THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412090300
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Carroll Lytle earned $42,000 in 1982 as a field representative for a fast-food company. From that solid middle-class perch, Lytle plunged to homelessness in early 1994.
``I ran a $8 million operation back then, had 32 stores in North Carolina I was responsible for,'' said Lytle, 56. ``I understand they want younger people. What can you do?''
What Lytle was able to do after a couple of ``scary months on the streets'' was find a home. In July, he was accepted as a resident at one of the six Vetshouses.
The Vetshouse at the Oceanfront is on 26th Street off Baltic Avenue. The one-story wood frame house opened in May. The first Vetshouse, a privately owned shelter for homeless veterans, opened in November 1993 on North Oceana Boulevard. The six Vetshouse residences, operated as non-profit organizations, use abandoned Housing and Urban Developments properties, which they rent for $1 a year. Vetshouse receives no public funds.
What Lytle, a small, bespectacled Vietnam veteran, tried to do after his fast-food career failed was work wherever he could. He saved $3,000 and bought a car to get around and find a better job. The car burned up in a shopping center parking lot weeks later. Lytle found jobs close to his Virginia Beach trailer park so he could walk to work.
Minimum-wage jobs. He owned the trailer he lived in, but he couldn't keep up with the lot payments. He was evicted, his property seized to satisfy back payments and his wages were garnisheed.
The former Granby High School wrestler and wounded combat veteran found himself without a home, but he never lost his sense of humor. Lytle's friends call him Cash.
``When you're paying $45 a week garnishee out of a minimum-wage paycheck, it doesn't leave much to live on,'' he said. ``I started calling myself No Cash.''
Lytle has been a resident for five months. He has a job at 17th Street Paper Plus, a company that supplies resort hotels and janitorial services.
His story is a typical one, unfortunately, said Larry McCauley, executive director of Vetshouse.
``These guys got into trouble because of legal problems, divorces that left them broke, cars that broke down and lost jobs,'' said McCauley. ``Very different problems than the ones that often exist in the public perception.''
A Vietnam veteran himself, McCauley retired from the Navy in October 1993 with 23 years of service.
At Vetshouse, the homeless ex-servicemen get a helping hand, not a handout. They are expected to help clean, cook and help out around the house. Once they find a job and begin working, they pay a third of their take-home to McCauley for rent. The vets follow strict rules: no drinking or drugs, no mental disorders, no criminal charges pending. In the first year of its existence, Vetshouse has provided temporary residency and other forms of assistance, such as career counseling, for 29 formerly homeless veterans and one family of four of a homeless vet.
``Seven are now on their own. Two were referred to alcohol/drug abuse rehab. One was discovered not to be a veteran.
``And, unfortunately, we had six men who were kicked out because of rules violations - drinking, non-payment of rent. One had a weapon. We can't have that, not with good men waiting to get in.''
McCauley said that all Vetshouse beds were full as of Thanksgiving weekend. He even had to turn down three men recently.
The non-profit organization that manages Vetshouses receives no public funds. It exists solely on the generosity of those willing to donate time, money or services.
McCauley said, ``We've had so many people willing to help out, either with donations or contributing furniture, household goods, that sort of thing.
``I believe in this and in these guys. They need a helping hand and someone to talk to.''
Lytle expressed gratitude for the fresh start:
``I'd be sleeping in an abandoned car if it wasn't for Vetshouse.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Carroll Lytle has been a Vetshouse resident for five months. He
works at 17th Street Paper Plus, a company that supplies resort
hotels and janitorial services.
KEYWORDS: VETERANS HOMELESS INDIGENT by CNB