A Bike, shelter, and a chance to rebuild

By Marcela Beltran

Richard “Rick” Hahn, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, knew firsthand how dangerous Arizona’s extreme heat could be. While experiencing homelessness, transportation was a constant challenge. 

Rick originally lost his housing because of addiction, one that he has since overcome. After rebuilding his life, he suffered a heart attack and coded three times, leaving him in a month-long coma. The experience took away much of the stability he had worked to build, forcing him onto the street to start over once again.

To survive on the street, Rick often had to walk miles under the scorching sun to get from one destination to another. Before SVdP, he had no secure transportation. At various times, he traveled on foot while doing his best to protect himself from the heat, but even with water and sun protection, it just wasn’t enough. 

“It was hot… and I was fully prepared,” said Rick. “I had to walk, and this was like 1 o’clock in the afternoon. The hottest point of the day. I should have stopped a couple of times, but I ran out of water.”

Before he knew it, his body was overheating and he was suffering from symptoms of a heat stroke. Once he found his way to shelter, the staff on-site helped cool his body with ice, wet towels, and fresh water. They had offered to call emergency services, but Rick declined and eventually recovered on his own.

“To walk outside, especially now, is dangerous,” said Rick.

For Rick, at 66 years old, having reliable transportation meant more than getting from one place to another. It meant being able to move through his day safely, without putting his health at risk. That’s where SVdP’s bike program made a difference.

Rick was eventually put in contact with SVdP, and he became a resident of SVdP’s Ozanam Manor, a transitional housing program providing shelter and support for veterans, adults with disabilities, and seniors. After nearly a month, he discovered the bike shop. 

SVdP’s bike shop is a program that repairs donated bicycles and provides them to residents and individuals in need. For many, a bike can mean the difference between unemployment and employment, opening the door to job opportunities, while also providing reliable transportation to school, medical appointments, grocery stores, and other essential resources. 

Rick soon found himself qualifying for the program, picked out a bike, and found joy in modifying it, creating a side hobby for himself. This opportunity gave Rick greater freedom to travel farther and more safely from the SVdP campus.

The bike was just one of the many resources Rick found at SVdP.

Bella, his beloved dog, is more than a pet, and giving her up was never an option for Rick. 

“The reason I recently wound up homeless was I joined a recovery program, to recover, heal, and get housing. Well, they didn't allow dogs, and I had Bella,” said Rick.

Bella is his family, his motivation, and one of the reasons he keeps moving forward, a common situation to find among people who have lost everything. He made it clear he would rather face homelessness again than lose Bella. 

One of the ways SVdP’s shelters set themselves apart is by allowing residents to keep their companion animals with them, removing a common barrier to entry. Residents and their companion animals are supported by the Companion Animal Program, which helps ensure residents have the resources to keep their pets fed, healthy, and happy during their stay. 

“I never wanted kids, but look what I got,” said Rick, petting Bella. “In a way, I do have a child, but you know, she keeps you going, basically.”

Rick rescued Bella from abuse after finding her malnourished, every bone visible under her skin, and tied to a pole at a gas station under the sun. Now, just feet from Rick’s dormitory, SVdP’s free animal clinic provides Bella with the care she needs and gives Rick peace of mind knowing she is safe and cared for.

“I'm trying to reestablish myself and get back to a cohesive, quiet environment with her,” said Rick.

With the support of his case manager and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Rick is working toward finding a home of his own once again. They are working tirelessly to move Rick out of the Phoenix heat and into a cooler city due to his doctors’ various concerns. Rick’s multiple heat strokes have left lasting effects within his body and have taken a toll on his fragile health.  

“It's like starting over, but it's going in a direction where I want to go,” said Rick. “I feel confident. I'm in pretty good hands.”