154 Days

Timothy Pena initially traveled to NYC at the invitation of RIP Medical Debt founder and US Navy veteran Jerry Ashton to collaborate for his project, Veterans Mission Possible. Soon after arriving, Tim realized he would rather be homeless in NYC than commit suicide in Phoenix. He is documenting his journey of 'homeless to homeness' with a series of short articles he is calling, "Be the Story." 

Homeless to Homeness: 154 Days

Timothy Pena

January 9, 2023 

2022 has been an interesting year that started with Phoenix PD standing at my door conducting a ‘welfare check’ with hands on guns telling me to “just come out and talk.” Last Christmas was fighting the rabbit hole of suicide, so when an opportunity to come to NYC arose, I jumped at it. The last five months have been an amazing eyeopening journey from Homeless to Homeness and a lesson in veteran suicide awareness and prevention within our communities.

Among the frustrations I have experienced is the treatment of veterans who are participating in the Veterans Affairs Grant & Per Diem (GPD) program for transitioning veterans. There is a misconception that ‘transitioning’ only applies to active-duty military entering the civilian world which has proffered insight into the struggles that veterans face when transitioning. But veterans are always in transition. Into the military as young men and women. From one duty station to another. Back into civilian world and then for the veterans who continue to struggle, in and out of the homeless and judicial systems.

Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program

The VA's Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund community agencies providing services to veterans experiencing homelessness.

“The purpose of the transitional housing component of the program is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination.”

Additionally, the GPD Program offers Case Management grants to support housing retention for Veterans who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing.

My personal struggles with suicide have mostly centered around loss of hope and not any specific incident or issue. As is the case with moving to NYC, the hope of starting over outweighed all other barriers including being sent to a violent and abusive NYC shelter with 250+ other veterans of various military backgrounds and levels of eligibility. While the idea of mixing non-VA veterans with those in the GPD program would seem to provide an environment of support amongst all the veterans, transitioning GPD veterans are suffering the consequences of veterans who are severely mentally ill and those with criminal and violent tendencies. The result is a dangerous mixture of individuals forced to transition in a desolate facility with lack of access to a nutritional diet, a decent night’s sleep, and resources imperative to a successful transition.



Be the Story: 154 days