Dennis C. thought he was pretty much the same as anybody else. A veteran with an honorable discharge and a college degree, he had a good career and a comfortable life.

“All of a sudden, it all fell out from under me,” he says.

Dennis’ employment counseling position was eliminated, then job after job disappeared, as companies left the area.

“It was a hard thing to come to grips with. I’d worked almost every day of my life since I was 16 years old. And then one day, I just couldn’t pay the rent. I had no place to go.”

Experiencing homelessness and dealing with chronic asthma, Dennis’ health got worse. A heart attack landed him in the care of the VA, which put him in touch with Cascadia after he recovered.

Now a resident at Garlington Place, Dennis is able to stay connected to medical services to manage his heart medication and stay on top of his asthma. He also has part-time work. He says a home and support have given him what he needs to get back on his feet: “Stability. Consistency. Something I can build on.”

Read more about our new Garlington Campus.