United Way’s Mission United Helps
Homeless Veterans in Need
In high school, U.S. Army veteran Nelson Moody participated
in a “split-option” training program in Baltimore, Maryland,
and he became a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He
said he loved this experience so much, and he decided after high
school to re-enlist with the U.S. Army.
“I had liked the military so much that I wanted to go to the
regular Army,” Moody said. “I enlisted, and I went to Fort
Benning, Georgia, with the infantry. And then I left Fort Benning
and went straight to Korea for a year.”
Moody served in four different countries throughout the early
80s, and he was honorably discharged in 1986.
“I enjoyed the travel and meeting people,” Moody said. “I was
just an all-around people person, and I just liked seeing different
things in life. The military afforded me all of that.”
He went back home to Baltimore after his time in the military
and began developing his own talk radio show where he spoke
about his experience being a father and encouraging his children.
Moody actually has authored four different books on the
subject, as well. He has a pair of 16 year-old twin daughters and
a 15 year-old son who live with him in Georgia, and one son and
daughter in their mid-30s living in Baltimore. His oldest son has
been in the Army for 15 years.
Moody moved to Atlanta to pursue his dream of furthering his
radio career, but unforeseen circumstances led to the loss of his
job and home. He reached out to United Way of Greater Atlanta
and was connected with housing and employment. He had been
homeless for 46 days.
“The United Way did an outstanding job, and I was able to get
Moody received help through Mission United, which was
created about six years ago—the initiative was renamed to align
with United Way Worldwide.
Danny Lester-Drew, United Way Supportive Services for
Veteran Families Director, said, “The homelessness division
found about 21 percent of the homeless population of Atlanta
with these veterans. We knew that there were some issues to
address with veterans, and around that same time the federal
government was recognizing that that was a big issue, and they
had issued grants around the country to help homeless veterans.”
Lester-Drew stated that the goal is to provide veterans with
employment services.
“In 2017, we helped 510 veterans move from homelessness
percent reduction in veteran homelessness in Greater Atlanta.
| March 2019 | Real Hero Report
U.S. Army Veteran Nelson Moody and his three children. After
becoming homeless, Veteran Nelson Moody and his family turned
Moody and his family experienced homelessness for 46 days until
United Way stepped in.
That comes from the coordination with the community and our
partners.” Lester-Drew said.
Mission United starts by referring people such as Moody to a
case manager where they assess the veterans’ situation and work
on securing housing. In many cases, it might mean addressing
“landlord barriers,” which is where legal assistance may come
into play.
“It’s really individualized, and each household has a different
plan,” Lester-Drew said. “It depends on the program.”
on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services
for Veteran Families grants before coming to work with United
Way. He’s worked on the project-managing side and now as
director.
“I loved this. I felt there was no better feeling than being
there when a veteran got the keys to their own place, and now
on the management side, I get to see the broader view of ending
homelessness,” Lester-Drew said.
If you would like to learn more about Mission United, or you
ddrew@unitedwayatlanta.org, missionunited@unitedwayatlanta.
org, call 2-1-1 or visit http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/.
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