Marine is New to Atlanta – The Power of Collaboration

Jonathan committed to serving his country as a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, honorably discharging after 7 years with several deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

After taking time to decompress and heal in Texas, Jonathan packed up and moved to Georgia seeking a new start. He came into town with few belongings, and even fewer connections. The local Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment referred Jonathan to TWA to help map out a plan for his transition to Atlanta. Completing his degree was very important to Jonathan, but he was also in need of a place to live and furnishings. This proved to be quite a challenge due to his financial hardship and need for securing VA benefits.

TWA Navigators met with Jonathan and responded to the immediate situation by connecting him with Gwinnett Technical College, who assisted with his registration and course selection. On the housing front, TWA identified an apartment nearby and contacted Open Doors for financial assistance with the initial move-in expenses. Jonathan was then introduced to the Atlanta Furniture Bank, who provided a voucher for his basic living needs and loan for additional furniture. Having completed these critical path issues within a 2 week timeframe, TWA initiated the initial VA enrollment process and enrolled him into a credit counseling program offered by BB&T.

For Warriors coming to Atlanta seeking new opportunities, finding where to go and how to start can be overwhelming. Jonathan’s story is a shining example of how organizations working together in a systematic way can make a huge, immediate impact- one life at a time! Being Warrior Committed means everyone focusing efforts on breaking down barriers for veterans is the primary objective.