Liberty Manor for Veterans, Inc.

Liberty Manor was organized in 2006 as a 501©3 non-profit organization with the objective of promoting the developmental and social needs of veterans who have served our country, fought for our independence but fallen victim to homelessness. It has been estimated that an overwhelming number of the homeless population in America are Veterans and contrary to the perceptions that our returning veterans are well-supported, many go without the services they need due to a lack of governmental resources. The mission of Liberty Manor is to provide transitional, supported housing to honorably discharged veterans and establishing long-term objectives designed to attribute to self-sufficiency. A glimpse into the lives of these brave, often unsung heroes offers all of us perspective. Our request has merit, as these former servicemen are warriors, heroes; they serve as a reminder of how good life is in America and how fortunate we are to be Americans. This initiative offers us a great opportunity to pay homage in a significant way to those who have selfishly answered the call to duty by serving in our Armed Forces. Liberty Manor is responsible for successfully transitioning approximately one-hundred fifty homeless veterans every year! Liberty Manor has also made an astronomical impact on our community because it addresses the homeless population without deriving funding by any governmental agency. Simply said, “Liberty Manor makes our community a better place in which to live.”
Our Board and Staff of Liberty Manor are all volunteers, yet extremely committed to making an impact on our veterans because when you effectively make an impact on a single person, you have theoretically effected five generations. The first being the actual individual that was the benefactor of the assistance, their children and grandchildren. The benefactor in all probability has surviving parent(s) and quite possibly grandparent(s) that are still living. Since Liberty Manor’s modality consists of assisting male veterans by helping them become financially self-sufficient, this initiative makes it possible for the father to contribute financially to the well-being of their dependents. This initiative can contribute to the stability of the family unit. What an outstanding way for us to make a difference in our community! This is usually the first time that our veterans have reached out and asked for our assistance. Liberty Manor was instrumental in having a State Bill passed that recognizes veterans on their state Driver’s License with a “V”. The “V” denotes the driver is an honorably discharged veteran. Upon military discharge veterans receive a DD-214 which is the only documentation of a veteran’s military service. State issued driver licenses and ID cards allow merchants and vendors to easily identify a United States Military Veteran. Liberty Manor for Veterans met with the State of Florida Governor, Charlie Crist to sign the Operation VIP program into law. Due to the implementation of the Liberty Manor initiative, we have successfully transitioned the following veterans from a homeless state and prospered them into self-sufficiency:
♦ Harold, an eighty-six year old World War II combat veteran, a survivor of our world’s greatest generation was placed at the Salvation Army as a result of being a victim of identity fraud. Harold became homeless when his Social Security checks were suspended and he had no ability to pay his bills. While at the Salvation Army and sleeping on a cot on the floor with sixty civilians and many at the shelter still active in their substance abuse addiction, Harold was required to vacate every morning at 5am with all of his belongings until time to line up again the next day in hopes of securing a bed for another night. Not knowing how long this veteran would remain indigent, no one was willing to provide him housing without the necessary funds to sustain his residency. Liberty Manor received a call regarding the veteran’s predicament when we responded by picking Harold up at the Salvation Army and provided him a home at Liberty Manor. Harold’s Social Security were reinstated months later though he continued to remain at Liberty Manor for another seven months. Interestingly, when Harold did move he only moved a half a block away from the place he grew to consider his home - Liberty Manor.
♦ Arnett, a Vietnam veteran came to Liberty Manor as a result of failing health. Arnett had been shot during his tenure as an Army veteran in Viet Nam and received a Purple Heart for his military service. Because Arnett had the ability to earn more income by working, he declined a VA pension for his disability. However, Arnett’s health degenerated rapidly at fifty years of age and he became incapable of maintaining full time employment for the first time. Due to pride, Arnett continued to persevere without asking for help…until he became homeless. Because VA pensions usually require over a year to be approved and in most cases the veteran becomes homeless before their pension is approved. Liberty Manor provided Arnett quality housing until which time he decided to transition into independent living.
♦ Tim T, is a veteran who served in the United States Navy during a tour in Desert Storm his helicopter went down and crashed leaving Tim severely disabled. As a result of the mishap, Tim sustained permanent back injuries and fifty percent neurological damage. Tim was medically discharged by the United States Navy and returned back to the United States – but lacking the means in which to support himself. This American hero was left to scramble to make ends meet, living under the bridge and on the streets in Tampa with others that were homeless. It was over a year before Tim was approved for a 100% veteran service connected pension. We are honored that Tim chose to remain at Liberty which has now been over five years.
♦ John T, a USMC veteran suffered four cardiac surgeries at forty-seven years old! If our career came to an abrupt end prematurely and prior to retirement age, many of us would be in the same financial state. John remained with Liberty Manor for four years and we are fortunate that there was a place such as Liberty Manor to provide everything that John needed until he received a disability pension and was able to move into independent living.
♦ While serving in Vietnam, Benny was injured as a result of a land mine explosion which resulted in considerable injuries to his right leg, requiring fourteen surgeries. Benny had made a colossal sacrifice while serving his country; he gave so much only to be returned to the United States broken and disabled. Although Benny was approved and receiving a veteran’s disability check before he arrived at Liberty Manor, his VA checks had not been forwarded for a period of three months after he made a move from Kansas to Florida. Benny became homeless because he lacked the necessary funds to sustain a residence until the VA could get his financial affairs in order. Liberty Manor was the only organization that offered Benny housing, clothing and food over nine months. Benny, like many other disabled veterans should NEVER be homeless. If not for a place like Liberty Manor, this highly decorated veteran would have been HOMELESS!
♦ Steve D. was a Vietnam veteran that arrived at Liberty Manor with little “ambition” to seek fulltime employment. Before giving up on the resident, Liberty Manor’s Executive Director, Jeff Luddeke agreed to work a day labor ticket with Steve in an effort to inspire the resident to work. This took place during the extreme temperatures of summer in the Florida heat. The day labor ticket consisted of digging a deep hole over the course of two hot summer days under the most inhuman conditions. At the time, Jeff had been diagnosed with cancer; however, it was Jeff’s personal conviction that he would not ask more of our residents than he was willing to do himself if asked. When the job was completed, Jeff had gained Steve’s confidence. Steve became relentless in scheduling interviews for employment and within a short period of time, Steve received fulltime gainful employment as a Hartline City Bus Driver. Steve gained financial independence and was able to enjoy the rewards of a comfortable salary that reaped multiple benefits.
♦ Lastly, former Staff Sergeant Garza who served ten years as a US Army Ranger, four combat tours, became homeless as a result of injuries that surfaced rather abruptly. Liberty Manor received a call from the American Legion stating that a veteran was living in his truck in their parking lot. Garza arrived depressed, downtrodden, and virtually hopeless. Due to the multiple “jumps” he was required to perform as an Army Ranger he suffered multiple injuries to the extent the VA was administering morphine to him three times a day! He had no chance of procuring fulltime gainful employment - primarily because he couldn’t pass a drug screen and considered a liability in company’s estimation. Garza was scheduled for surgeries on his shoulders, hands, knees and has steel platelets in his neck due to the injuries he sustained while serving in the military. Liberty Manor assessed Garza for a non-service connected disability which he was approved in a mere two months. This hero receives a deserving pension today as a result of the efforts of Liberty Manor. Liberty Manor equipped Garza with furniture, an automobile and everything necessary to establish a household when Garza transitioned from Liberty Manor. Fortunately, today Garza enjoys independence and self-sufficiency as a result of the efforts by an initiative that began with only one individual who today provides five facilities to fifty veterans.
We understand all too well that it is only through quality partnerships that we can strengthen our community by providing these deserving veterans with some of the basic resources and services that make a positive difference in their future. Let us remember that only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you - Jesus Christ and the American soldier, one died for your soul; the other died for your freedom.