Homeless Veterans in Atlanta: Life After Service

Military veterans should never face poverty, yet an estimated 40,000 veterans in Georgia live with uncertainty every day. Thousands of veterans in the United States can experience homelessness on any given night despite the millions of dollars the military has allocated to combat the problem. 

These brave men and women who have served our country to protect our freedom are facing the harsh reality of not having a place to call home. Unfortunately, Atlanta, Georgia, is not immune to this issue. With a large population of veterans, over a thousand homeless veterans are struggling to find stability within the city and surrounding communities.

Various obstacles can lead to veterans becoming unhoused. CSM Angels Refuge recently sat down with veteran Patrick Pinckney. We dive into what led to his current living situation and the challenges he faces as a father and homeless veteran in Atlanta. 

CSM Angels Refuge is doing its part in the Atlanta area to assist veterans like Pinkney. The organization’s primary purpose is to locate housing and supportive services for homeless veterans in Atlanta. 

Join us for a series of articles that give a face to Atlanta’s homeless veteran population as we raise awareness about their obstacles. Keep reading to learn more about Patrick Pinckney’s story and discover how we can all contribute to creating a brighter future for homeless veterans everywhere.

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Who Is Patrick Pinckney?

Patrick Pinckney, like so many young men and women, chose to join the military straight out of high school. Today, he is among the many housing-challenged military veterans in Atlanta. 

Pinckney is from the Atlanta area and is the father of two. His story isn’t uncommon. He joined the military in hopes of building a career and a better life for himself. Like many individuals, the military becomes an appealing option when you’re a senior preparing to leave high school. Unsure about his immediate career path, he chose the military.

When asked to describe his feelings at the time he enlisted, Pinckney states, “I was a little nervous but excited at the same time. It was like a new adventure, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into.”

Once he decided to join the military, the Marines were his first option. Pinckney admits the $20,000 signing bonus offered by the Army was the deal breaker. 

Life in the Military

There is no denying that one of the benefits of being in the military is it allows personnel to travel the country and abroad. Pinckney spent his military career of 14 years stationed at bases throughout the United States.

He shares that his assignments included time in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, California, and Texas. When asked if his experiences varied based on the military base or did he had a favorite, Pinckney had fond memories of being stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. 

“Texas! When I was in Fort Bliss, I liked Texas. I was in EL Paso, and I liked the weather. We were so close to the border, and we couldn't go to Mexico because of the war that they had over there.”

When he refers to a war, he’s referring to widespread violence in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. El Paso and Juárez are just a few miles apart and separated by the Rio Grande. 

Although El Paso is still one of the most secure cities in the US, Juárez has always been a tough place to live. It has worsened over the years as deadly drug wars and other violent crimes have caused civilian casualties. Restrictions on U.S. government employee travel are standard protocol.

Pinckney recalls that he believed, at the time, that the cartels didn’t want Americans in their city, more specifically, American soldiers. “They especially didn't like soldiers. Soldiers were worse than Americans over there, but other than that, I liked it because of the weather and things to do in El Paso.

Preparing For Iraq

Not every soldier will serve in combat duty. They still must prepare for the day they receive the call. According to Pinckney, he was among a group of soldiers who trained for 75 days in preparation for a deployment into Iraq. 

“The closest we got (to being deployed) was when President Obama was in office. We had orders. We were going to Iraq to help with the withdrawal. We had 75 days of training, and on the 75th day, when we were supposed to board the planes to go over, our orders were rescinded. It came straight from the White House.” 

On October 21, 2011, President Obama announced the remaining U.S. troops would return from Iraq by the end of 2011. It would mark the conclusion of the war that lasted almost nine years. 

Military Careers

We often hear that the military is a great way to receive training and education that can last a lifetime. In addition to the GI Bill, which provides free education for college and many training programs, enlisted personnel have on-the-job training opportunities.

Pinckney states that his primary function was as a truck driver. However, he had hopes of landing positions in the technical support field. 

“I came in as an E1 Private, which is the bottom.” Like many government entities, positions have levels. Pinckney was assigned a truck driver position, but when he left the military, his classification was an E4 Specialist. 

“Within a couple of years, I got promoted inside the truck driving field, but then the opportunity came for me to go to school to become an IT specialist. I hurried up and jumped at that (opportunity). I was supposed to transition my role from a truck driver into the IT field.”

Unfortunately, there are many variables when it comes to enlisted personnel obtaining IT roles. The transition never took place for Pinckney and very well could have been a pivotal point in his interest in remaining in the military. Although there are many benefits, there are also similarities to corporate culture. 

Not being able to receive the promotion was disheartening. “So even though I had everything to get promoted into my new role, they wanted to keep the same person in that spot.” Despite his disappointment in not transitioning into the IT field, having experience as a truck driver hasn’t been a bad thing. Pinckney has been able to secure civilian positions as a truck driver with companies like Pepsi and JB Hunt. 

Leaving the Army

At some point and time, an employee begins to feel trapped by their circumstances. Whether it’s the cashier at Walmart who wants to move into a supervisor role or the man in the military who no longer wants to drive trucks, the feeling of being held back can change your trajectory. This scenario seems to be the case for Pinckney.

Pinckney admits that his interest in the Army wasn’t the same, and his feelings towards his service in the military began to change. Reenlisting for another tour was not an option.

He recalls that on his final day of service, “Somebody made me mad, and I left, and I was like yep, I ain't coming back no more.” He shares that he was already tittering back and forth on whether he wanted to keep reenlisting or return to civilian life. So, when it was time to reenlist, he didn’t.

At the time, Pinckney was stationed at Ft. Benning, known as Ft. Moore today. Following his departure from the military, he acknowledges that to make use of the GI Bill, he would need to reenlist. “I think I kind of messed it up. I don't know, I did something wrong, and now I can't even use it. They told me if I wanted to use anything, I gotta go back into the military. It's not an option; no more military for me.

Pinckney’s outlook on the military and the time he spent in service led to some great relationships. He has remained in touch with some of the friends he made while enlisted, and those friendships now provide much-needed emotional support.

Life After the Military

When it was time to return to civilian life, Pinckney realized he hadn’t reaped the many benefits promised during recruitment. He often looks back on his time in the Army, and the 33-year-old father of two believes his post-army life could have been much different. What he feels was missing is services that help military members transition back into civilian life. 

“I don't know what direction to go. Everything I really knew was military, so getting out was different. I had to start all over with a different mindset. Of everything, I think the mindset was the main thing, though.

“First, I had to try to find a job that was number one. Just trying to, I guess, get my mind right and make sure I figure out what I want to do in life outside of the military. I thought about doing it while I was in the military, too, but I didn't do that like I wanted to.”

Pinckney acknowledges he didn’t have anyone close to him to help with the transition. “I was really on my own when it came to that.”

Making the Transition Better

As for advice for others transitioning out of the military, he says, “I’d tell them to get a head start when they think they want to get out and be done. Just start looking (into options) and come up with a plan on what you want to do outside the military.”

In hindsight, he says he would have started planning once he entered his last year of service. So, what would he have done differently? Pinckney says pre-planning would have given him a big jump in determining what career he’d seek and where he would live. He acknowledges having three fields of specialized training but does not know which, if any, to pursue.

He still believes the military made him a better man and the person he is today. “The good and the bad because I got in at an early age. I’m really disciplined more than anything. My personality is, I guess you can say, kind of I say more advanced compared to some of the people I see around my age group. I see things, and I know better. I know right from wrong.

“I know if I want something, I gotta work hard to get it. It's a mindset. Everything is a mind thing. If you can let it get to your mind, like whatever the trouble is, the trouble always wins. But if you control your mindset and control whatever you're going through, just know that you can accomplish the goal, then you know that's half of the battle.

Charting New Territory: Becoming Unhoused

To the people on the outside looking in, the term homeless often conjures up sad images. We think of someone sleeping on the streets under cardboard boxes, seeking refuge in abandoned houses, or sleeping in city parks. However, this is not always the case when it comes to homeless veterans in Atlanta. 

As with Pinckney, his situation is a temporary setback. A setback he doesn’t allow to define him or his future. If we were to be honest, we all know someone who’s one missed paycheck away from losing their current housing.

Taking on the role of becoming the primary caregiver for his children doesn’t allow him to continue driving trucks. The hours are long and sometimes unpredictable. He sees his current situation as a short-term setback until he can figure things out.

Parenting Through Rough Patches

The biggest challenge Pinckney has faced, he admits, is becoming the primary caregiver for his youngest daughter. He’s the father of an eight and seven-year-old and admits that “life happened. I had two girls, and me and their mom aren't together.”

Things have changed. Pinckney has gone from having his youngest daughter part-time to having her live with him full-time. “It was fine because I didn't have them every day. Now, I have one every day, and things have changed. I can't afford to be on the road like I used to. 

“It's a whole different atmosphere. I was used to getting her on the weekends, maybe a couple of days during the week, but now it’s 24/7. Pinckney refers to his daughter as “my best friend” and attributes her to his motivation to get his life back on track. 

Finding CSM Angels Refuge

Pinckney recently received assistance from the non-profit CSM Angels Refuge. The organization dedicates its resources to assisting displaced and homeless veterans in Atlanta.

Pinckney discovered CSM Angels Refuge through the Veterans Administration office. He says his “caseworker referred me to them.”  

CSM Angels Refuge has helped with his utilities, deposits, and furniture for his new place. “I didn't have anything,  so I'm very grateful.” He shares that the quality of the furniture he received is top-notch. He wants to show his appreciation by volunteering with the Veterans charity. However, right now, he’s focused on providing stability to his daughters.

He believes that veterans around the country need organizations like CSM Angels Refuge. “I think especially for soldiers that are on their way to transitioning out of the military. I think organizations like CSM Angels Refuge should be introduced to military units when they know the soldiers are about to transition out. At least let them know organizations exist to help them get on the right path.”

As for services as a whole to reduce homelessness, he believes “One could be Prolonged Exposure (PE) counseling. A lot of soldiers transition out, but a lot of them deal with stuff mentally. Sometimes, they don't know how to express their feelings, especially when it comes to trying to figure out what's the next step in life. If they had some kind of counseling or someone who could at least listen to them or give them some type of advice on what they are trying to do for the next step in life, I think that'll be a great aspect.” 

What’s Next?

As for where he sees himself a year from now, Pinckney was reluctant to say. “I wouldn’t even know right now. I can't even answer that question right now. I'm just trying to take it a day at a time and try to make sure this day is better than yesterday. At this moment, I can't say. I just know each day, I'm trying to make progress. 

When it comes to other homeless veterans in Atlanta, “Just know, no matter how bad it might seem, don't give up. Half of the fight is mental, and the other half is it's just putting in the effort. Once you get past the mental part, the effort is on you.

How Can You Help Homeless Veterans in Atlanta?

Let's ensure that no homeless veteran in Atlanta is left behind. 

CSM Angels Refuge is a non-profit organization based in Morrow, Georgia. Our goal is to help military veterans in the Atlanta area by giving them food, clothes, and resources. We do this by raising money, giving out grants, sponsoring events, and donating.

We’d love to have you as a partner in accomplishing our mission. We ask that you donate today!