Miami-Dade Homeless Resources Helped Veteran Get Back on His Feet

For Wayne Maglich, his job is physically draining.

"Getting up in the morning is hard," he says.

But he still shows up every day on time, ready to give his work 100 percent.

Maglich, a veteran, used to be homeless. But he says doesn't use that as an excuse.

"I use it as motivation," he said.

His motivation got him a job where he makes $8.29 an hour, which was a steady wage to help him get back on his feet.

"A lot people that are homeless are afraid to talk because of the vulnerability of being homeless," he said. "I accept it."

Volunteers and officials gathered to count the homeless population in Miami-Dade County. NBC 6’s Stephanie Bertini reports.

Maglich works at Miami-based Redland Ahead, a non-profit agriculture company that focuses on giving veterans jobs.

His work ethic has earned him the respect of his boss.

"He's our star worker out here," said John Mills of Redland Ahead. "I don't tell him that very often."

Maglich was also able to get an apartment in a building operated by Carrfour Supportive Housing, a Miami-based non-profit.

Maglich was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. His father died when he was four and his mother worked odd jobs to help make ends meet.

In 1978, Maglich joined the military. He was 19. After he was discharged, he found the transition into civilian life difficult. His brother helped him get a job in South Florida, but work was unsteady and it was impossible to save money.

"I worked cheap labor, whatever I could get," he said. "It was hard to save. I put money away and then use it again. It was a cycle."

Ron Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, said most people in Miami-Dade County are just a paycheck away from being homeless.

To date, the county has 3,526 homeless people on record.

Thanks to the resources provided by the county, Maglich was able to get the help he needed.

Homeless Resources in Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade Homeless Hotline
1 (877) 994-4357‬

Miami-Dade Homeless Trust
http://www.homelesstrust.org/

Camillus House
https://www.camillus.org/

Branches
https://branchesfl.org/

In Broward County:

Broward Partnership
http://www.bphi.org/

Salvation Army
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/

Homeless Voice
https://www.homelessvoice.org/

More on homelessness in Miami-Dade:
Calls to Miami-Dade Helpline Increasing as Homelessness Risk Rises
How Volunteers Count the Homeless Population in Miami-Dade

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