DAVIDSON HOUSING COALITION

Bryan stands beside the American flag he proudly flies on his front porch.

Bryan Hall was the first veteran tenant in Davidson Housing Coalition’s (DHC) new duplex. Bryan started his career in the military as an infantry soldier and was named Soldier of the Year. After working with the Army in New York and Texas as a combat medic instructor and ophthalmologist tech, he moved back to his home state of North Carolina.

For two years, Bryan worked at a gas station in Mooresville and lived in his car. When his car broke down, Bryan sought help. A friend referred him to the HUD-VASH program, a program that provides rental assistance to homeless veterans. In order to be eligible for the HUD-VASH program, he had to move to Mecklenburg County, but Bryan didn’t want to live in Charlotte. He settled in Davidson in a worn-down apartment complex. Several years later, someone told him about DHC’s new rental units specifically for veterans.

Bryan autographs yearbooks at Davidson Elementary School, where he is a well-respected crossing guard.

Today, Bryan is thankful for his apartment. He especially enjoys the comforts of home, like having a washer and dryer in his unit and sitting on his porch, watching the birds at his bird feeder. Recently, Bryan has received local attention for putting flags at veteran graves in all three cemeteries in Davidson. Many of these graves were not being properly commemorated, and his effort ensures that these graves are marked on Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day.

Bryan is also working to mobilize local leaders and citizens in support of a veterans’ memorial for the town of Davidson. He has worked with a designer to create a piece and hopes that the memorial can be erected soon.

DHC will be breaking ground soon on our second veterans’ duplex. This duplex will be made possible by generous contributions from a local church, DHC friends, and the Town of Davidson. We will provide updates as construction progresses.