If there’s one thing that’s been a constant in 60-year-old Cheng Chen’s life, it’s change. In the 1980s, Cheng’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan. Five years later, Cheng completed his mandatory service in the Taiwan Navy and joined his family in Odessa, Texas.
“It took time to learn English, but I relate to a lot of American values, especially when it comes to religion. They emphasize humanity and doing good. It was a lot of learning and before long, I felt very at home,” said Cheng.
Education Brings Opportunity
Although he loved Texas and the people he met there, Cheng knew his journey wasn’t over. After earning an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) degree, he moved to Phoenix, Ariz. to study engineering at Arizona State University (ASU).
Cheng learned that the university offered a scholarship to those who joined the National Guard. He decided that it would be the perfect opportunity.
He completed his basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas before training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio to become a medic with the Army National Guard. After, Cheng was stationed in Glendale, Ariz., where he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering at ASU.
The Struggles of Mental Illness
Cheng also served in the Air National Guard while working as a civilian for a utility company. There, Cheng suffered emotional abuse and trauma, eventually being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At the same time, Cheng’s father passed away unexpectedly.
Cheng saw several doctors and tried various medications to try to treat his depression and PTSD. When one medication caused suicidal ideations, Cheng knew he had hit rock bottom.
“I didn’t realize the depths of damage from my job. I thought I was going to start another career in the medical field, but instead, I had to quit pursuing school because it became too overwhelming,” said Cheng.
Searching for a Fresh Start
In attempts to start anew, Cheng moved to Southern California in 2006. However, he soon found that it was too expensive to live there. He was unable to find stable work due to his PTSD and recurrences of depression.
He lived in his car for the next six years before moving back to Phoenix in early 2021. The hardships of homelessness and living out of his car were overwhelming for Cheng, but at the time he knew no other way. In May 2021, Cheng left Phoenix for Flagstaff. Cheng briefly stayed at Flagstaff Shelter Services before connecting with Catholic Charities.
Finding Hope with Veterans Services
Catholic Charities’ Veterans Services helps veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness find stable housing and provides ongoing case management that includes financial planning, assistance applying for VA benefits, emergency assistance and more.
Cheng’s case manager helped him find an apartment to rent with financial assistance from the program. The Veterans Services team helped him get all the items he needed, including kitchen and cleaning supplies, a bed, and furniture.
Cheng shares, “Talking to my case managers at Catholic Charities helped a lot. I didn’t have many people to talk to.”
Faith in the Future
After living in his apartment for nearly a year, Cheng began to feel a sense of stability and began saving money. With the help of his family, Cheng purchased a condo in September 2022.
When Cheng thinks about his future, he credits his faith in God. With the guidance of God and his family, he knows he will never walk alone.
Providing veterans with the supplies they need for stability is one of the most important things Catholic Charities can do. If you’d like to support veterans like Cheng, it’s easy to donate needed items with our Amazon Charity List.
Catholic Charities’ Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF) Program serves approximately 200 veterans each year. Roughly 60% are homeless or chronically homeless, while the other 40% are veterans who are facing homelessness and need immediate help to keep them safely housed.
Catholic Charities is committed to helping veterans experiencing homelessness in Central and Northern Arizona. To join the No Longer Homeless campaign and support our Veterans, please contact a member of our Philanthropy Team at 602-650-4820 or email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, please visit our website.
