Fighting to End Veteran Homelessness with US VETS Coordinator Heather Harvin

In the military, you're given a uniform and instructed on how to do things and when to do them. But what happens when the cadence fades and you're no longer wearing that uniform? I'm Kp and I started this podcast to fill that silence with direction and to provide overall support for my beloved military family. Welcome to the Morning formation. This episode is powered by act now education, go to www dot ATT now education.com For free, comprehensive educational resources and opportunities for active duty veterans, military spouses and children.

Yes, so our mission is to help in veteran homelessness. Unfortunately, a lot of the homeless population they are veterans or military affiliated in some some way shape or form. And so we really make it our mission to go out on the streets and help you know help these homeless veterans so we have housing units housing locations, we also have a workforce development program to help them transition into civilian life have successful careers.

This episode is dedicated to Heather Harbans father, retired Army veteran Roy Harvin, who raised a daughter, that's now giving back to the few and the brave. Warriors fall in, it's time for formation. Today, I'm joined with a very talented guest, who grew up as a military brat, her father and his actual twin, both retired from the United States Army, which is pretty interesting, in my opinion. Today, our guest serves as the national corporate and Community Relations Coordinator for us vets. And we're going to talk about her her employer, her position, her journey, and her passion for reaching back and helping out the veteran community. So today, I'd like to welcome Miss Heather Harvin to the morning formation podcast.

Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.

No, listen, I met you last fall at the military influencer conference, along with many other folks that I had known, virtually through the pandemic. And it was interesting to talk to you and just to hear your overall passion. And, and I wanted to definitely get you on the podcast to talk about your position, because it's such an important position. But, you know, doing research on you, Heather, and I know you briefly spoke about this before, too. You've seen quite a bit of success in music, specifically in singing. And I know, I know from being a military brat and myself being a military brat, that it was quite a challenge to have study Educational Studies, and any type of study hobby. Now, how did your singing talent come along? With your upbringing? With being a military dependent?

No, for sure. That's actually a great question. No one's ever asked me that before. So thank you. It was quite interesting, because so my dad actually sings fun fact. And he's not very public about it. But the fact that he sings, he actually was a great encourager, to me pursuing music and singing and everything. And so I lucked up, because my dad was retired, by the time I was trying to take my music and singing very seriously at a young age. And so I was able to, you know, train and go to classes and go to different schools to really educate myself with my music. So I'm super fortunate for that. My brothers, however, did not have that experience with my dad being in the military at the time, so I feel bad for them, but I don't feel bad for me.

Right? I don't know, there's pros and cons to that. On one hand, I look back at my time, you know, childhood growing up, and I think, man, you know, I really wish I could have created those deep roots, you know, with whatever school I ended up at. But on the other hand, you know, I moved from Hawaii, to the state of Ohio, and everywhere in between. I met so many people over the span of my childhood that by the time I was fully an adult, I guess I had a real appreciation for, I guess, all types of cultures, you know, and that's, that's the beauty of being a military brat. But you didn't get a chance to really experience that. Hmm.

I didn't know. We moved once. And we moved maybe 3045 minutes from one place to the other. That was really it. But I will say I did, I did experience my dad's very strict nature will say that. And I'm very fortunate because the discipline that he instilled in me, I really believe that it has shaped me to be the woman that I am today, for sure. So shout out to the military and all of the rules. And just all of the structure because it just it creates a great foundation in being an adult. And I wholeheartedly believe that and I'm grateful.

I can tell that you and your father have a lot of respect for one another, because I know that you mentioned him on some of your Instagram posts, and even how you carry yourself as well. You're very professional. And I have a deep appreciation for that. Even when I met you at the conference. Yeah, even though I mentioned the conference talking to you. It was it was it was great, you know. And speaking of the military influencer conference, yeah. What did you think about it? What, what was your greatest takeaway from the event? And are you planning on going back in 2023?

For sure, I will be very honest, I didn't know what to expect. And it kind of fell into my lap because one of our corporate sponsors that we work with at US vets my job, she actually invited us and she was one of the speakers during the military implementer conference. And so I went in a little bit hesitant. Like I said, I didn't know what to expect. And I will say that I left feeling very encouraged and inspired and motivated to go back to US Vets, making sure that we really do our best to help end veteran homelessness. And just to see, it was inspiring to see a lot of veterans and just a lot of influencers, and also business owners in the military that really are successful, because they just worked so hard. And it just gives me faith and vision for the veterans that we serve. Currently a US vets for sure. Yeah.

Yeah. So were you able to stay the whole time? Or were you just there for a couple of days?

So I think so the first night, that's when we met my first night we had met, and then I left? I want to say that Saturday evening? So I'm not sure I think that might have been majority of the conference.

Yeah, yeah, it actually was, I wish I had stayed the whole time. I was only there for like two days. But I think next year, I'm gonna plan on staying there the whole time next year, because there was so much going on and so much to take in at that conference. But you know what? It was, it was interesting to talk to you to hear about your father and his twin, go into the army and actually retire out of the Army, and how much love and respect you have for each other. But also to would you mind talking to me? As far as like what you do know about your father's military service? What was your family's experience? Like? What are some of the things that your siblings say about it?

Is, so I it's funny, because I actually just found this out at Christmas 2022. So a few months ago, so my dad actually served in the Army, wow, all three, excuse me, two of my three siblings, so to my two of my brothers while while they were born, so he didn't even get a chance to see them. I had no idea. And so of course, there's a little saltiness and bitterness there on their part, and I understand. But from but I do know, my dad always talks about his favorite country is Germany. So he served in Germany for a few years, and he loved it. And he always talks about just when the Berlin Wall came down, because he was stationed there. And then he just my dad is pretty old. So that just shows you like how long ago he served, but so many memories. And he always talks about how so when he enlisted, he and my uncle, they did not know that they they were twins. And so i Dad, he talks about how one of the sergeants, you know, had asked for Harvin. I saw last name Harvin. And so my dad stepped up first introduce himself, you know, it goes everything just okay, get back in line. And then he was going down the list and my uncle's next. And my uncle steps for it. And the sergeant's like, didn't you just already go? And then that's when he realized, oh, it's two of them.

Like double trouble.

Yeah, double trouble. But you know, it's, it's it, it actually makes me a little emotional, because I mean, just a little backstory about my dad and my uncle. They grew up in the South, in the 1940s. So it wasn't considered a plantation in the 1940s then, but my dad pretty much grew up on a plantation where he would pick cotton, you know, where he really had to work. And he was the second oldest of eight, he and my uncle and so they had to provide for the younger children. And he went to the army so that way he could provide for his family, you know, my brothers and his siblings and everything. And he talks about how just being exposed to new countries, new people, new cultures, and really inspired him to do his best and be his best for his family. And so when he came back, he was able to provide for his family in ways that he couldn't do it and in the beginning, and so, he just so many Great memories that he always shares and, and he also taught me how to shoot a gun because he learned how to shoot a gun in the army. So there you go.

And just so you know, Germany is my favorite country too. I love Germany.

I've always wanted to go,

I loved I love the food there. I love the culture. It's a very, very deep culture, like the castles and even the architect is really great. And, and it's absolutely amazing to hear your father, where he came from, there's a lot of folks in the veteran community join the military, to make that sacrifice to hopefully have a better future a better tomorrow. And that's one of the things that, that I think a lot of us, you know, come from less than desirable situations, including myself, growing up, my father was in the military. But at the end of the day, my parents did not have the best relationship. There's a lot of domestic violence and things like that growing up. So I always wanted to be like my dad at the same time. Because he was, he was just such a strong figure. And he sounds a lot like your father. And they, they served right around the same time my father and your father because my dad was around during the Berlin Wall and, and he got it in 71, retired in 91. So so I definitely understand where you're coming from you talk about that stuff, man. It really hits home for me, too. So sounds like your father is an outstanding sounds like your father is an outstanding gentleman. And a true professional. So then makes a lot of sense why you are where you are, Heather, you're actually working for us vets now. And so can you talk to our audience about what is us vets, their mission, their vision, and what are some of their core values?

Absolutely. So US vets or United States Veterans Initiative, we are the largest nonprofit to help end veteran homelessness. So we have 12 sites nationally across the US, we actually just opened our 13 site last Tuesday at the West LA VA, which is really nice. We had a huge opening. It was amazing. And we're actually in the process of opening two more sites, if I'm not mistaken. Another one in Houston and one in Atlanta. Hopefully we'll see. But, yes, so our mission is to help end veteran homelessness. Unfortunately, a lot of the homeless population, they are veterans, or military affiliated in some some way, shape or form. And so we really make it our mission to go out on the streets, and help, you know, help these homeless veterans. So we have housing units, housing locations, we also have a workforce development program to help them transition into civilian life, have successful careers. We provide their families, as well as they need food, shelter, anything, any type of just resources that they need to get back on their feet, like I said, to transition them back into civilian life. That is our mission and our focus. It's very unfortunate, because a lot of our veterans are, say a good majority, they go in and they serve, obviously, they serve our country, and they serve our country well. And then when they come back, they just really, they don't know what to do after that, you know, they don't have a lot of opportunities that are lined up for them. And so they kind of go into this whole into this pit where they are stuck. And they they need help. And so that is what US vets, that's what we're here for to really help them get back on their feet.

Yeah, it's absolutely amazing to look at the statistics and look at the amount of homeless and how many folks that were in the military were a part of that. That statistic specifically, but then also with the suicide rates. And it's alarming with with with that being said, and you know, I can't tell you that there's one reason why that is? It's a very complicated, I guess a complicated answer as of why that is. But I highly, highly appreciate nonprofits like US vets, and folks like yourself for stepping up and choosing to do this because at the end of the day, you're very intelligent woman. There's many things that you could be doing, but you chose this specific employer and to do this role. And speaking of which, would you mind talking about your position with us vets?

Absolutely. So my official title is the national corporate and Community Relations Coordinator. Hopefully, I will be a manager soon, putting it out there. But my specific focus, my specific, specific focus is to really just connect with the communities, local businesses, national corporate sponsors, organizations, entertainment groups, just to really help secure sponsorship to provide funding, but also to get their employees involved where they employees want to volunteer at a certain site. If they want to maybe do a service project where they're serving our veterans in some way, shape or form. That's typically my focus, and then all So too, I work on our national cause marketing campaign, which is entitled make camo your cause to hashtag honor us vets. And essentially what we're doing with that is the same thing that Susan G komen did with pink and how that's associated with breast cancer. So anytime you see, I don't know if pink toolbox or something, you know that when you buy that some proceeds will be going back to Susan G. Komen to support and breast cancer. And so we are trying to to, to do that with the camo print, really just having that associated with US vets and ending veteran homelessness. So we're going into our third year of our campaign. And we definitely want this year to be bigger and greater and just more dynamic, but really just spreading awareness through the camo print to help us in veteran homelessness and to support our veterans.

Well, yeah, that's absolutely fascinating. And I'm sure that you guys are rolling out multiple programs per year, right?

Yes, yeah, we have. We have a mental health program, Workforce Program. Transitional housing, permanent housing is so so many different, yes. A lot of resources for sure.

So what are some things that, you know, most people would know about us vets that you've experienced during your time there?

I would say I would actually say ironically, is women's history month ago, women will. But I would say that a lot of people wouldn't know that we have quite a few women veterans that we serve with their families, a lot of single moms. And because I think a lot of people will assume that we most of our clients are men and male. And yes, they are. But we actually have a good chunk of women veterans, that we help support and serve. And who have gone to be very successful. So yes, shout out to the women.

Yeah, no doubt, and no doubt about it. Some of my best connections that I have, through the podcast are women veterans, who have been so, so loyal, and also provided so much value to me, and I've done my best to try to provide value back to them. But they've opened my eyes to so many problems and issues within the community as well. And, and they're doing their part to help out the military community. But overall, Heather, you know, what is your why, you know. Why out of all the things that you could possibly be doing? Why did you choose to find employment with us vets? And what is your passion behind all this?

I mean, I think it comes full circle, right? So we started off talking about just my dad and his experience, and fun facts. So I'm actually a mommy's girl. My mom's my best friend. And so growing up, my dad and I had a very interesting relationship. My parents still married. I love my dad. And I will say to this day that if I'm ever blessed with a husband that I pray that he's like, my dad in many ways. Specifically, just even with his work ethic, my dad worked very hard. And my dad always provided we were never without. But being a creative, of course, I can be emotional, I can be crazy, you know, I'm a creative, I don't know how to, you know, I just, I'm artistic. And so my dad and I didn't speak the same language growing up for a little bit. And we had a very weird dynamic. And so this is me working US Vets, is my way of just honoring my dad in the way that I wish I did. While I was growing up. I'm super grateful for my dad, like I said, and as an adult, I can I tell him every day, I'm like, Dad, you have no idea how grateful I am that you were hard on me, you know that you made me clean every Saturday, you know, that you made me when I when I made my bed to tuck in those corners. Because I know, you know, I know all about the tucking in the corners of the bed. So just everything that he taught me. This is this is me saying thank you. And this is me saying that something that he is very proud of and something that unfortunately, US Vets wasn't around when my dad was in the military. So when my dad retired, he had to find employment, you know, on his own and so this is me giving back to his his brothers, his community, you know, this is me supporting him in an indirect way and just really just honoring my honoring my father honoring you honor US Vets. This is me doing that. So yeah,

yeah, I What's funny is I remember I remember you talking about that when we spoke at the military influencer conference talking about how you had to make your bed you had to do this and you hated it growing up

My dad was on me, but as an adult, I'm like, I'm so OCD. I'm like, I hate anything that's dirty. I'm like not when it needs to be clean and it has to be ordered. There needs to be structure. And it needs to be organized and Thank you, dad.

Yeah, no doubt my father was the same way to my dad was a drill sergeant for five years and was a ranger and all that stuff. So he was very much very strict just like your father. And I think every kid goes through that phase where you don't necessarily see eye to eye with the disciplinarian in the relationship, right? You go through that phase, and then later on in life, you kind of come back to appreciate some of the life lessons. And there's survivability is what it is, is what you are teaching your kids when you do that sort of thing. But speaking of the military influence, or conference and how I remember you talking about that, you know, I was just thinking like, you're gonna be going through this this year, right?

I'm hoping to, I think they changed is in November now, right? It's no longer in October. I think it's in November. Yeah. That might be a little hard, because obviously, veterans days in November, and so depending on when it falls, we have our big gala. Right before the day before Veterans Day. So I mean, I will try my hardest to make it work because I actually really enjoyed myself. So

yeah, well, I was just thinking like, how cool would it be to have the famous Heather Harvin sang the national anthem? Maybe maybe to break it open to open it up? I know. We need to figure that out.

I don't know what they don't know if they will want me to I don't know.

Why would they not want you? You're like the perfect person. You you represent so much. You represent so much. I don't know. I was just thinking that you know, and, you know, you seem like he got such an interesting music career. Just to talk about that the pivot to that, you know, what's, what's beyond the horizon for you like going forward with what you're personally doing? With your, either your career or your music? Where will we see Miss Harvin in the next 510 years or so?

Well, I can say in, I guess next week. Next week, Miss Harvin will be headed to Austin to perform at a songwriters exhibit during South by Southwest. So I'm very excited about that. It kind of fell into my lap. I so just so you know, yes, I sing. I love to love to perform. But a deep passion of mine is songwriting. And if I could, I would write songs all day, every day. I love creating sounds for other voices, and just lyrics and all of that. And so I'm excited that this particular company or brand name

So far, have you worked with any? Any big names? Balanced Breakfast there each year, they hold a songwriters Expo during South by Southwest to just showcase national songwriters up and coming and so they selected me this year. So I will be in Austin literally next Friday for that. And I'm excited about that. And I mean, the goal the ultimate dream I would love to win Song of the Year for at the Grammys, just songwriting just sharing my story or just being able to write for a Rihanna or to write for an Ariana Grande or Beyonce, you know, just those those big names and to be able to just be

So I actually I have not worked for Beyonce, acknowledged for that. So that would be great. Rihanna. I'm not there yet. But I have been fortunate enough to actually sing with quite a few American Idol artists, so which is pretty cool. So I would say like maybe more like B-listers. Yeah.

Yeah, of course. Yeah. That's really fascinating. That you have so much going on by the time this publishes. It'll already be past. It usually takes me a few weeks just to edit these. Yeah. But um, if I can find it on YouTube or anything like that, I'll make sure I throw that into the show notes. So if it's if it's out there, I'll definitely put the link down there. So you can check out how how Heather did how well she did because we all know she's gonna. She's got a beautiful Yes.

Oh, thank you. I am very I was very fortunate. Right before COVID Actually, I was able to perform at the Hollywood Bowl with Kristin Chenoweth. I don't know if you guys don't know she is she's a huge musical theater Broadway star. She's now a TV film actress, very talented. And so just being able to perform on that big stage with such an icon in the musical theater world. It was a dream come true.

Oh, no doubt about it. No doubt about it. Know, what part of the South are you from?

I'm actually from Baltimore, Maryland. My dad is from Charleston, South Carolina. Okay, okay.

When I think of music in the south, I either think of Nashville or Atlanta. Wow, of course, of course. I don't know why is that is that pretty much the two music capitals of the South?

Absolutely. And yes, definitely Nashville. Sure. For sure Atlanta. And actually, North Carolina is starting to come, you know, get a little bigger. But yeah, for sure. Nashville and Atlanta. I've actually never been in Nashville, I've always wanted to go. So hopefully that can happen soon to

know, was that part of your reason for moving to LA?

It was, so I moved, I turned 18. And I said, I want to be a music star. I'm leaving Baltimore. There's nothing here for me, I'm by. And I've now been here for 14 years. And I love it.

Yeah, and I know, there's a lot of folks that come here for acting and music and things like that. And I actually didn't think about it. So just now put two two together, you know, because your family is all down there. And then you're up here sort of on your own, makes sense that you wanted to launch your career and come up here and find those opportunities out there. So Heather has been so awesome learning about you, your position, your passion behind what you do. Now, over the years, you know, you've been working for us vets for over a year now, from what I see. And with that being said, you know, what, what advice would you have for folks in our military community, if there's any piece of advice, any chunk of advice that you'd like to provide? What would that be?

I will say, just a piece of advice is just, I think, just from working with the clients that we serve with us, Fitz, a lot of them end up homeless, because they are hopeless, and they feel like they don't have that same community and support that they have while they were serving. And so a piece of advice would just be to those who are currently serving or to veterans who might feel that they're very isolated or lonely, just please know that, you know, there are resources available to you, specifically, even within US vets, we are a family, and we want to welcome you into our family, you know, we want to do our part to make sure that you are taken care of and just know that you are not alone, because a lot of them, like I said, they really feel like it's just them against the world. And that's not, that's not true at all, we are here to walk with you. And we're here to fight with you always.

Yeah, that's, that's, that's deep actually. And being a vet myself, I know the feeling. They say less than 5% ever served in the US military, and then an even lesser percentage of that ever go to war. So a lot of times when I'm sitting at the Thanksgiving table with my family, or if I'm sitting at a large table with my friends, I can count on this, that I will probably be the only one there that has my experiences. And sometimes it makes it very difficult to assimilate or to share those experiences. And a lot of times, you will get the weird questions. Sometimes inappropriate, sometimes strange. And sometimes you get the stereotypes too. So it's important for those of us that are in the community to stick together and, and provide that hope, just like what you mentioned right now provide that hope and make sure folks know that they're not alone, and that there is help out there. I know that what you see today is me doing this podcast and I seem like I'm doing okay, but I've had a lot of dark moments in my own life, that I've had to tread water and overcome obstacles. So I deeply appreciate folks like you who are dedicating their career and their time and their lives, to reach back to our military community and help out so thank you so much for what you do with us vets and your passion for that.

And thank you for your service seriously. We, you know, we need more KP'S in the world. We do. We really do. So thank you. And this podcast forum is beautiful. So thank you for having me. I loved it.

Absolute honor, absolute honor to talk to folks like you and Heather, for anyone out there that's interested in following up with you on anything that you mentioned for this podcast. What's the best platform for them to contact you? Is it LinkedIn? Facebook, what what do you what do you want them to contact you on?

I would say LinkedIn is great and literally it's my first and last Heather Harvin and it's a picture of me and a red shirt, oh well, It's a black top, red bottom, but you should be able to find me. And then also Instagram as well. I always respond to my Instagram direct messages. And it's at Heather Harvin. So pretty easy to find.

Outstanding and I'll make sure that I put all that down in the podcast show notes. If you're watching this on YouTube, please go down to the description. And I'll put the all the links down there as well as well. If I can find that performance in Austin. I'll make sure I put that down there too. Hopefully they record it and they put it on YouTube or something and we can watch. We can watch you so. So thank you so much, Heather. I really appreciate your time today and doing this interview. It's been great connecting with you and I hope to see you again this year at the military influencer conference.

I will try my heart is I will, thank you so much.

Now appreciate you so and everyone else out there, please take a look at Heather on her social media platform. She's got a very fascinating music career as well as an undying passion to help our military community. And we're so grateful to have folks like her in our corner. And for everyone else out there. As always, I want you to stay tuned, stay focused, and stay motivated. Warriors fallout.