How a VA peer specialist is turning empty apartments into fresh starts

By Jesus Flores, Writer and Editor, VISN 19 Creative Task Force

July 27, 2026

Peer Specialist Rick Cooper noticed that an apartment rarely feels like home when Veterans lack the basic items needed for daily living. While checking in with Veterans housed through Cheyenne VA Health Care System’s Homeless Program, he saw that some couldn’t afford basic household necessities.

According to Cooper, providing housing itself is a major step, but an empty apartment is not yet functional. That gap pushed Cooper to act.

“I just knew at that point we needed to do better by the Veterans we are moving into housing,” he said. “Some stark examples are using a black trash bag and bandages as a shower curtain, or reusing paper grocery bags as toilet paper. Providing housing alone was not enough.”