A few years ago, I was sitting on a sidewalk in New York City talking with a man who had served in the military. As we spoke, he told me about his years of service, the places he had been stationed, and some of the challenges he faced after returning home. He wasn’t looking for sympathy. He wasn’t angry. In many ways, he was simply trying to survive another day.

What struck me most wasn’t his story. It was the question his story raised. How does someone serve their country and still end up homeless? 

Over the next few weeks, I want to explore that question.