About this series:

Homeless. Veteran. These two words don’t belong together. How could someone who is willing to die for our country wind up on the streets, kicked to the curb after their service? I’m on a mission to draw as many of Alabama’s homeless veterans as possible and let them tell their stories.

In October, Reckon and AL.com videographer Amanda Khorramabadi and I, the dorky cartoonist, were invited to attend Stand Down Together in Huntsville, a 3-day event which brings homeless veterans in off the streets for the weekend at the Jaycees Center, a large gymnasium-like facility. While there, veterans are assigned cots to sleep on and offered services such as haircuts and dental work, food, clothing and supplies they can take with them when they leave.

We asked for volunteers to tell their stories, but only a few were willing to talk on the record. One fellow said, “If we’re on TV or in the paper talking about stuff it wouldn’t be good for us back out on the street.” Charles Gilliam was one of the few who stepped up to the table.

Charles Gilliam, Huntsville

U.S. Army, 6 years

Charles tells his story:

“I spent six years in the Army. Three years in Hawaii, 24 months in France, Italy, Spain. Been there, done it. Unfortunately, I am homeless now. It’s my own fault. Homelessness affects everybody, but it doesn’t have to be this way. I have stories to tell you would not believe. I started to write a book. Calling it ‘Life Under A Bridge.’

“I lived under the Governors Drive bridge for 2 ½ years. Rats this big,” he says, lifting his hands about a foot and a half apart. “Don’t dare bring food under the bridge, they’ll stink it up. Snakes. Vermin. Life under a bridge is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

“I come from a very prominent family from the northwest side of Huntsville, Alabama. Things went real wrong. Drugs, alcohol. My mother and father died. There were family issues. I’ve been homeless and on my own since 2003.

“I have seen things that are unbelievable. People climbing into dumpsters to get something to eat. This is America. Humans aren’t supposed to live like this.

“Never say never. It’ll turn on you. There’s a bunch of stuff I said I’d never do. Not me. Are you nuts? But when you’re homeless, you just might have to. It’s called survival. Simply because I don’t have any money, I’ve got to sleep in the gutter? I’ve got to sleep under a bridge?

Tears well up in his eyes as Charles gathers himself. He is quiet for a moment.

“It hurts me. It hurts me. It shouldn’t be this way, man. I did my six years in the military. I’ve been in some strange countries. But I’ve never experienced something like this - in my own backyard. It’s unacceptable. It’s messed up. You wait for Checkers to close so they bring some throw-away out there. I’ve done it. I had to survive.

“Now, I have done wrong. I’m not a saint. But you can’t keep punishing people for things they did 25-30 years ago. Ok, I got a few misdemeanors and stuff like that - for what? Marijuana. You can’t do anything in Alabama if you have a possession charge. Alabama has no statute of limitations. You can’t hold this over somebody’s head forever. What I did at 18-19 – here I am fixing to turn 65 - I paid my dues. Went to jail for it. I’m older now. Wiser. You’re telling me I can’t get public housing for something I did almost 40 years ago?

“Huntsville is no place for the homeless.

“I did the Salvation Army program and I did the Mission program. If you don’t go to the church service, you don’t eat. I don’t have a denomination. I have God in my heart. But you can’t refuse me food because I didn’t attend church. You’re not gonna bribe me to eat. I’ll go dumpster-diving.

“What could Huntsville do better? First, recognize the homeless. These guys go down under the bridge and pan handle. The police lock ‘em up. They’re trying to make a few dollars, and they get locked up.

“What could Huntsville do better? Have a heart. I have seen females just out there on the street. At least take in the females and give them some place to stay. I don’t wanna go there, but I’m going to – I have seen so many women out there that – for a cigarette, a cup of coffee --- I’m not lying to you. Huntsville should do something with the homeless women first. Women and children first. Men can handle it. But I hate to see a female out there homeless. It’s not good.

“I’m in debt, OK? The VA has been very good to me. I bought two homes. The VA is not gonna finance me another home. I forfeited the second one – haven’t finished paying for it. I went to technical school on my GI bill. I have no problem with the VA. This was all my fault, totally.

“I’m sincere. I’m honest. If I need something, I will ask for it. I’m not gonna take it. I want you to know if you see my face, if I ask you for a quarter or 50 cents, it’s because I need it. I don’t want it. If I ask for something, I am in need.

“I have three sons and six grand-daughters. I talk to ‘em daily. My ex-wife, too. She still loves me. I’m trying to get myself together. I’m not destitute. I have friends in low places. I don’t sleep out on the streets every night, but sometimes I need some space. I’m well off. I’m not blind, crippled or crazy. I got a 21-speed bike. I stay in shape.

“Word to the wise: There is help out there. Don’t be in denial. Focus. There’s a solution to every problem. You don’t have to wind up like me.

“Life under a bridge. Human beings aren’t supposed to live like that.”

Read more Alabama homeless veteran stories

Watch more Alabama homeless videos

Veterans Crisis Line - 1-800-273-8255 press 1

Priority Veteran - Serves homeless veterans from all of Alabama except Mobile and Baldwin Counties

Housing First - Serves homeless veterans in Mobile and Baldwin Counties

Stand Down Together - Serves homeless veterans in the Huntsville area

Check out the gallery of Alabama homeless veterans