Meet John

John, an Army veteran and a father of five, found himself facing homelessness after a period of incarceration. With limited income and resources, finding housing he could afford was a huge challenge. Eventually, he had to sleep in the street. “I had nowhere else to go,” he shares.  

Then, John sought help from the Veterans Affairs (VA) office. The VA connected him to Tenfold’s TLC shelter, which provides temporary housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. A portion of TLC’s rooms are reserved for the Veterans’ Victory House program, which serves military veterans like John.  

While at TLC, John, who has struggled with alcohol use in the past, focused on maintaining his sobriety. “Everything I do now, being sober, I understand that I have to take it one step at a time, one day at a time,” he says. He found that the calm environment at TLC helped him stay grounded and maintain his sobriety, sharing that “It was clean, quiet, and the people that were there were friendly.” 

John appreciated that the TLC staff were kind and non-judgmental. During his first conversation with Dan, TLC’s Director of Programs, John told him about the challenges he was facing. “I was completely honest with him about my situation,” John says. “He was very nice, he was non-judgmental. He didn’t look down on me. Any time that I would come down and have a question for him, he’d always have a smile on his face.”  

John also worked with his case manager, Calvin, to figure out his finances and find new housing. “Anything that I needed to get done, Calvin was there to help,” he shares. “He kept me on point.” Finding new housing was particularly challenging for John because he has an eviction record from 2012. Although the eviction took place over a decade ago, even an old record can make securing new housing difficult and keep someone stuck in a cycle of housing instability.  

The waiting could be frustrating at times, but John always remained focused and determined. “I’m a soldier,” he says. “You’re going to get knocked down, but you’ve got to get back up, strap your boots up, and keep marching forward.” 

Finally, with the support of the VA, TLC found a house for John in New Oxford, PA, where he is now living. His new home is spacious enough for his three oldest children to come visit him regularly, and he enjoys living outside of the city. “It’s nice, it’s peaceful, it’s quiet,” he shares. “I can go sit outside on my porch early in the morning while drinking my coffee and just get fresh air.”  

Reflecting on his experience at TLC, John says, “It was a godsend. It allowed me to unwind and rebuild and get myself together.” Today, John has been sober for over two years and is looking forward to the future. He has plans to start a food truck business, and is currently working on publishing his first book, a science-fiction novel.  

Eventually, he plans to write something about his own experiences with the military, homelessness, and sobriety. He is hopeful that sharing his story will inspire others to persevere through hard times. “I’m an open book,” he says. “Maybe my story will help somebody and give them courage and encouragement to keep moving forward, to keep fighting.” 

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.

November 21st is the ExtraGive, Lancaster’s biggest day of fundraising for nonprofits! To donate to Tenfold during the 2025 ExtraGive, click here. Your support helps individuals like John achieve lasting stability.