Conover displays keys to his new abode after being homeless
Fifty-two-year-old Robert Conover of Huntington was a general contractor for 25 years, and found himself in crisis after the death of his wife, he was admitted to a crisis unit.
A veteran of the US Army, Conover said he has 11 brothers who have served in the military.
"I never expected to find myself homeless, but I always told myself it was temporary, and with some help I'd pull myself out of this," he said.
Conover said he lived on the river (Ohio River), the stereotypical "under the bridge" homeless. "I still have a couple friends who are there," he said.
a homeless "cooking stove" along the Ohio River
Conover said "I know the life of having no home"
"A lot of veterans have serious mental problems and many of them are too proud to ask for help."
Conover, who is a recovering addict, said Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) "Threw me a rope when I was in a 10 foot hole."
"A number of agencies have helped. I'm still living at the mission while I work on my new place," he said, doing extensive remodeling to his newly acquired home.
"When you're down and out, some agencies put you on a list, but SSVF was a beacon that took action quickly," he said.
Landlord likely hit the jackpot, carpenter trained,
Conover is meticulously restoring new home
The Supportive Services for Veteran's Families (SSVF) program in Huntington, which also serves several West Virginia counties, is designed to lift very low-income veteran families out of homelessness and into stable permanent housing.
Through this program Southwestern Community Action and their SSVF program provides comprehensive assistance in the areas of case management, outreach, temporary financial assistance, and referrals to help in obtaining VA benefits.
SSVF can be reached at 304-525-5151 and website www.scacwv.org.
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