Sometimes we "hit a wall" when we're working on a particularly tough issue. The problem seems too difficult to solve, you think you've used all of your resources and there's no where else to turn. But sometimes hitting the wall gives us inspiration, or a second wind, or a determination not to take "no" for an answer if it makes a difference for even one human being. What follows is a good example of how HUD staff made a difference - one person at a time.

Like many United States Army and other military veterans, "Danny" suffered frequent hardships after serving his country between 1967-70. When he left the service, he worked at a variety of jobs, took college classes, served in the National Guard (1981-86), suffered through two broken marriages, raised children as a single parent, and was homeless - while dealing with multiple, serious health problems. In 1996, he was in his late 40's when he found his way to the Veterans Hospital in Dallas, Texas, where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He began to receive medical attention for his disabilities and proper medication for schizophrenia, and found life a little easier. Danny was able to function on a day-to-day basis, but while his health problems had improved, his housing problems were still serious - as they are for many disabled veterans.

Danny got help from the VA and some concerned and compassionate individuals to find the housing he needed. They found him an apartment in Ennis, Texas, about 35 miles southeast of Dallas in an apartment complex called Oak Timbers (above). Built by a non-profit CDC to serve the elderly and disabled, it had an available unit and staff willing to watch after him. (The Oak Timbers Development Corporation completed the building in September of 2001. It was built with assistance from the Federal Home Land Bank, which provided a $500K grant; the State of Texas Housing Trust Fund, which provided a $350K low interest loan and a $97K grant, and a first lien mortgage from Wells Fargo Bank Development Corp.)

Apartment manager Noemi Garza and her staff spent many hours assisting Danny with his housing and health needs, and recommended that Danny apply for a Section 8 rental assistance voucher. Ms Garza said, "When he signed the lease in February 2002, he did not even have a bed when he moved in." But things would not be that simple. He applied for a voucher with the City of Ennis but there none were available, and there was a one year waiting list. The city recommended Danny apply at the Corsicana Public Housing Agency, about 20 miles south of Ennis. This is when HUD became involved - and made a difference - in Danny's life.

Apartment manager Ms Noemi Garza gives Danny some new clothes; An Oak Timbers staff member in the community center, where they work with and entertain the tenants.

Concerned about Danny's serious housing problems, on February 19, 2002, Ms Garza sent an e-mail on his behalf to HUD Headquarters and many other people and organizations. With his income of approximately $500 a month from his disability, he could not afford the $450 a month rent. He was at risk of being displaced and becoming homeless again.

In HUD Headquarters, Ms Libby Waite shared her concerns with Ed Ellis, on staff in the Dallas HUD Field Office, and asked him to see what HUD could do. With the assistance of HUD staff in the Fort Worth HUD Regional Office, staff from Senator Hutchison's Office, Danny's VA Doctor, staff at the Corsicana PHA -and especially Ms Garza and staff at the Oak Timbers Apartments - Ellis determined that Danny was eligible for a Section 8 voucher in Corsicana. But since Ennis was outside of the Corsicana jurisdiction, the PHA said "No," he could not use the voucher for his existing apartment.

The final blow seemed to be when they said Danny would have to live in the Ennis area for a minimum of one year before he would be eligible to "port out" to another jurisdiction.

With the help of Ms Garza, an emergency search began for an apartment in the Corsicana area that would accept his voucher, and where he could receive assistance with his physical and mental problems, but nothing was available. His ability to pay rent at the Oak Timbers Complex was quickly running out. Everyone feared the worst - soon another American military veteran would be homeless and back on the streets.

But taking "No" for an answer was not an option. With the support of the Dallas Field Office staff, and Fort Worth staff, HUD's Ed Ellis tried everything he could to convince the Corsicana PHA staff that Danny should continue to stay at Oak Timbers - to find a way for them to say "Yes." As a result, Mr. George Linicomn, Executive Director of the Corsicana PHA, personally visited Oak Timbers to meet Danny and Ms Garza (above). His decision was that the PHA could issue Danny a wavier and allow him to "port out" immediately with his voucher. A happy ending for all!

This is an example of HUD employees and HUD Field Offices giving the American people their best service. As the Dallas HUD Office puts it, "One of the top priorities of Secretary Martinez is customer service. As we are so aware today, some of HUD's most important customers are America's military veterans. Too often after serving our Nation, they have been forgotten. However, when it comes to their housing needs, HUD intends to serve our Veterans to very best of our ability."

Danny's life goes on, as do the lives of countless other Americans who have a better life because someone at HUD made a difference. Tomorrow, another life will be touched, thanks to someone at HUD. And if you've finished reading this and learned the difference it can make for just one life when the answer is "Yes" instead of "No" - then perhaps tomorrow two lives will be touched.

(In addition to individual actions by HUD staff, the Department itself is in the forefront of providing assistance to America's military veterans. For more information, visit HUDVet on HUD's website.)