“It took a while to get here, but it feels right. It feels like home.”
A Full Circle of Service
Step Up member Carol R. was born into military service. Her father, a Korean War veteran, was the last surviving member of his platoon at Pork Chop Hill, a battle fought in the spring and summer of 1953 near the end of the Korean War. Her Mother, Crystal, worked at the Pentagon. Carol was born at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and her youngest brother was born at Walter Reed. After her parents separated when she was 12, Carol was raised primarily by her military father. Carol attended Langley High School in McLean, VA, home to diplomats, military, members of Congress, and high-ranking government officials, partially due to its proximity to Washington D.C. She was active on the drill team and voted “Wittiest Girl” and “Best Dressed.” Carol grew up with stability and privilege, believing she’d always have a strong family safety net.
As a young adult, Carol studied art and theater, developing an early love for creativity and performance, and had even considered a career in the arts before following in her father’s footsteps, ultimately deciding to join the military.
Throughout the years, she believes her roots in artistic expression and discipline have helped her in both science and caregiving. It certainly now helps with her healing.
When she decided to enter a career in military service, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a nuclear weapons specialist. She served with precision and discipline and proudly credits her military experience with teaching her focus, structure, and resilience.
After Carol completed her service in the Air Force, she decided to pursue nursing, excelling in chemistry and biology. She says that she has always easily blended science and empathy in her work: “Art and science go together… I became a nurse, it’s all science.”
She later transitioned from nursing to home caregiving, specializing in hands-on support to older adults and veterans. While Carol found fulfillment in caregiving — preparing meals, providing companionship, and offering medical guidance to those in need, she stumbled when she was in a position where she needed help herself. Those who give themselves in service to others sometimes put themselves last in line to receive it, even when they need it most.
Carol had used her savings to complete nursing school, planning to rely on a promised inheritance from her father to replenish her savings down the line. As she began to age and slow down, transitioning from nursing to home caregiving, her finances became unstable. When her father passed away, she was notified that her father’s wife had assumed control of his finances, leaving her without the inheritance she expected.
Caregiving for others provided relief from housing insecurity.
To adjust to her financial instability, Carol adapted her caregiving to become a live-in caregiver to friends. First, she lived in Burbank, caring for her friend Gary until his death in 2018. Next, she moved to Moorpark to live with Joe, a 74-year-old friend she helped informally. She supported him with meals, household management, and even paperwork — helping him apply for a three-year mortgage deferment, which he desperately needed after losing the two jobs he held until the Covid-19 pandemic. When Joe sold his home due to financial strain, she also lost her housing. The final straw came during two years when she lost two brothers, her father, and half-sister, compounding her grief and instability.
From being in service to asking for help
When Joe lost his house and she realized she was now facing homelessness, Carol contacted a VA social worker for help. She was referred to the Welcome House, where she was told she could bring her therapy dog, Dakota. However, on move-in day, Carol was informed no pets were allowed, triggering panic and uncertainty. She was able to stay temporarily with Joe, refusing to give up Dakota. She remembers, “I wasn’t homeless yet, but I was close.”
During her interview, Veronica, a staff member from another veteran support organization, overheard her story and intervened, saying, “She can come down to Long Beach with her dog.” She helped her obtain a therapy dog letter from a VA psychiatrist within a week. Veronica’s referral led her to transitional housing in Long Beach, where she stayed while waiting for permanent placement. She also rented a storage unit for her belongings during this time. This period of uncertainty and impermanence for Carol was pivotal: she remained housed, kept her dog, and began her connection to Step Up’s network, which she found while taking an art class at the Long Beach VA!
Finding Home
After several months in transitional housing, she was matched with Step Up for supportive housing. Just over two years ago, on September 15th Carol moved into a one-bedroom home on the West Los Angeles VA campus, where Step Up provides ongoing support and services. Importantly, she was able to move all of her belongings out of storage. The move marked the end of instability and the beginning of peace. She says, “It took a while to get here, but it feels right. It feels like home.”
Carol’s experience is a reminder that homelessness can impact anyone — even those who are assumed to have a financial safety net because of their continual employment. While it’s not polite to ask a woman’s age, Carol’s experience also illustrates a growing population of those who experience homelessness — older adults. An article in LAist in July of 2025 noted that in the city of L.A., the number of people aged 65 and older experiencing homelessness jumped more than 17% since last year, and more than 36% in two years, according to annual point-in-time counts. The number one reason is the lack of housing that women can afford and long waiting lists to access vouchers or public housing. It is important to step in and stabilize housing insecurity and Step Up is proud to offer services like this to Veterans like Carol.
Life Now is a Deep Breath
Carol is now thriving, surrounded by supportive neighbors and new friends. She loves socializing, sharing meals, and writing poetry with fellow residents. Her neighbors say she is known for her warmth, humor, and creative spirit — a natural community-builder. “I love it here. My neighbors are so nice. I can finally just relax and breathe.”
Carol’s poetry is about love, loss, and healing. She plans to publish a collection entitled Angels Have No Season, inspired by the idea that even angels can’t fix everything — they simply stay beside us. Her favorite line from a poem of hers (about football player Brian Piccolo): “You can still hear his footsteps as he runs for his final touchdown.”
She’s also found a new passion-caring for senior dogs who are in need of a home. Pictured with this story is Sammy, a sweet German Shepherd she rescued and takes on walks on the beautiful grounds of their new home. RIP, Dakota.
Carol’s story of recovery is made possible in part thanks to the programs and services supported by people like you. To help bring more individuals like Carol, make a donation today!