Steven York, 59, stands Wednesday inside the Bread of Life Ministries’ Veterans Shelter. Before he was admitted to the hospital, he’d spent most of the last 10 years, including winters, living in a camper with no heat, electricity, or running water. “I was homeless, didn’t have a real place to stay, for quite a while, over 10 years,” the veteran said. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Steven York, 59, formerly of the Corinna and Dexter area, but since August living in Bread of Life Ministries’ Veterans Shelter in Augusta, works five days a week at Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center at Togus, which is just outside of Augusta.

He works as a custodian, in a training program meant to help him find a job outside of the veterans facility.

York moved to the shelter after he was discharged from the veterans’ hospital at Togus, where he’d been admitted for treatment of mental health issues. He served in the Army from 1989 to 1995.

Before he was admitted to the hospital, he’d spent most of the last 10 years, including winters, living in a camper with no heat, electricity, or running water.

“I was homeless, didn’t have a real place to stay, for quite a while, over 10 years,” York said in an interview. “I was bouncing in and out of my brother’s home, between there and the camper. And then I decided to stay in the camper.”

To stay warm in the winter, with no heat, “I just bundled up as tight as I could,” though on the worst nights of the winter, such as when a bad storm was coming, he would stay at his brother’s house.

He said he’s gotten a lot of help with his mental health at the VA and at Bread of Life.

But despite working five days a week, he still hasn’t been able to find a place of his own. He’d like to find an efficiency apartment in the Augusta area, to stay close to the VA hospital. He’s on a waiting list to get a voucher to help pay for his housing, but with or without a voucher, he said there just aren’t places available for rent.

“I’ve been looking (for an apartment of his own to rent) since I got here,” York said. “You can’t find anything available. It’s not that it’s too expensive, there’s just too many people waiting in line.”

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