Fifty. It’s just a number. Neat, round(ish), and more stable than, let’s say thirty-seven, for example. But it seems like it should be bigger, because it’s as full as it can be aesthetically, and it’s also precision placed dead center, between zero and one hundred. In our culture it’s gained notoriety as something of a benchmark, and is always waiting in its place on the grid of anything you might apply it to, where it will fit neatly. Fifty has a voice. It announces things and as such, it’s a place you can go back to and recalibrate. But, enough about the number itself for now. You get the idea.
In March of 2021, exactly five years ago, Warriors Once Again began its journey toward fifty, beginning with one. One homeless veteran. Then two and so on, with our transitional model freezing each new homeless veteran resident for a few moments in time, while also moving them forward on their own time continuums
Recovering veterans from the innumerable pitfalls in life, back to their formerly alert, on-duty and squared-away selves, has been our job at Warriors Once Again, since then. This month our fiftieth homeless veteran emerged from the shadowy grip of instability and took up residence with us.
Among the whole of our fifty are husbands and fathers. In some instances, their wives and children have been with them. We are fortunate that we have been able to house homeless veteran families in leased apartments, while connecting them fully to our program benefits, returning to them the dignity that shields from despair.
Fifty, has impact. It is a small milestone for Warriors Once Again, but even more so, it is a huge weight of responsibility that plays out in endless configurations against discouraging situations every single day.
Nevertheless, we have purposely journeyed to this moment, in time and place, where we instinctively knew to be when “fifty” showed up. The veteran presented with his burdens, was welcomed, encouraged and will soon be put to task on a journey all his own, with a community alongside of him that he no longer believed existed. But it does.
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