Posted on Feb 6, 2022
HUD-VASH team helps Marine Veteran Mathew Robie find a home after a fire - VAntage Point
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Mathew Robie has always considered himself handy. He worked on helicopters for aviation ordinance as a Marine, serving from 1998 to 2002. A self-proclaimed survivor who does his best with what he has, he didn’t immediately reach out to VA for help when times were tough.
When Robie realized he no longer could afford the compounding bills required to maintain his home, he shifted gears. Carrying on the Marine attitude of “Improvise, adapt, overcome,” he moved into his truck, determined to turn his hardship into an opportunity to see more of the country he had served.
When Robie was ready to retire his life on the open road, he returned to California where he was born and raised. Just as he was enjoying the return to his roots, a fire in August 2020 forced Robie to evacuate the area. Also in the fire’s path of destruction were his hopes of finding a new place to live.
When Robie realized he no longer could afford the compounding bills required to maintain his home, he shifted gears. Carrying on the Marine attitude of “Improvise, adapt, overcome,” he moved into his truck, determined to turn his hardship into an opportunity to see more of the country he had served.
When Robie was ready to retire his life on the open road, he returned to California where he was born and raised. Just as he was enjoying the return to his roots, a fire in August 2020 forced Robie to evacuate the area. Also in the fire’s path of destruction were his hopes of finding a new place to live.
HUD-VASH team helps Marine Veteran Mathew Robie find a home after a fire - VAntage Point
Posted from blogs.va.gov
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Housing
Home
Homeless
Marines
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."He packed his bags once more and resumed his travels. Along the way, Robie met another Veteran displaced by the fire. Their discussions revealed a fundamental difference in their experiences post-fire: Robie’s friend already was living in stable and affordable housing, secured with the help of VA.
From hope to housing
His new friend’s success was the catalyst Robie needed to inquire about the resources VA could offer him. The VA Palo Alto Health Care System stepped in to help Robie find a new home in the San Lorenzo Valley, only a few hours from where he grew up. The HUD-VASH team also connected him with a nonprofit in his town that offered to pay his move-in costs.
“They helped quite a bit,” Robie said. “They helped me deal with older bills, fixing my truck and having somewhere safe to live and be.”
When he was introduced to his HUD-VASH case manager, Emy Fehmi, Robie was grateful to have someone who could support his transition and any arising needs. However, neither could anticipate just how powerful Fehmi’s help would be in improving Robie’s circumstances.
For many, experiencing a power outage may happen once in a blue moon, during a bad storm, extreme wind, or formidable winter weather. But in San Lorenzo, frequent outages are the norm.
In less than two months, Robie lost power 17 times. Sometimes it would go off for one hour, while in other instances, Robie was without power for days at a time."...
..."He packed his bags once more and resumed his travels. Along the way, Robie met another Veteran displaced by the fire. Their discussions revealed a fundamental difference in their experiences post-fire: Robie’s friend already was living in stable and affordable housing, secured with the help of VA.
From hope to housing
His new friend’s success was the catalyst Robie needed to inquire about the resources VA could offer him. The VA Palo Alto Health Care System stepped in to help Robie find a new home in the San Lorenzo Valley, only a few hours from where he grew up. The HUD-VASH team also connected him with a nonprofit in his town that offered to pay his move-in costs.
“They helped quite a bit,” Robie said. “They helped me deal with older bills, fixing my truck and having somewhere safe to live and be.”
When he was introduced to his HUD-VASH case manager, Emy Fehmi, Robie was grateful to have someone who could support his transition and any arising needs. However, neither could anticipate just how powerful Fehmi’s help would be in improving Robie’s circumstances.
For many, experiencing a power outage may happen once in a blue moon, during a bad storm, extreme wind, or formidable winter weather. But in San Lorenzo, frequent outages are the norm.
In less than two months, Robie lost power 17 times. Sometimes it would go off for one hour, while in other instances, Robie was without power for days at a time."...
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