Veterans combat poverty
It was a late summer evening and Robert Lee Hawtin, age 60, had just pulled his bike and crippled cart under the awning in front of the Cunningham Memorial Library at Indiana State University. The late summer rain was cold and the evening air was a reminder that summer was about to give itself over to cooler weather. Hawtin’s two-wheeled cart had one wheel barely clinging to its axle. He had it turned over, trying to repair it.
The bike shows signs of being driven long and often, and the cart, which contains most of his possessions, looks as old and rough as Hawtin himself. If one did not know Hawtin, they would not believe he is a student. His whitish-gray hair and beard are long and scraggly and stands out among his younger peers.
The campus library is a popular hangout for the local homeless population, and Hawtin who fits the stereotypical picture of a homeless person could easily be mistaken for one. Originally from California, Hawtin is a Marine Corps veteran who served twelve years and was in Beirut, Lebanon during the bombing of the Marine barracks there. Hawtin was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in North Carolina. After his discharge, he endured a string of unfortunate and unexpected events that ultimately lead him to Indiana and ISU.
Hawtin is one of a number of veterans on campus who do not qualify for the post-9/11 GI Bill. He receives his financial aid in the form of grants and student loans but says it is not enough to afford a place to live for the duration of the semester.
“If I did what I was supposed to do and that is budget my money properly and discipline myself, it’s a good start,” Hawtin said, “It’s not gonna last me forever.”
Hawtin did qualify for the old GI Bill but said it was all used up when he attended the police academy after his discharge. After some time as a police officer, Hawtin became a truck driver but because of some confusion over child support, Hawtin lost his job.
Frustrated, he decided he had enough and wanted to do something to help others. He always wanted to teach so he decided to pursue his dream of teaching. Some of his friends had suggested ISU because of its education program. After checking out some other schools, Hawtin decided to attend ISU in fall 2014. Hawtin wanted to attend Baylor University in Waco Texas but could not afford it.
Hawtin tried to get help on campus, even going as far as emailing President Bradley. He also talked to the ISU ombudsperson, Al Perone, but feels like it was in vain. Hawtin believes the campus could do more than they actually do.
“If they know they are homeless, then give them one of these facilities (empty dorm rooms) here.” Hawtin said. “Secondly, provide them with a counselor that works with vets so they can be successful here.”
Veterans Service Coordinator for ISU, Michael Caress said there are about 400 veterans who have access to veteran’s educational benefits attending ISU. Typically, veterans do not have trouble getting their money from the Veteran’s Administration, but Caress admits that there are times during the year when they are overwhelmed and there is some delay. He said on average there are about 30 to 35 veterans per semester who experience a delay in getting their payments. Caress explains that much of the problem is because students are not doing their part. He explains that veteran students have certain things they have to do by certain dates in order to insure they get their benefits in a timely manner.
“Communication is key,” Caress said. “Students need to watch their student email.”
Hawtin is not the only veteran attending ISU who is homeless. Caress mentioned a veteran he knew who was living in a tent, but could not say his name. Caress did not give a reason the veteran was homeless other than to say it was not because of the VA.
Even when a student receives veterans benefits, such as the post 9/11 GI Bill, it can still be a struggle. Iraq veteran and Army retiree, Charlie Kaho says that even with the VA educational benefits, including a monthly expense stipend, it is a struggle for him to make ends meet. There have been times when Kaho has had to go to the local food bank to feed himself and his three children.
Kaho has also had to work part time on a couple occasions so he could continue supporting his family. Kaho does have a girlfriend but says they maintain separate homes so there is no combined incomes. Kaho is divorced and has full custody of his three children. Until recently all lived at home, but his oldest daughter recently moved out to go and live with her friends. Kaho’s two children who still live at home are 15 and 18.
There was two determining factors, which influenced Kaho’s decision to attend ISU. First, he explains, is ISU is the only school in the state and in Illinois that has a major for unmanned systems. Secondly, he is from the Terre Haute area and this is where his family lives.
“If I didn’t have any relatives that lived here it would be a lot rougher,” Kaho said, “they help with taking kids to appointments that I couldn’t because of classes.”
For some veteran students, such as senior technology major Shontele Daughtery, things aren’t as difficult. Daughtery and husband George, or as his friends call him, Mick, are both considered 100 percent disabled and qualify for full veteran’s educational benefits.
Like Kaho, Daughtery’s tuition is fully paid by the VA, plus she gets the living expense as well. The major difference for Daughtery is both she and her husband receive disability compensation making it easier for them to support their family.
Even though Daughtery and her husband both have educational benefits, only one of them can attend college because they can’t afford childcare for their two-year-old daughter.
“Once I graduate and find a job where we can afford childcare, then my husband will start college,” Daughtery said.
Caress said that before the Post 9/11 GI Bill the veteran student population at ISU was not as large as it is now. He said since the Post 9/11 GI bill became law there was a substantial rise in the number of veterans applying for admission to ISU.
There are some, displaced students and local homeless citizens, who will sneak into the buildings on campus to sleep at night. Director of public safety and chief of police, Joseph Newport explains that they have had calls about someone who was found sleeping in a closet or classroom. One of the more popular spots for the homeless to sleep, before they were sealed off, was the tunnels which run under parts of campus.
Newport said that generally the homeless population do not create a risk to the campus population. Anyone is allowed on campus property because it is considered public property. This doesn’t mean they can wonder in a classroom any time they choose, but it does mean they are allowed into public buildings on campus.
“They are welcome [unless] they act up,” Newport said. “For the most part they are not a major security problem.”
Students who live in campus housing are generally not the students who become homeless. Newport explains that students who live off campus can get in financial trouble and end up on the street.
There are several options to veteran students who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. All homeless students can find help at lighthouse missions, however, they have rules that people must follow as a condition for staying there.
Unity Village in Terre Haute provides emergency housing and financial assistance for veterans, funded by the Veteran’s Administration. The facility also helps veterans struggling with rent and utilities to help prevent homelessness.
Newport said campus ombudsman Al Perone is an excellent source for help to students struggling financially. While the university is limited on the help it can provide, Perone has been a part of ISU and the Terre Haute community for more than 30 years maintains working relationships with many local organizations that can help struggling veterans and students.
In February, Hawtin said he was staying in a hotel close to campus but when the weather improved, he would return to a camping area along the river where many homeless people stay. Hawtin said he spent this past summer and the beginning of the fall semester there.
“It is not bad,” Hawtin said, “since they moved it the snakes aren’t as bad.”
Other than the occasional snake, Hawtin said occasionally there would be a raccoon or possum scavenging for food. Sometimes that can be problematic Hawtin explains because they can get in the tent.
“I would put scraps and breadcrumbs outside at night,” Hawtin said, “in the morning they would all be gone, but I never had any problem with them trying to get in my tent.”
Hawtin originally wanted to attend Baylor University in Texas but said it was too expensive and he did not qualify for any scholarships because he had been out of school so long. He explained that he wanted to go to Baylor because it is one of the best Baptist colleges in the country and he wanted to become on ordained minister.
Hawtin’s goal is to earn his undergraduate degree here at ISU. Once he has his degree, he plans to apply for graduate school at Baylor University. He figures that he will have a academic experience and can now qualify for scholarships to afford the university. Until then, Hawtin said he wants to change his life and circumstances, starting with improving his pessimistic outlook on life.
Ultimately, he wants to use this degree and any future degrees to help others.
“I have to work without making excuses,” Hawtin said, “whatever comes my way, I am resolved to do this.”
