Operation Safety Net is a program that provides immediate shelter to male homeless veterans who have the need. Coffee Bunker is the only veteran organization that can immediately provide this essential resource. This program collaborates with John 3:16 Mission, and can provide a transitional shelter stay that can last up until 2 months. Operation Safety Net is available from 11am until 10pm Monday thru Thursday and 11am until 11pm on Friday and Saturday.
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“The Coffee Bunker and What It Means To Me.” “When I came to the Coffee Bunker seeking help for the first time, all my plans to that point were pretty much shot through. My goal at that point was to pretty much leave my dogs some place and check into the psyche ward at the VA hospital in Muskogee. Thanks to a pothole that rose up against my limited service spare tire that plan went off the rails as well. With my car dead lined and no home to go to, I went to Jon 3:16 and had dinner, but there was no room at the inn. I weighed my options and I thought maybe I could get some sort of help at the Bunker, seeing as how I had never availed myself of its benefits and really didn’t know what they could do. I thought I might get some bedding or clothing that might make sleeping outside somewhat more bearable, and a food handout. I was a bit surprised. I think I had seriously underestimated these folks. That long walk from downtown to 41st and Sheridan resulted in some temporary lodging through the Executive Director’s connection with John 3:16, which gave me time (and nourishing meals) necessary to again go ahead and pick up the process to end my homelessness. It took some time but the end result was approval for the BRRX program, HUD-VASH, and, ultimately transitional housing at Yale Apartments. Other people converge here to help as well, and now I am actually looking for work and currently I am expecting a call from a certain temp agency any day now, thanks to some of the other volunteers, and I now have all the information regarding my disability benefits that I need to decide how to best proceed. The meals during the holidays, the association with my fellow vets, the fulfillment of my basic needs….all of it helped get me from sleeping on the back seat of an abandoned mini-van to a warm bed in a small apartment all my own, and a meal plan to boot. I owe a lot to these people and the organization as a whole. Apparently something good can come of putting a bunch of veterans together in one place.”
by Dale T. US Army Veteran.
Dale’s story is not uncommon here at the Coffee Bunker and shows the cooperation between agencies and how having one special place for a veteran to go to receive the help they so desperately need. Having been homeless myself and having to navigate through the different systems to receive help I can say that just asking for help once is very hard. Having to ask the amount of times that Dale and others like him would have had to ask could have been more than a man can take. Dale’s help did not come overnight and would have not been possible without this location and the help of numerous agencies. Thank you all for your support and continuing to fight for our veterans and their families.
-Scott Blackburn Executive Director
