How a VA peer specialist is turning empty apartments into fresh starts
A Cheyenne VA expert makes move-in kits for newly housed veterans
Peer expert Rick Cooper noted that an apartment rarely feels like home when veterans don’t have the basics needed for daily living. When applying with veterans accommodated Cheyenne VA Health Care System’s The homeless program saw that some could not afford basic household items.
According to Cooper, housing itself is a big step, but an empty apartment is not yet functional. That gap forced Cooper to act.
“I just knew at that point we had to do better by the veterans moving into the housing space,” he said. “Some stark examples are using a black garbage bag and a bandage as a shower curtain or reusing paper grocery bags as toilet paper. Just providing accommodation was not enough.”
Kit making
Cooper began putting together the 2025 move-in kit, stepping in after community partner support ended due to funding cuts.
The first 10 kits were funded by a $1,000 donation from a community service provider.
The program relies on donations to provide supplies. Cooper said about seven kits are given out each month.
“Knowing that a move-in kit will be ready on move-in day can help reduce stress during a veteran’s first night in their new home,” he shared.
Make the first night easier
Veteran Ronnie Clark spent nearly six years homeless before moving into his own apartment.
“When I finally got into my apartment, I was grateful, but it was still an empty space,” Clark said.
The move-in kit changed that.
“Having basic household items waiting for me made the apartment feel like home instead of just four walls,” added Clark. “It gave me dignity, comfort and a sense of importance.”
Clark credits Cooper and VA Housing and Urban Development social worker Kraig Patriquin for helping him rebuild his life.
It takes community
For Cooper, the program depends on community donations to keep the storage container stocked. The most urgent needs are full and queen-size sheets and towels.
“Getting essential supplies is one less thing a veteran needs to worry about during this challenging transition,” Cooper said.
He points out that veterans cannot use food assistance programs to buy toilet paper, cleaning supplies or personal care. For some veterans, donations are the only way to get these supplies.
Community groups and local organizations have helped, but the need remains: every donation turns an empty apartment into a home.
“Because of the housing, the move-in kit and the encouragement they gave me, I finally have a place to call home and a foundation to build a better future,” Clark said.
To learn more about volunteering or donating, contact your local VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE).
