changing lives building communities creating opportunities
O C T O B E R
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Veteran Case Study: From Homeless to Employed
J
eff Mason’s military roots run
deep. His grandfather fought in
World War II; his father served
in Vietnam. He served in the
US Army. After his military
service, he worked in Latin
America as a dive master for
Pacific Ocean Research. He’s
always been a working man so
when that job ended, he moved
quickly on a potential job in
Oregon. But upon arriving, he
found that the job no longer
existed. With no money and
no contacts, he soon found
himself homeless
Jeff Mason is employed
in Portland. (A full
and living in his
third of the nation’s
own unsubsidized
homeless population are apartment. He recently
Veterans according to
bought a car and is
the National Coalition
gratified to now have
for the Homeless.
medical insurance
Untreated mental
and retirement savings.
illness, PTSD and
substance abuse are major contributors.)
Jeff connected with Central City Concern’s Veterans
team where a staff member told him: “I’ll get you into
some housing and make sure you have food. The rest
is up to you.” Jeff plugged into everything that CCC’s
employment program offered: resume help, computer
usage and attending the job club that features speakers
from local companies. At one job club, Daava Mills from
Vigor Industrial spoke about how to craft a good resume.
Jeff spoke up and challenged some of her advice during
the presentation.
“Clearly, this was a guy who
could think on his own, which
is what I like to see in a
candidate,” said Daava.
Although Jeff was open to
taking any job (and he did
his fair share of fast food
employment), he longed to be
back in the shipping industry.
Jeff guides cargo
“It was a challenge,” said
employment specialist Robert
McMeekin. “There are not too
many dive master positions
in Portland...” But Vigor
Industrial, a ship construction
and repair company, had been
a regular employer of veterans
in the past. After the job club,
Daava asked Robert to forward
Jeff ’s information onto her.
There was an appropriate
opening and in a matter of
days, Jeff Mason was employed
as an apprentice carpenter in
the dry docks.
off a Vigor Industrial dry
“I found what I was looking
for here. I’m home. I have no
interest of ever leaving Vigor.
My thanks is my loyalty,” said Jeff. “I wouldn’t be here if
it weren’t for Central City Concern. They stayed with me
and never let go.”
dock in North Portland.
“We’ll continue to be there for Vigor and other
companies interested in hiring Veterans,” said Robert.
“It’s a win-win for everyone.”
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Profile:
Donor & Volunteer
Sherie Storr
Sherie Storr is one creative thinker. With
12 years of philanthropy experience in
New Mexico and nearing completion of
her B.S. in Business Management from
Marylhurst College, she wanted to finish
her degree with a tangible project that
would have a positive impact in Portland.
Her passion was to empower women to
become self-sufficient. She had business
skills, she had life skills, she had influence
on a small foundation and she had time.
Coming upon Central City Concern’s
website and its list of volunteer
opportunities, Sherie found a calling
to provide budget education classes
to clients at the Letty Owings Center
(LOC). For six months, Sherie came to
the residential drug treatment center for
pregnant or parenting women and vastly
improved their financial literacy. She
taught basic monthly budgeting, showing
the women how to craft a budget with
government support and without. She
introduced the value of buying in bulk -today most LOC residents speak in terms
of “per diaper” costs and they know where
to find the deals. Coupon clipping is now
a common activity at LOC.
“I tried to show return on investments
on a very logical and rational level,” said
Sherie, “everything from the value of
L to R: Sherie Storr with CCC staff Krista Matsell and Maria Gargano.
coupons and relying on your
peers for help to attending
college.”
Sherie also worked one-onone with many women to
run credit histories and she
showed them how to correct
inaccurate information.
She also encouraged them
to save money. In fact,
she developed a matching
program to encourage
savings.
LOC staff estimate that Sherie reached
as many as 60 women with her wisdom
and empowerment. “She taught me a
tremendous amount,” said one LOC
client who now shops once a month with
a list instead of making repeated trips as
needs arise. “I appreciated her so much,”
said the client.
As Sherie came to understand LOC
more thoroughly, she saw areas of need
that were not included in government
funding of the program. Monthly, LOC
holds a gathering of current clients with
alumni and a featured, successful alumna
speaker. Funding for this important
support network had been in constant
peril. Sherie advocated to her family’s
foundation in New Mexico and gained
a $5,000 grant for LOC to financially
stabilize the alumni gatherings.
On behalf of clients and staff thank you Sherie!