MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee veterans center is on a mission to get homeless veterans off the streets.
"I can't complain, I love it here," Shawn Duket said.
"It feels like I'm getting my life back," Azar Lyons chimed in.
Azar Lyons served 3 1/2 years in the Navy on the submarine force. Upon being discharged he came home to Milwaukee where he fell on tough times, but now that he's a part of the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI) he said he's regaining a sense of purpose.
"This [center] concentrates on homeless veterans," Lyons said. "Before coming here I never heard of any program for homeless veterans."
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that more than 39,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. That statistic is why the CVI is working so hard to change the narrative for homeless vets.
"The transition from being in the military to being homeless it's different ya know," Duket said. "I'm glad to be at the CVI."
Established in the 1980s the CVI has spent decades supporting the needs of veterans. Since 1994 the CVI has also provided temporary housing to homeless veterans while helping them find jobs and a permanent place to live --something Lyons said affirms there are people who care in a country where he often feels overlooked.
"On veteran's day I appreciate all the 'thank you's and everything like that," Lyons said."But we are not to be forgotten and I feel like many of us get forgotten too often."
