At 67 years old, Veteran Bobby Burr is now a first-time homeowner, a milestone that reflects how far he has come since stable housing, sobriety and hope were all eluding him.
Bobby served in both the U.S. Army and Navy, beginning his military career at 18 and serving for nearly a decade, including time in South Korea.
Years after leaving the military, Bobby experienced homelessness and struggled with substance use. After completing treatment, he enrolled in a reentry program in Pensacola, Florida, where he eventually connected with Priority Veteran.
At the time, Bobby said he had reached a point where he felt like giving up. Through Priority Veteran, however, he found people willing to walk alongside him as he began rebuilding his life.
“They haven’t been in front of me. They haven’t been behind me. They’ve been right beside me,” Bobby said.
Building Stability and Looking Ahead
Priority Veteran serves Veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes across nearly all of Alabama and into Northwest Florida. Through individualized case management, the program helps Veterans address the circumstances contributing to housing instability and connects them with resources based on their needs.
For Bobby, that meant working closely with Priority Veteran Case Manager Shaudarekkia Beattie as he maintained his sobriety and worked toward greater independence.
Beattie said housing is often only one piece of that process. Case managers can also help Veterans navigate VA benefits and healthcare and connect them with mental health and substance-use treatment.
“If we don’t address their mental health problems, and if we don’t address their substance abuse, then it’s going to be a cycle,” Beattie said.
Navigating the Path to Homeownership
After living in a rental, Bobby decided he wanted to put the money he was spending each month toward a home of his own.
That decision brought a new set of steps to navigate, including contracts, inspections and unfamiliar terminology. Beattie continued supporting Bobby throughout the process, helping him understand what to expect along the way.
The goal was not to make decisions for Bobby, but to make sure he had the information and support he needed to make those decisions for himself. Eventually, those decisions brought Bobby to closing day, with Beattie there to celebrate with him.
“I wanted her there with me because she supported me every step of the way.” Bobby said. “She’s not just my case manager. She’s my sister. She’s my family.”
A Home of His Own
Bobby’s journey has included homelessness, treatment, reentry and years of work to maintain his sobriety and rebuild stability. Today, he has something he once did not know would be possible – hope and a home of his own.
“Priority Veteran made me proud to be American again,” he said. “Joining the program was the best decision of my life. I went from having nothing to owning a house.”
For Priority Veteran’s Vice President of Veteran Services Rocky Harrison, Bobby’s progress reflects what can happen when Veterans have consistent support while working toward long-term stability.
“Our goal is to meet Veterans where they are, help them overcome the barriers they’re facing and support them as they work toward lasting stability and independence,” Harrison said.
WE’VE HELPED MORE THAN 4,000 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH HOUSING.
Priority Veteran helps U.S. military veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or are at immediate risk of losing housing find stability and hope.
