Providing multiple services under one roof, the Poverello Center often gets to watch as our guests use each service to further their housing journey. People who stay in general shelter also have access to food, healthcare from our satellite Partnership Health Center clinic, housing support, and more. Sometimes, we see our guests utilize services in a more profound way. That was Andrew’s story – he utilized our Housing Montana Heroes program in 2020, and found housing through that transitional housing program. However, Andrew (name changed for privacy) lost his housing in 2023 when he violated the rules of his lease by allowing another unhoused veteran to stay with him.

He added his name to the Housing Montana Heroes waitlist, but decided to sleep in his car rather than stay in shelter. Living without a roof and a bed was tough on him, and he became sick; first with the flu, then pneumonia. Andrew admitted himself into the Emergency Room, where he stayed for a week. When he was discharged, his doctor referred him to the Poverello Center’s Medical Respite program, which would give him a safe place to recover. 

While in respite, he was able to reconnect with his veteran case manager and discuss re-enrolment, and it just so happened that he was near the top of the list for HMH. In a moment of serendipity, Andrew was able to move into Housing Montana Heroes on the very same day he was scheduled to be discharged from medical respite! He was thrilled to have a safe living space he could call his own, and our Medical Respite and Veterans Programs staff are happy to get to work with him once again in his journey towards housing.