VETERANS DEAL WITH DRUG ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS

As winter comes into its stride, Greensboro's homeless are having to
cope with the season's chilliest episodes on the streets, including
those who have served their country.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an
estimated 200,000 veterans are homeless at any given night in the
United States. And more than half a million experience homelessness
over the course of a year.

The VA also reported that the vast majority of homeless veterans are
single. Most come from poor, disadvantaged communities. Forty-five
percent suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems.

Luke Patterson can recall when he was in Germany, driving armored
carriers for the U.S. Army's infantry division, before he became a
victim of homelessness.

"You talking about twenty years ago," he said about his stint
overseas. "That was truly an experience. I am so grateful that I was
able to go into the military."

Patterson spent seven years in the Army. He left with an honorable
discharge in 1987, and came back to the United States becoming a truck driver.

However, the accumulated mileage spent on the highways for 15 years
attributed to Patterson's damaged discs in his back. Patterson said
that the pain was so unbearable that at times he couldn't walk across
a parking lot. The ailment forced him to quit driving, and caused the
loss of income. In addition, Patterson had acquired a dependence on
crack cocaine during his time on the road.

"I thought I was just going to go in there and tell them what my
problem is and get disability, and everything would be fine," he said
about applying for disability benefits from the government.

That was two years ago, and he is still waiting to be approved. And
while waiting for his approval, Patterson became homeless.

"I don't have no job. I don't have no place to live. I don't have no
car. I don't have no money," he said. "But when you look at it from
the spiritual side, I'm blessed."

Since June, Patterson has been residing at the Servant House, a
facility on 1305 Glenwood Avenue that provides housing, medical
services, case management, and other rehabilitative services for
homeless, disabled men-mostly veterans.

Clients may stay up to two years at Servant House, while its staff
aids them in making the transition to medical stability and permanent housing.

Patterson remembers his first day in Servant House, with only his
worn sweats to wear.

"I had a couple of holes in them," he can joke about now.

Nowadays, the 45-year-old can open up the closet in his room to a
space with several button-down shirts.

"I have a roof over my head. I got three meals a day," he said about
his current residence. "To me, it's a small heaven."

Servant House is part of the Servant Center. Since 1991, Servant
Center has participated in local, state and federal programs for
homeless veterans and other clients in need of assistance.

Substance and alcohol abuse is strictly prohibited at Servant House.
And being that many clients come off the streets with substance abuse
issues, Patterson said that some of the clients can't cope with the
strict program, and feel as though they can do better back on the streets.

"I can't do better on the streets," he said, who has been drug-free
for two years. "I'm disabled."

Friday afternoon, Servant Center also announced their collaboration
with Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, and the VA.

The collaboration will provide five Hospice beds for Servant House,
allotted for terminally ill veterans. It will be the second such
program in the country. The VA has invested $600,000 in the endeavor.

Since 1987, VA programs for homeless veterans have emphasized
collaborations with community service providers to help expand
services to more homeless veterans.

"We're just real proud of this partnership," said Gail Haworth, the
executive director of Servant House. "This here will be a really good thing."

Pam Barrett, the executive director of Hospice and Palliative Care of
Greensboro, and the Department of Veteran Affairs Director Donald
Moore were also on hand Friday to sign the 30-page contract.

As for Patterson, he has recently been approved for Medicaid, and
expects to receive his disability soon-a step forward in re-attaining
his independence.

"It's a blessing that there is somebody that cares enough for us to
open the doors to us in this fashion, to keep us from being on the streets."