Returning home as a veteran can sometimes be the most challenging tour of duty a soldier must face, especially if they take that journey alone. Air Force veteran Dwight Radcliff – who died earlier this week of a heart attack at age 55 – understood all too well the challenges of returning to civilian life and the importance of finding a strong support network. After overcoming his own struggle with substance abuse and homelessness, Radcliff went on to help thousands of veterans find jobs, homes and counseling as president and chief executive of United States Veterans Initiative, the non-profit that helps veterans in five states and the District of Columbia. The sudden and early loss of someone who has made a vital difference in so many lives is upsetting, but Radcliff’s commitment to helping returning vets will surely serve as an inspiration for nationwide efforts to end veteran homelessness.
Only a few weeks ago, Radcliff attended a ground-breaking ceremony for a new $34.9-million affordable housing development near Los Angeles International Airport designed for low-income veterans. Joined by U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, Senator Barbara Boxer, and veterans from each branch of the Armed Services, Radcliff commented on the importance of the new project:
