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Workers pose for a group photo inside an industrial tank they’ve built. Construction work requires teamwork, meticulous attention to detail, and camaraderie — the very qualities that military veterans bring with them when they transition to civilian careers.
“It’s a very sad state of affairs in Canada that there’s And if a veteran is living with PTSD or another
a very high percentage of homeless veterans in the disability, he or she is still welcome to register with
homeless community,” says Maloney. “Some of Helmets to Hardhats.
these individuals may have PTSD (post-traumatic
stress disorder) issues, some of them may have “There’s lots of opportunities in the construction
addiction issues, and some of them may have just industry that don’t require that much physical
fallen on bad luck. We want to make sure homeless capability, depending on the occupation or trade
veterans are aware of our program, they have you’re looking for,” explains Maloney. “We do not
access to it, and we’re there to help them along.” turn away disabled veterans and even if you’ve been
discharged medically, and you have PTSD, that’s
Helmets to Hardhats began a pilot in Toronto, fine. We work with that.”
with Good Shepherd Ministries. The shelter would
identify a homeless veteran in its facility, and assist Maloney says veterans are encouraged to disclose
him or her until the individual is placed into housing. any issues they have to potential employers,
Once the veteran is housed, he or she is referred because assistance might be available to them.
to Helmets to Hardhats, and the organization All veterans registered with Helmets to Hardhats
will work to get him or her into one of the various have been honourably discharged, and have been
construction trades. verified as serving or former military.
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