From parking lot to purpose: Once homeless marine aids vets in Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — A Marine Corps Veteran in Albany is committed to helping vets find housing after his life took an unexpected turn—leaving the service left him homeless in a parking lot.

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Home for Matthew Jones is a pristine yard and a new truck in the driveway. The former marine fought hard to get here, and the past isn’t a place he visits often.

“No one knows my story, no one, ” Jones said. “I don’t tell anyone nothing. So this is probably going to be a big shock to a lot of people.”

Thirteen years ago, Jones had just ended his time with the Marine Corps. He was sleeping inside his old truck in a parking lot at SUNY Schenectady County Community College while attempting to get a degree.

“I stayed away from the general public so that way they wouldn’t bother me,” Jones said. “I was over there by that shed.”

He survived off eating ramen noodles, and a staff member at the college connected him with the YMCA to get a shower before attending classes.

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