From Homeless to Home for the Holidays

With the holiday season coming up, many of us are decorating our homes and preparing to have a safe and happy holiday with our family. At Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard, we work to provide our veterans with a safe and warm place that they can home.
We interviewed veteran Mark Copeland about his life-changing experience with Veterans Place.

Here is Mark’s story:

My name is Mark Copeland. I grew up in Northview Heights in Pennsylvania. I joined the Army after high school and served for four years from 78-82, serving in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii. After returning to civilian life, I had a hard time reintegrating back into society. I knew how to survive in high-stress situations, but not how to live an ordinary civilian life. I struggled for many years, often coming back to the same chaotic lifestyle. Finally, I surrendered and decided to seek help.

I had heard about Veterans Place in my trials and tribulations from fellow veterans. I was welcomed into the Transitional Housing Program, which offers on-site living while receiving guidance from a Case Manager to create a plan for success.  Veterans Place is a positive in my life. It is a place where you can sit back and get yourself together. It helped me become a better person, a better thinker, and I am surrounded by vets who want the same things I want.
I am grateful to have a home for the holidays. It is not where you start; it is where you finish, and I am trying to finish strong.

Help Give Our Veterans a Home

Our mission is to continue helping veterans, like Veteran Mark Copeland.  After fighting for our freedom, veterans should not be fighting for a safe place to call home. Your generous donation directly benefits a veteran in need and helps to fund programs like our Transitional Housing Program, which can provide veterans with a home for holidays.

Join us in our mission at vets.higherimages20.com/donate.

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Rob Hamilton

Robert (Rob) Hamilton, Executive Director of Veterans Place, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Public Service and is currently completing a masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) in Public Policy and Management. Prior to attending Pitt, Rob served in the United States Army National Guard as a military police officer where he worked in crime prevention and emergency response throughout the state of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Supervisor/Manager Certificate from Penn State University and a Non-Profit Management Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. Rob is currently a board member of South Hills Pet Rescue and is an elected official of the Lower Burrell City Council in the Public Works Department. He is the Co-Chair of the leadership portion of the Allegheny County/Pittsburgh Veteran Homeless Boot Camp Committee. Rob received the 2018 prestigious Salute Our Heroes Recognition from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Who’s Next 2019: Community Leaders & Activists Award from the Under 40 and Making a Difference: The Incline Award. In 2019 Rob received the VA Challenge Certificate of Appreciation.

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