Testimonials
I am a proud U.S. Navy veteran that served my country during Desert Storm. I have been a resident of the Veteran Accession House for close to 2 years and have been so successful in reaching and exceeding my goals, not only as a father but as a U.S. veteran. My time here at VAH was well spent bettering myself, my career and, most of all, my well-being and overall health. Along with my hard work and self-perseverance, the VAH gave me the resources that I needed to make my successes happen. I met my good friend and veteran brother Leonard Ramirez at the Pleasanton Stand Down back in 2018 after experiencing homelessness for the second time in my adult life. I was interviewed and accepted to live here and have been nothing but blessed in my stay. I was given every accommodation that a veteran could possibly ask for during my residency at VAH. My brother Leonard Ramirez always took time out of his busy schedule helping other veterans at the VAH to assist me with any questions that I might have or just to check in with me to see my progress. He connected me to other service agents, such as Alex Alexander, who provided the best kind of motivation and help that every veteran can appreciate in a time of need. Sometimes, even late at night or on the weekends, these gentlemen would make sure that all our needs were met and any assistance that was needed was always made available to each and every veteran at the VAH. I also am very appreciative of Nubia Ramirez, who helped me as well and always took the time out of her busy schedule to make sure all of mine and my fellow veteran brothers’ needs were met. Even if it was just taking the time out to see how I was doing in my everyday life. Both Nubia and Leonard displayed their love and appreciation for me and my other veteran brothers at the VAH. As a veteran that has experienced homelessness and battled disabilities, I felt as if I was part of a family that cared when not too many others did. Since my residency at the VAH, I’ve made advances such as obtaining a 100% service-connected disability pension and now starting the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment program to return to school and obtain the skills that I need to begin a new career. These advances were made possible through my hard work and determination, but without the resources and one-on-one help that I received while residing at the VAH, it would not have been possible. I am now scheduled to leave VAH, transitioning into permanent housing, which was something I could not have imagined without the help of the staff at VAH. I would highly recommend any veteran that is struggling with homelessness or just needs help in general to reach out to the Veteran Accession House and get the tools and resources needed to better themselves and their wellbeing. Best Regards to all my veteran brothers.
My name is Joey. I have been at the VA accession house for 16 months. I came to the program because I was homeless, and at the same time trying to find a job and get into school. With little funds and even smaller resources, I was introduced and accepted into the VA Accession house by Leonard Ramirez, CEO of the house. Since I moved into the Accession House, I have been able to make multiple things of progress that I haven’t done before in my time of homelessness. For example, I am in my 4th semester of school and passing with flying colors. I am working again, and able to save money to move out on my own. This program is ideal for students and working veterans. It gives you one less thing to worry about and gives you hope to succeed. Awesome place!
I am writing to thank your organization and you for the help I have received while staying at your home. I was accepted into your house when I was at risk of homelessness. l was welcomed with few conditions and was provided a single room. I appreciated that because I am an older man and have needs for privacy. I feel comfortable at the house. Having access to house computers, Internet access and television services makes my stay here a positive experience. I am only expected to contribute a small percentage of my monthly income towards house expenses. I enjoy the feeling of community with other guys who served in the military. All in all, I feel safe, treated fairly and respected as a person.
I hope the Veterans Accession House continues to serve guys like me, who might need a place to live while working through difficult times and transitioning to permanent housing.
Since my arrival at the Veterans Accession House, my life has changed for the better in so many significant ways. After meeting with Leonard and getting accepted to VAH, many positive changes and blessings started to occur in my life. One is a full-time job with benefits of longevity and financial stability. The VAH also helped me end my homelessness. Since arriving, my health and well-being have improved. Most importantly, my seven-year-old daughter has re-entered my life and being housed close to her makes my visiting time with her frequent and much appreciated.
Having new resources and my hard work along with Leonard’s help while being here at the VAH has aided in many ways. My fellow veterans at the house give me encouragement and support to help me get back on my feet and maintain my well-being and stability. This all came at a time when not much help was offered and not a lot of emotional support was available to help me through my struggles. It is so very rewarding and satisfying to have this support and peace of mind that we need to have for so very long. My housing stability will allow me to improve my life for many years to come. I am very grateful to VAH and Leonard Ramirez for the help and support we receive. I have a much better outlook on my life now, and I am looking forward to all the advances and goals I plan to achieve in the years ahead.
Merry Xmas Leonard, again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for gifting me the opportunity to accomplish a lot of things over the past year and some months. I look back and will continue to look back while going forward in life in your helpful hands, great wisdom; it will never be forgotten. You have a big heart and a gentle soul. I see it and maybe that’s why I open up to you or can relate a bit. I’m not just a normal person, I understand that. You see something in me, and you are taking a chance on me. I realize that, so my success is fueled by your belief in me and I will succeed. I envision one day, I will be successful in marrying again, and invite you to my wedding and talk about how all you’ve helped. Thanks, Leonard 🙂
Dear Veterans Accession House, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the life-changing support I received from your organization during a critical period in my life. Reflecting on my journey, I am overwhelmed with appreciation for the many ways in which you helped me transition from a state of homelessness to a stable, fulfilling life. When I first arrived at Veterans Accession House (VAH), I was facing some of the toughest challenges of my life. The most immediate need was for a safe place to sleep and reliable food, and VAH provided both. The security and comfort of a stable environment were instrumental in allowing me to focus on rebuilding my life as I had not had such things in years. Your social workers played a pivotal role in my recovery. They navigated me through the VA health system, ensuring I had access to a primary doctor and dental whenever I needed medical care. They also provided invaluable assistance with my VA rating and connected me with resources to help address my needs. One of the most significant turning points came when I was struggling with transportation. I had found jobs with the help and guidance of my social worker, but without a car, it was nearly impossible for employers to take me on as an employee. My social worker went above and beyond by securing a proper and safe vehicle for me through a generous donation from CrashChampions. This support was transformative, making it possible for me to actually secure a potential job and manage my daily responsibilities. Through VAH, I was introduced to the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E)program, which helped me get back into school and further my education. With stability provided by VAH, including a safe place to stay and a reliable vehicle, I was able to focus on my studies and career goals. After spending about a year and a half at VAH, I successfully transitioned to independent living. I found a new place to stay, and with the continued guidance and support from my social worker, I managed to secure housing and access special programs that helped me live on a very low income. Now, over a year into living on my own, I have completed my schooling, secured a job, and am grateful for the stability in my life. I have a place to sleep, access to food, and a working vehicle—everything that I once struggled to attain. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been met. None of this would have been possible without the exceptional support from VAH and their team. Your commitment to helping veterans like me has had a profound impact on my life. I am forever grateful for your unwavering support, encouragement, and the numerous resources you provided. Thank you for being a beacon of hope and for playing such a critical role in my journey toward stability and success.
My name is John Black. I was asked to write a letter about being at the Veterans Accession House. I have been homeless a couple of times and heard about the program. In May 2022, I called Leonard, he’s a veteran, and hit it offast. I stayed at the House in Pittsburg for about a year. Being in the program was good for me. I met a lot of guys who are now my friends. Unfortunately, some of the guys I knew were from other programs. The Accession House was run professionally. I know this because I have been to programs that weren’t. It was a good place to heal my body and mind. My caseworker met with me every week to help me deal with stuff I lost control of and had me focus on getting ready for having a permanent home. I was able to save and get my VHousing entitlement back and purchased a home in Idaho to join my family. I owe a lot to this blessing and am still friends with Leonard.
I was a resident at the Veterans Accession House in 2021 coming out of a near-death experience with COVID and the loss of my mother. I lost my home while in the hospital and called the VA in Martinez, and they gave me information on the program, and I called them. Leonard came and picked me up and helped me move into the house in Pittsburg. The professionalism of the program is one of the best in the Bay Area. The staff and their resources helped me stabilize and increase my income. I fixed some credit issues and was able to get a voucher to move into the Veterans Square in Pittsburg. I have been living here three years and am happy and have God in my life. I know about five guys in the Square who came through the Veterans Accession House. Life is good now. Leonard is my friend and still here for me.
My name is Raphael Morris. I left the active-duty military in May of2021 and shortly afterward became a resident of the Veterans Accession House in Pittsburg. I found myself in a desperate financial situation with nowhere to go and nobody to ask for help. Covid restrictions and problems with my vehicle that I didn’t have the money to fix made it very difficult to find employment. Delays with VA Education benefits made it very difficult to enroll at the school I had planned to attend. I was one or two days away from being homeless for the first time in my life when, by chance, I found out about the Veterans Accession House in Pittsburg through a Google search. I contacted them, explained my situation, and they were more than happy to help. Thanks to Leonard Ramirez, his wife Nubia and everyone on their team, I had a roof over my head, food, counseling and all the support I needed to get a job and get into school. The three months I spent there were the lifelines I needed to get back on track. Not only did the team of counselors helps me set goals, but they provided me with a stable environment to study for my classes, wait for my first paychecks from work to come through and get my life back on track. It’s been three years since I left the Accession House. I’m now thriving with a successful career, a college degree and stable housing. This would not have been possible without the support Leonard and his team provided me with back in the summer of2021. I am forever grateful, and I hope many other veterans will continue to have their lives changed through amazing programs like this.