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Helping Heroes Group in Moundsville Stepping Up Efforts to Assist Homeless Veterans

Jeremy Harrison, center, the chief operations officer and founder of Helping Heroes, stands outside the organization’s Moundsville office with employees Holden Smith and Marci Clyburn. (Photo by Mike Jones)

MOUNDSVILLE – While working as a psychotherapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2012, Jeremy Harrison met an injured Iraq War veteran who had lost his job, his disability income and, worst of all, his family, because he couldn’t put together a budget.

The former Army reservist had injured his back and felt hopeless, Harrison said, and even discussed ending his own life.

“It all came to a head for me that day,” Harrison said. “He was losing everything because he couldn’t keep up with the budgeting.”

In response, Harrison left his job with the VA and he and his wife, Susan, launched their Helping Heroes non-profit organization in October 2013 that helps struggling veterans find sustainable housing and learn budgeting techniques to keep themselves financially stable.

They bought a building at 256 Jefferson Ave. in Moundsville and began working to fix it up. Their property now has three upstairs apartments that can house up to five people.

“We started with a dumpy piece of property and knowing veterans needed help,” Harrison said. “Since that time, it’s really taken off. I never would have thought it would be where it is today.”

Harrison, himself a veteran, was an Army sergeant injured in a vehicle crash and two subsequent falls during the initial invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The continued war in Afghanistan and other conflicts across the world mean “we still have veterans coming home, struggling,” Harrison said. There are 15,200 veterans currently living in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle.

Overall, Harrison estimates the organization has helped more than 1,000 people, although that involves referrals, questions and other assistance to both veterans and their families.

“The issue was significant back then,” he said of when they launched the organization. “The numbers indicate that the problem isn’t getting better. It’s getting worse.”

Part of the increase in clients is that more people are aware of the problem and now know where to turn. But the issue isn’t going away, he said.

The most pressing matter is finding a homeless veteran a place to live or stabilizing their finances. Harrison said there are some cases in which a person will have no food, but still have a cellphone, internet and cable television. He used one example of a veteran they helped who was homeless, but by the end of the day they were able to find him housing and get him signed up with needed utilities.

“We take budgeting for granted,” he said. “Not everyone can do it.”

Once the person finds stabile housing, the organization is then able to work with them on a variety of other needs, such as mental health counseling, budgeting lessons and disability applications. A case manager can also be assigned to them for up to nine months. The organization has two full-time employees and Susan is part-time executive director “working hard behind the scenes.”

“The need is there,” Harrison said. “It’s just about bringing in the funds to do it.”

The organization is now gearing up for its sixth annual “Night to Remember” fundraiser that helps support their transitional housing project and raises awareness for various veterans’ issues. That first event in 2014 attracted 50 to 75 people and raised about $7,000, Harrison said. Last year, they attracted a crowd of about 150 people and raised $21,000, prompting them to move to a larger venue this year in downtown Wheeling.

This year’s event is scheduled for 5:30-10 p.m. May 17 at the River City restaurant at 1400 Main St. in Wheeling. The night includes a catered dinner, music, prizes, basket raffles and other entertainment. Harrison hopes to raise $25,000 this year.

“The event is obviously growing and people are paying attention to the veterans,” he said. “When I see the response, it makes me realize we’re doing a good and very important thing.”

The money raised helps to fund the transitional housing unit. Over the past few years, Helping Heroes has received numerous national awards, accreditation and federal grants that have given the organization credibility. They’re now branching out with various programs in Wheeling. The Ohio County Public Library has offered the group time for programs and plans are in the works to have sessions held at a local church, although that has not been finalized yet, Harrison said.

As for the Army reservist Harrison helped several years ago, the man is “doing well” and an example of what others in similar situations can achieve.

“Our organization is in a great place right now,” Harrison said. “We’re still early and people are buying into what we’re doing.”

Tickets for the Night to Remember fundraiser May 17 at River City restaurant in Wheeling can be purchased in advance at the Helping Heroes office in Moundsville, online at www.etix.com or at the event. For more information about the organization, call 304-810-4291, follow the organization on Facebook at HelpingHeroesInc or go online to www.helpingheroesinc.org.

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