Meet Cortney

Cortney shares a simple message to others experiencing similar situations and homelessness, “persistence through resistance.”

TLC helped Cortney, an Air Force Veteran, regain stability after a period of struggle. Cortney enlisted in the military at age seventeen, following in the footsteps of her father, who served in the military for 42 years. During her 4 years of service, Cortney served in Korea, Mississippi, and Washington. She is proud of her service, and the many life lessons she learned from her experiences. But after she left the military, life was not what she expected. Transitioning back into civilian life was harder than Cortney could have imagined, and she developed unhealthy coping mechanisms, leading to legal issues. Finding a job became very difficult. She and her daughter lived in an unsafe area, and eventually, they ended up living in their car.

Cortney knew it was time to make a change for herself and her daughter. She decided to move them back to Central PA, where she had grown up, to be closer to family. There, she began working with the Lebanon VA, who referred her to TLC/Veterans Victory House.

TLC is a 52-room shelter that provides transitional housing and intensive supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. A portion of the rooms are reserved for the Veterans’ Victory House program, which serves veterans like Cortney. At TLC, each household stays in a private, hotel-style unit with their own bathroom. This allows families of all types to stay together; families are never separated. Each household is assigned a case manager, who works with them on budgeting, finding employment, accessing benefits, connecting with community resources, and finding housing they will be able to sustain long-term. TLC participants are empowered with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to rebuild their lives and achieve housing stability.

“TLC is lifesaving,” Cortney shares. During her 9 month stay at TLC, Cortney put in the effort to create a better future for herself and her daughter. She took advantage of Tenfold’s budgeting education and savings programs and was able to purchase a new vehicle. She also secured a job working as a dishwasher at a restaurant. Since then, she has worked her way up to becoming a line cook, embracing her passion for cooking.

The journey wasn’t always easy. One of the biggest challenges was finding a new place to live. With the support of TLC staff, Cortney submitted many applications. “I needed one landlord to take a chance,” she shares. “After 15 submitted applications, one rental management team took that chance.” Today, Cortney and her daughter are living in their own safe, affordable apartment, with a scenic farm view. TLC partnered with the Lebanon VA Medical Center to help Cortney get food and furniture while she and her daughter settled in.

“My daughter and are on cloud nine, it is the happiest I’ve ever been,” Cortney shares. “Now I’m planning to take my daughter on a real trip next year to celebrate her high school graduation.” Down the road, Cortney has her sights set on purchasing a home. With the support of TLC, she has built a stable life for herself and her daughter, and they are looking forward to a bright and happy future.

Tenfold’s TLC Shelter serves individuals, families, and veterans experiencing homelessness. At any given time, there are approximately 80-100 individuals living at TLC, including 30-45 children and 17-18 veterans. Families are never separated at TLC. Click here to learn more about TLC or get involved: https://wearetenfold.org/tlc/ Click here to donate to Tenfold: https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/87f2373b-2b99-449e-871f-f54f02711216