my name is chris fuentes and i'm 25 years old. i have a daughter named milo who is three years old and i live in philadelphia. i was in operation iraqi freedom after my reserve unit was called into active service in iraq. when i returned from active duty by apartment and job are gone. at one point i found myself living in a car while my daughter stayed with my mother. i was all over the place jumping from place to place and had no stability. this really preventing me from moving forward. i knew if only i could have a roof over my head everything else would fall into place. another veteran told me about the head -- hud program and said i did not have to be living with this. i didn't believe it at first but i went to the va in philadelphia to try. they took my application and eventually the case manager called me in told me always accepted. on the day i found out i was approved i cried. it felt like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. my case manager suggested i apply for another program that helps veterans and their families.

my name is chris fuentes. i have a daughter three years old. i live in philadelphia.i was in operation iraqi freedom after my reserve unit was called into active duty. when i returned my apartment and job were gone. at one point i found myself living in a car while my daughter stayed with my mother. i was all over the place jumping from place to place that had no stability. this really prevented me from moving forward. i knew if only i could have a roof over my head, everything else will fall into place. another veteran told me about the hud grant and said i did not have to be living like this. i did not believe it at first, but i went to the v.a. in philadelphia to try. they took my application and eventually the case manager called me and told me i was accepted. on the day i found out i was approved i cried. it felt like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. applye manager suggest i for another program. they held me to locate an apartment and gave me this security department -- deposit and rent i needed to move in. they help me with the furniture for the apartme