Do you know me?

I am an Army National Guard veteran; if you can call a 23 year old a veteran. I joined the Guard as a part time soldier when I was 18 years old. I thought the TV ads looked cool: being able to climb rocks and to navigate aircraft and tanks. What I qualified for was to work in supplies. I worked full time in a local bank when I was called up for a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Man, talk about terrorists; those guys over there would kill their own family for a pat on the shoulder from some dude who was higher up and more brutal. I started using drugs while I was there; just to escape all the violence. But, I found out that I couldn’t stop when I got home. My parents threw me out, I got fired from my job and none of my former friends wanted to associate with me. Now, I am a real social butterfly….with the other homeless, who only act like they hear what I am saying. This life really sucks and there has to be something better out here for us.

Can you see us? We are some of the many faces of Fairfax County’s homeless community. Please help the homeless be seen. This link will bring you to a page to find out what you can do to help the homeless in Fairfax County.