Liberation Veteran Services combating veteran homelessness by uplifting the community

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Veterans Derryl Crewe and Ben Gryctko never expected to end up homeless, but after struggling alone, they ultimately decided reaching out for help and relying on community would lift the dark cloud hanging over their heads.

Crewe, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps, struggled with addiction after being medically discharged from service in the 1990s.

"I didn't know which way was which. I didn't know which way I was going, left or right," Crewe said. "I was just a shell of a person at the time."

Gryctko, a Vietnam-era veteran, suffered a different dilemma. He had just turned 75 years old and was facing eviction from the apartment he lived in for over a decade.

Both men agree Liberation Veteran Services saved their lives.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 32,882 veterans were experiencing homelessness on any given day in January 2024. Officials report this to be a record low.

In Virginia, veterans make up about 8% of the population, but they make up about 13% of the homeless population, according to Liberation Veteran Services.

"The good news is that veteran homelessness rates are decreasing," said Jay Patrick, Liberation Veteran Services President and CEO.

Patrick said the national rate of homeless veterans is about 19 per 10,000. In Virginia, that same
rate is 8 per 10,000, making Virginia’s rate nearly 3-times lower than the national rate.

(Photo: Liberation Veteran Services)

(Photo: Liberation Veteran Services)

(Photo: Liberation Veteran Services)

The non-profit offers flexible housing and care for veterans facing homelessness. According to
its website, Liberation Veteran Services supports, “homeless veterans with dignity and respect
in the Greater Richmond, VA area."

"What this organization did for me is it really gave me a cocoon to begin to put my life back together. I realized I couldn't do it all myself," Gryctko said.

Patrick focuses his efforts toward serving the community.

“Making sure that we serve them [veterans] just the way they served this country,” Patrick said.

Patrick said the organization combats “invisible scars” in veterans who are struggling internally.
This may include living in a tent, a car, bathing in public restrooms or navigating life on their
own.

Patrick and the former homeless veterans agreed, there is a stigma surrounding veteran
homelessness. Veterans are typically seen as resourceful and have pride to combat issues on
their own.

“In many cases, it’s not a veteran’s natural instinct to ask for help,” Patrick said.

“A lot of people that walk through the door here, we have three things in common: we’re
veterans, we’re homeless and we need help,” Gryctko said.

Looking toward the future, Liberation Veteran Services is opening its new Veterans Village on
Veterans Day. Currently, veterans live in a communal barrack-style room at the building on Hull
Street. Soon, veterans will be given their own private living space to get back on their feet.

At a later date, the organization will also open a permanent housing option for veterans
recovering from homelessness.

“No two words that should go together are homeless and veteran,” Patrick said.