Keith served in the Navy during the Viet Nam era and was the very first veteran to attend BATTALION 22 meetings. When we met him, he was transitioning from a two bedroom condo into a shelter temporarily and eventually into a one bedroom apartment. The moves were handled by other organizations, but the floor to ceiling clutter that they left and Keith’s struggles to keep the space clean put him in danger of being evicted.
Upon learning of the situation, BATTALION 22 members agreed to meet up on a Saturday to help unpack boxes, organize belongings, dispose of old junk, and do a general clean up. That first endeavor was moderately successful, but it led to a second a few weeks later, and then a third and final attempt a few weeks after that. It was clear that despite our best efforts, Keith needed a level of support that was beyond our capabilities.
BATTALION 22 reached out to Council on Aging Southern California for ongoing assistance for Keith. He was subsequently connected with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who worked closely with him to assess his needs, coordinate resources, and advocate for services that would help him maintain his housing and independence.
American Legion Post 291 provided support via the Veteran Emergency Assistance Fund that enabled Keith to receive assistance with decluttering, cleaning, and removing unwanted items from the home.
