COMMUNITY SERVICE: HOMELESS VETERANS- VA HOSPITAL

COMMUNITY SERVICE  Episode

ERIN MANGANO is a director of programs at Edward Hines, Jr VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois, discusses each service that the qualifying veterans can use. The services are far beyond those available to a stereotypical understanding of the word "homeless."

These programs are designed to maintain the health of each veteran and to maximize each opportunity to achieve a home.

Erin answered a common question uncommonly well.

"Erin, what brings you to your work with the homeless?"

"Patrick, I used to visit my father when I was very little downtown. He worked in the financial district, and we would take Lower Wacker Drive to get to his office building. I remember being five or six years old and being so shaken up by all the individuals living in tents and outside on Lower Wacker. I asked my mom why all these people were outside when we had plenty of room in our house for them to stay. She told me maybe I could do something a out that one day, and now I am!

My family were big volunteers with Habitat for Humanity in Clarksdale, Mississippi when I was younger as well, and I went with my dad for about ten years down to this community to build homes for the underserved there.  This solidified my choice to pursue this career.

I don't know if there is a more worthy group to serve than those who literally fought for our homes. I see it as a calling to fight for their homes now after all they have done for me to keep mine."

MUSIC BY PERMISSION
"The Typewriter"
Composition by Leroy Anderson and His "Pops" Concert Orchestra
Written | October 9, 1950
Released | October, 1953
Recorded | September 8, 1953
Genre | Light music
Length | 1:34
Label | Decca Records
Composer(s) | Leroy Anderson