Michael Sean Cule’s Journey:
For Michael Sean Cule, life was once full of accomplishments. A proud military veteran, he had built a good life for himself. But everything changed when he suffered a traumatic brain injury, leaving him with significant challenges—including the loss of his sight. From that moment on, his world became a constant battle for survival.
Michael’s struggles began in 2008, but things became even worse after he lost his property in a hurricane. Left with no place to go, he lived in his truck for years, trying to apply for Social Security and VA benefits while dealing with mounting debt.
"I came to The Salvation Army because no one else would take me," Michael recalls. "With my medical diagnosis, finding a place to stay was nearly impossible. Everywhere was either full, or they wouldn’t accept someone with my condition. I lacked family support, struggled to fill out paperwork for benefits, and had difficulty communicating because of my brain injury. It felt like I was trapped."
"I couldn’t fill out applications, and no one wanted to house me. I ended up in places that weren’t beneficial for my recovery. Even my friends couldn’t bear to take care of me because they didn’t know how to handle my condition.
That all changed when he arrived at The Salvation Army Center of Hope. "The moment I walked in, everything was different. I was assigned a caseworker who helped me with all my paperwork and got me my VA benefits—up to 90%! I was given a home base, a place where I could begin to rebuild my life. When you’re living on the streets in my condition, the dangers are unimaginable. Without The Salvation Army, I wouldn’t have been able to get my benefits, and I’d still be out there, struggling to survive."
For Michael, the support went beyond just housing and benefits. "I hadn’t had this much of a social life in over 10 years. The staff here are amazing. They’ve made me feel like family. I’ve regained hope. I’ve been given a housing voucher—something I never thought would happen—and now I have a place where I can function like a normal human being. I’m even hoping to get a job soon and start another company."
Michael’s story is one of resilience, but it’s also a testament to the life-changing impact of The Salvation Army. "If you ever find yourself homeless or in a situation like mine, don’t give up. There is help out there. And one place that will truly fight for you is The Salvation Army."
The Salvation Army Center of Hope
The Salvation Army Center of Hope is a 24/7 life navigation center designed to transition single veterans and non-veteran males who are experiencing homelessness back into the community: by providing them with a safe place, basic needs, case management and resources to connect them quickly to permanent housing. Our dedicated staff equip guests to embrace responsibility, meet goals and gain self-sufficiency.
Veterans’ programs are housed at The Salvation Army Center of Hope. These include Grant Per Diem Bridge Beds (GPD) and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF).
GPD Program is a contract between The Veterans Administration and The Salvation Army offering 30 bridge beds to veterans who are in the process of being permanently housed by the Houston and Harris County Housing Authorities.
The SSVF Program is grant funded by the Veterans Administration. The program assists veteran individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The program goal is to rapidly transition program participants to housing stability, links to community resources and mainstream benefits, and development of a plan to prevent future instability.
Proverbs 19:17: "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed".