MANSFIELD, Ohio — James Harris III finally has a place of his own.
For years, the 59-year-old Navy veteran lacked permanent, stable housing. He used to sleep in abandoned houses until he entered a homeless shelter.
A couple years ago, he was caught stealing diapers and faced jail time.
“I stole some Pampers from a dollar store for a girl whose baby didn’t have diapers,” he said.
He said he served one year in Trumbull County Jail and then another six months in Richland Correctional Institution for a breaking and entering charge.
After he was released in May of this year, he said, “I didn’t have anywhere to go.”
Though he has some relatives living in the area, he said, “My one brother, he works all the time, him and his wife, and they’re never at home, and then my other brother is a drug addict. I can’t stay with him. And I have a daughter here. She’s got three kids, plus she’s raising her daughter’s kids, so I didn’t have nowhere to stay.”
He said he stayed with a friend for a week, “but this girl, she drinks and she smokes dope, so I couldn’t be around that stuff,” he said.
It wasn’t too long, however, before he crossed paths with J.D. Riley, founder of Mission Possible, an organization that aids those who have served or are currently serving in the military.
Harris, who was unaware of the local resources that could be of assistance, greatly benefited from his relationship with Riley, who could connect him to different services.
“I started [Mission Possible] in 2010, so over the last five years I’ve really met a lot of people who can help, and I know for a veteran, the very first step is to get in contact with the VA and get services established. Once services are established, the doors just open up, Riley said.
“But you have to know what doors to open up and you have to know who to contact…which is why my organization is so important for these veterans because I know whose door to knock on first.”
In Harris’ case, “He had nothing,” expressed Riley. “He didn’t have a birth certificate, he didn’t have a driver’s license, he didn’t have an ID–and you can do nothing without those things.”
For starters, she took him to the VA to get him a Veterans Identification Card. “Then we got him his birth certificate and state ID. Now that he’s got his state ID, we’re getting his Social Security card,” she said.
While helping him obtain his identification forms, Riley connected Harris to the Department of Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. This program is a joint effort between HUD and VA to move veterans and their families out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
By enrolling in this program, Harris now has a place to call home. He’s living in a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Mansfield.
“It feels great to be in my own place,” he said. “Just having my own key makes me happy.”
Some supporters of Mission Possible have donated furniture and other household essentials to help Harris with his transition.
Riley said it’s been encouraging, not only for her, but others who have supported Mission Possible, to witness Harris’ progress. “There’s a collective sense of pride,” she said.
She commented, “James is your classic case of the American dream that just gets a little off track. You just gotta’ help him get the train back on, and that’s what we’re doing little by little, day by day.”
Harris is currently working on getting a job.
As one of 10 children, he had to work at a young age to support his family. “I got to tenth grade and had to quit school because I had to go to work,” he said.
A year later, he moved to Mansfield to work at Ohio Brass.
At 19, he enlisted in the Navy, and thereafter found odd jobs to support himself.
“I’m good painter. I paint and I do roofing,” he said.
Riley, who still maintains close contact with Harris, encouraged people to contact her at missionpossiblegroup@mission-possiblegroup.org if they know of available job opportunities for Harris.
Riley tries to keep in touch with all whom she serves.
“I know everybody I take care of by name,” she said. “I don’t just hand them food and walk away from them. I find out what they need–whether housing, jobs, whatever.”
She said her organization, which she emphasized is 100 percent nonprofit, has helped other individuals find housing, in addition to Harris.
To learn more about Mission Possible, visit the website or Facebook page.
