthcare? Not knowing how to translate an accomplished military career into a functional, applicable resume? We don’t think so either.

Transitioning from military to civilian life poses a significant risk of homelessness for Veterans.

California, with its abundance of military bases and temperate climate, is home to 31% of the nation’s unsheltered Veterans. Although Californians make up approximately 12% of the US population, they represent 31% of the country’s homeless Veteran population as of 2022.

In Orange County alone, around 130,000 Veterans face challenges such as:

• Difficulty securing employment
• Underemployment in low-paying, low-skilled jobs
• Limited opportunities for career growth and adequate provision for their families
• Similar challenges are also encountered by Veteran spouses reintegrating into civilian life.
• Increased support and resources can significantly reduce the number of unhoused Veterans who have bravely served our country.

Join us in raising $100,000 as we celebrate Memorial Day with our May 22 virtual day-of-giving event: Operation Employment.

Create a fresh start for those navigating these daily obstacles to employment. Veterans and Servicemembers have developed incredible skills during their service and may simply not know how to transition them into civilian life. But we do. We are here to honor them with strength, support, and dignity.

It’s not too early to donate!

Your impact will be felt as the Working Wardrobes team offers a comprehensive, effective range of services to help empower our Veteran and Military clients and remove the barriers to gainful employment.

• Training and certifications
• Career coaching
• Individualized employment plans
• Critical needs gift cards
• Access to Veterans’ services
• Our personal touch, the “Success Suit”

Thank you for supporting those who served our country. For donation inquiries, email DevelopmentTeam@workingwardrobes.org.