From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Making the move from living on the streets of Champaign into a home of his own hasn’t been an easy transition for Vern Chounard, the first person to be helped by C-U at Home, an organization looking to find homes for more than a dozen people most vulnerable to dying on the streets of Champaign-Urbana.---- In the first few weeks since Chounard moved into a rental house on Dec. 20, he’s returned to the streets to sleep for some of those nights. And he still turns up at the soup kitchen that fed him during some of his eight years of homelessness.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Homeless for eight of the past eleven years, Vern Chounard talks about getting a place to live. He was at the Daily Bread soup kitchen in Champaign on Monday, Dec 19, 2011.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern Chounard listens as others talk about his future.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
John Hancock, advocate, talks about plans for Vern in the future. He was at the Daily Bread soup kitchen in Champaign on Dec. 20, 2012.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Melany Jackson, C-U At Home founder, listens as Vern Chounard talks about getting a place to live.They were at the Daily Bread soup kitchen in Champaign on Monday, Dec 19, 2011.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern smiles at the thought of a new home.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
The bathroom in Vern's new home in Champaign on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
The bedroom where Vern said he has yet to sleep in the bed, preferring the living room couch and floor.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
New shoes for Vern on his bed on his first day in his new home.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
A radio/alarm clock that Vern has kept with him is by the bed.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern enters his new home for the first time.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Followed by John Hancock, Vern appears overwhelmed.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern is met at the door by Melany Jackson.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern is greeted in his new home by a crowd of well wishers.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern and Melany share a hug.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern and Melany share a private moment in the kitchen.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
A decorated cake to welcome Vern to his new home sits on the kitchen table.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Three weeks into Vern's new life, volunteer John Hancock, left brings Vern Chounard back to his home for meetings. Hancock found him hanging out and drinking with his old homeless friends in downtown Champaign.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern Chounard gets teary as he talks about the cross made for him by another homeless person. At his home in Champaign. Behind him is C-U at Home Project Coordinator Melany Jackson.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern Chounard talks about how his friends on the street like to smoke pot.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern, 50, is in the process of several visits to a dentist to get his teeth pulled and to get dentures.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern and Melany realize the road they have taken is not always smooth.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Volunteer John Hancock talks about his feelings on Vern's progress.
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From Homeless to Home in C-U: Vern Chounard
Photographer: Robin Scholz
Vern stands in the kitchen on his home as he starts to sober up.
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