As a Army Officer (MAJ) retired and teaching in China, the Covid pandemic caused all foreign…read moreEnglish teachers to get canceled Visa's. Flew to L.A., then to Schofield Army Base for housing. Waiting list (3 yrs !) for housing, I stayed at Base Hotel at $165/day. Then told to leave after 1 month because active soldiers needed the room (paid more $).
Angry about that, moved out to Hotels near the airport at ~ $200/DAY! With only a computer & phone, and the money saved from teaching, I tried many places and finally on my last leg from Hotel costs, I called US VETS in Kapolei. A 'Behavior Psychologist' understood I had $300 left at the Central YMCA, and came to my rescue. I carried my large 5 bag of clothing to the site, meet the man, filed out many forms, and was given a 3-man room for $170 A MONTH, 3 good meals a day, internet hook-up, A/C living spaces, and other Vets to talk to everyday, some who had some of the same problems living in this expense State of HI. Most men had health problems from past wars ... Vietnam, Korea, some from the Gulf. Few had drug problems, but most were just financially broke like myself.
This is what is important: It gives a man time to search for housing and a job without worrying about food, shelter, security, and a feeling of loneliness. To leave that place is ON YOU, not the people working there! They do provide job fairs, job training, employees to change one's behavior problems in class ... but to find housing, I used the internet & phone to contact Charities for Housing. Fill out the forms
and don't give up. Waiting for an answer takes patience and luck. After one year, I was lucky to get a great place in Mililani, got a Substitute Teaching Certificate for HI schools, and financed a car for transport.
Let me add one more Item which is important when living at US VETS, your assigned Manager is very important. I had a good one (Gary) who gave me more internet time, DD-214 research, always available for discussions of importance. So I read some sad reviews on US VETS, and decided to even out the score. Thank you Gary & US VETS. DAC