Mr. Richard Lynch is quick to smile and always ready to chat! He grew up in Fort Smith Arkansas and joined the Army in 2012. “I have lots of family who served and I knew I’d eventually join up. It was up to me to keep the tradition in this generation. And I liked being in the service, in the First Infantry Division.”
He served stateside as an MP and after leaving the military he eventually came back to Fort Smith. He worked a variety of jobs including cattle work, chef, and retail. “I never did use my military experience. I didn’t want to do law enforcement.”
Mr. Lynch began experiencing chronic pain while in the military but did not seek medical attention. “It was just something you toughed out. And truthfully, no one had much sympathy for anyone being sick. And when I left the Army, I had no idea what my benefits were. No one sits you down and explains that.“
“I had begun using marijuana and drinking a lot. Later I figured out I was self-medicating, but I had lots of people doing that and it seemed pretty normal to me. I stopped smoking, but eventually, my drinking spiraled out of control. I married in 2021. But then I got arrested on a public intoxication charge in February 2022 and that was enough for her. She left; I was left homeless and on my own. I went to a halfway house in November, but later my hours got cut and I couldn’t pay my share of the rent so I was kicked out. That’s when I found SSVF and St. Francis House. “
SSVF was able to place Mr. Lynch in a hotel while they helped him work with the Day Treatment Center to get him into the St. Francis House Re-Entry program. “They were great. They helped me with groceries, put me in touch with the Day Treatment Center and Fort Roots, and started helping look into benefits.”
Once at S t. Francis House, Mr. Lynch jumped right into working on making his life. “I’ll never, never, ever let myself be in that position again. I felt like I lost my humanity when I became homeless. Now I’m going to weekly recovery groups; I’m on anti-craving meds to help me stay sober; I’m working on getting my disability and on getting treatment for my back and my mental health issues.”
St. Francis House and SSVF have been awesome. If any Veteran needs help, I would tell them that you don’t have to do it on your own. It’s never too late to get treatment, to say ‘I need help’. And St. Francis House and SSVF staff will do everything they can; they want to help you. Take the chance. After ten years of struggle, I would not be able to say ‘I’m a recovering alcoholic’, to see the light at the end of the tunnel if I had not gotten help.”