Ensuring No Veteran is Forgotten: Loren’s Journey Home

Veterans are too often forgotten by the rest of the country. More than 200,000 Veterans are unemployed in the United States alone, and more than 40,000 are homeless on any given night. Approximately a quarter of these homeless Veterans also suffer from mental health conditions. 

Transitioning out of the military is far from easy. Even after devoting their lives to our country, those who’ve served don’t always receive the help they need to create a new life that will support them when they get back home. But our Veterans have earned the right to be remembered, even if they can’t remember themselves.

Loren, a Gulf War Veteran who served for an impressive 10 years in the Army Nursing Corps, woke up in a Humboldt County, California hospital one night with little recollection of what happened or who he was. A terrible car accident left him with various physical and psychological health issues, including significant memory loss. 

More than two months later, Loren was released from the hospital and onto the streets with no ID, no wallet, no phone, and no car. He was homeless with only the clothes on his back, and little memory of anything before the accident. But he could remember his time in the service

Hearing that Nation’s Finest provides comprehensive support for Veterans in need, Loren went straight to his local office after his hospital release. Through the forested roads of Humboldt County, Loren walked the two-mile distance from the hospital to the doors of Nation’s Finest in Eureka. 

It was there that he met Quentin, a Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) case manager. A Navy Veteran of Desert Storm, Quentin’s experience in the service helped the two connect quickly. Then came Cathleen, Loren’s Residential Services Manager, and Shelli, his Housing Coordinator. Together, the persistent team worked diligently to piece together Loren’s story and verify his identity. They were then able to proceed with the difficult task of gathering his vital service documents. 

As the months ticked by, Loren found stability and began to thrive in our residential program, where he focused on rebuilding his life from the ground up. He started sharing his story, and his soft-spoken motivation inspired others. 

But as Loren’s health progressed and his plans developed, he later realized he wanted to live with roommates. Quentin was able to find him a room in a home owned by another Veteran, and Loren moved in just before Christmas of 2023. 

“I thrived at Nation’s Finest because they gave me the opportunity,” says Loren.