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Organizations help homeless Virginia Beach veteran get apartment, car

Posted at 8:01 PM, Jul 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-05 20:01:20-04

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Veteran Scott Roberts spent night after night on the streets, but now he has a new start at life.

For over ten years, Roberts said he struggled with PTSD as a result of the time he served, along with having other issues.

"I lived in a van for a while. I lived in a warehouse, a lot of times I would find parking lots, quite a few nights I spent outside," said Roberts.

The Navy Veteran said he was on the list to get affordable housing, a process he called overwhelming, difficult and slow.

Bill Ciccone fromthe group End 22 helped Roberts secure an apartment and said he put pressure on the housing officials to get him in the apartment as soon as possible.

"I felt like I was slipping through the cracks and they stopped that," said Roberts.

Ciccone started the group after his son, who also suffered from PTSD, committed suicide after returning from war.

Ciccone also collected donations for Roberts.

"There so many different people that came together for one call common cause," said Ciccone.

Wendy Childers heard about the situation and wanted to help. She started theLCPL. Cody S. Childers Memorial Fund after her son was killed overseas.

Childers posted Robert's story online and said the donations started rolling in from people who heard his story. They donated furniture, money and food.

She said, "Within a day I think we have everything set for the apartment."

Robert also got a new set of wheels.

However, a car that was just donated to him got towed from his new apartment complex.

Ciccone and Roberts called and explained that News 3 was coming to the apartment complex to do a story about a homeless veteran and that the car was a big part of the story.

About an hour after Roberts and Ciccone called the tow truck company, they brought the car back free of charge after they were able to confirm that the car was for a homeless vet.

"We got to help this guy get on his feet and get them started on a new life," said Childers.

He will live his new life with his best friend Dozer, his dog.

"I have Dozer. I have a lot of support from which I can go forward," said Roberts.