Employee Spotlight

From the Streets to Serving Those Who Served

When you meet Omar, our Intake Coordinator at Village for Vets, the first thing you notice is his calm, grounded presence. Veterans pick up on it right away. “They know I understand,” he says. “I have been where they are.”

Omar’s journey to this work began in hardship. Homeless from ages 12 to 25, he spent years “running the streets, using, and surviving day-to-day.” Turning his life around was not easy. It took 12-step work and a deep commitment to emotional, spiritual, and mental balance. “You do not graduate from that work,” he says. “Every day is a chance to grow and become better for the people you serve.”

After going back to school for Human Services, Omar worked with parolees and probationers before joining New Directions, where he spent 13 years serving Veterans. Two and a half years ago, he came to Village for Vets as a case manager before stepping into his current role as Intake Coordinator. The position allows him to help Veterans in crisis instantly.

One of those moments came just last week. A Veteran who had lost her job and was facing eviction reached out to Omar. She was also coming out of a difficult relationship and needed her car repaired. The usual systems for processing her case were down, but Omar personally vouched for her. “We were able to prevent her from becoming homeless and let her stay in her own place,” he says. “She was so grateful she cried.”

Stories like this are not rare for Omar. Years ago, three Veterans he had helped, now a firefighter, a Stanford medical student, and a county mental health worker, showed up for him during his own time of personal crisis. “They took me out to dinner, and for that night, I was okay. It reminded me that I am doing God’s work. This is what I am supposed to be doing.”

Omar’s responsiveness is legendary among the Veterans we serve. He returns every call within 24 hours, often sooner. “It is stressful to not hear back when you are in an emergency,” he says. “Even if the answer is not what someone wants to hear, getting back to them matters.”

At Village for Vets, Omar is more than a point of contact. He is a lifeline. His lived experience, compassion, and relentless follow-through remind Veterans that they are not forgotten, and that second chances are always worth fighting for.

Your support keeps people like Omar on the front lines, helping Veterans find stability and hope when they need it most. Please Donate today.