In the span of just a few weeks, Magan went from living in her van to moving into an apartment with the help of Catholic Community Services’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. “The day that we came in and got told that we had an apartment and that we had a move in day was a major turning point for us,” Magan says.
Straight out of high school, Magan joined the Marine Corps and served for four years. Magan enjoyed her time with the Marine Corps but began to struggle after returning to civilian life. Eventually, Magan found herself in an abusive relationship and, as a result, facing mental health challenges.
“My mental health tanked, especially right after my daughter was born. The combination of postpartum depression and everything else I was dealing with sent me into the psych ward,” Magan says.
“I had nowhere to go.” – Magan, Veteran and SSVF Client
While seeking residential mental health treatment, Magan connected with Colby, now her husband. After leaving residential treatment, the two knew they wanted to stick together, but they lacked the means to secure housing. “I had nowhere to go,” Magan says.
Magan and Colby bought a van and made it their temporary home, but the couple hoped to find a more stable housing solution. “It started getting really, really taxing, especially on my body because I have a lot of back and hip issues from being in the military. We started realizing that we needed something more permanent.”
Magan sought resources from Veterans Affairs, who connected her with Jenny Mellema, CCS SSVF program manager. Jenny helped Magan and Colby find an apartment in June 2022. SSVF covered all of the move-in costs, including application fees, deposits and prorated rent.
Jenny and the family shopped for household essentials including new beds and bathroom essentials, like towels, a shower curtain and bath mats. SSVF also provided kitchen basics that people coming from homelessness likely do not have — dishes, pots and pans, a microwave and a slow cooker.
“A lot of times, veterans have barriers to housing.” – Jenny Mellema, SSVF Program Manager
Through the SSVF program, Magan and Colby received rental assistance that made it possible for them to afford their apartment. The rental assistance program provides financial support for six to nine months, depending on the veteran’s income at intake and allows the veteran family to pay down debt, create a savings plan and set themselves up for being stably housed after assistance from the program ends.
“A lot of times, veterans have barriers to housing. Some of it could be credit, some of it could be prior evictions, some of it could be criminal background or income not qualifying,” Jenny says.
Without the help of SSVF, Magan wonders what her and Colby’s lives would look like. “Two months after we moved into our apartment, the van completely died on us. We could only imagine had we been living in that, and our house died.”
“It just makes everything better.” – Magan
Today, Magan, Colby and their cat have been living in their apartment for over two years and have transitioned to the SSVF Shallow Subsidy program. Under the Shallow Subsidy program, veterans receive rental assistance for up to 24 months and are encouraged to increase their income with no limits to qualify for the program.
Since finding stable housing through the assistance of SSVF, Magan and Colby have welcomed a new daughter into their family, and they just celebrated her first birthday this past October. In the future, Magan and Colby hope to grow their family and continue to focus on their young daughter.
“Getting to actually be here every day with her, it just makes everything better,” Magan says. “We want to just focus on her and watch her grow and be the best that we can be for her.”
Learn more about how Catholic Community Services of Western Washington proudly serves our veterans through the SSVF programs available in 10 counties.
Related: “I’ve Got Your Six!” CCS Supportive Services for Veteran Families