A Columbus agency was awarded more than $100,000 to help veterans in central Ohio receive stable housing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus agency was awarded more than $100,000 to help veterans in central Ohio receive stable housing.

After proudly serving his country and being stationed in foreign lands like Germany, Brent Cardwell says his return home wasn’t a smooth transition.

Cardwell returned home wounded and found himself using alcohol to cope both with his emotional and physical pain.

“Things began to spiral, and they spiraled fast,” Cardwell said.

After failed marriages and failed attempts to stop drinking, Cardwell found himself homeless and at a new low. The veteran sought help and that help presented itself in the form of a Housing and Urban Development program called HUD VASH, or the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program.

The program combines clinical services from the VA and rental assistance from HUD. The goal is to reduce the number of vets who find themselves homeless.

Ten years after entering the program, Cardwell was on hand to share his story and stand by as the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority received nearly $142,000 to help even more veterans find stability.