Fresh Start: Veterans Who Grew Up Homeless Start Charity

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Two veterans who used to be homeless as teenagers are now giving a helping hand to those in need.

"I kept thinking it was my fault," said Joseph Lopez, founder of Fresh Start Global.

At 13, Lopez tried to understand why he was homeless.

"There weren't a lot of options for me," Lopez said.

Right after high school, he joined the military.

"If it wasn't for the military I wouldn't have been able to create this on my own," Lopez said.

While stationed in Germany, he met another service member who was homeless as a teenager. Together they knew they had to do something to make a difference.

"I understand how it feels like to be in that situation as a child. And I understand how it feels to come out of it," Lopez said.

They started Fresh Start Global – a charity that helps with resume writing, clothing, and toiletries among other things for the homeless.

"They're extremely grateful, they're not selfish, they're not picky – they're the type of people you want to help out," Lopez said.

They're also able to help homeless veterans, too, letting them know there's someone who is thinking about them.

"They have this idea that someone does care, that some out there [do] want to fix something," Lopez said.

In just a month since Lopez has been back home in Sacramento, he's helped more than 30 homeless families.

The ultimate goal? To get them all off the streets.

"There's 7 billion people.  There has to be someone out there who is willing to help me for a lifetime rather than a day."