Brian Ellsworth is a proud Pontiac native, now living in Detroit.
And like his hometown’s namesake, the Odawa Chief Pontiac, who in May of 1763 secretly organized Native tribes from the Alleghenies to the upper Great Lakes to rise up against the British army and colonists, Ellsworth is a warrior in his own right, having served his country in the U.S. Navy.
Military service is in his blood.
“The majority of the men in my family served in the military, including my father who served in the Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and my mom was pregnant with me at that time,” said Ellsworth, a 1980 graduate of Lahser High School, who would go on to become an aviation electronics technician in the U.S. Navy.
“I went to college for a spell and then I enlisted in the Navy. After I completed my avionics training, at the age of 19, I was assigned to a squadron in Pensacola, Florida, whose mission was to train brand-new pilots,” he joyfully recalled. “When the movie ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ came out, we were like: ‘Man, that’s us!’
“So, my time in the Navy was an adventure, just like the advertisement says.”
But somewhere along the way, following his naval “adventure,” and after serving as a union representative for General Motors and working several construction jobs, Ellsworth says his life took some unanticipated and painful turns.
Those tribulations brought him to the headquarters of the Michigan Veterans Foundation (MVF), 4626 Grand River, in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood.
MVF provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, nutritious meals, case management and more for homeless and at-risk veterans.
“What’s the best words you can use? Let’s say a consecutive series of bad luck brought me here,” Ellsworth ruminated during the afternoon of May 20 from the MVF headquarters.
“I didn’t have any substance abuse issues or anything like that. But I was the caretaker for my mom for four years, before she passed away. And then I was my dad’s primary caretaker before he passed,” he said. “My dad left me with a house that was paid for, but other relatives had not paid the property taxes during those years when I was taking care of my parents and was unable to work.
“So, one thing led to another, and here I am.”
As sad as Ellsworth’s story may sound, his voice and countenance while sharing those intimate details about his journey revealed that in no way does he feel defeated — thanks, in large part, to the MVF.
The MVF was founded in 1989 by the late Tyrone Chatman (Sept. 26, 1952-Feb. 26, 2020), who often said that he graduated from the school of hard knocks on Detroit’s east side before becoming a decorated Vietnam Army veteran, and later one of Michigan’s leading advocates for veterans’ causes.
“They meet their mission here,” Ellsworth said about MVF, where he has lived since May 2024. “I’ve seen so many people since the time I’ve been here come in, clean themselves up, regain their bearings and they’re off.
“In this place, you have access to every agency that you could possibly need to pursue your aspirations.”
Ellsworth’s statement would come to life minutes later when attorney Michelle Johnson, president and CEO of Legal Aid and Defender Association Inc., entered a space that normally serves as MVF’s cafeteria to talk to 18 veterans about free legal services that her organization provides.
Johnson’s visit reflected the fact that many veterans experiencing homelessness face legal challenges that are barriers to stable housing and employment.
And while all of the veterans walked into the room by themselves and there was little dialogue among them, the facilitator made it clear that the veterans at MVF are not alone as they strive to return to self-sufficiency.
“We’ve been working with MVF for more than 20 years. And, for me, the biggest thing is that we need to serve those who have served. And it’s important that we honor them and give them respect,” said Johnson, who answered questions during a roughly 30-minute presentation, then answered more afterward from veterans who had queries that sometimes went a little beyond the topics Johnson covered.
“I know that the veterans have a myriad of issues that come up: They have mental health issues, they have challenges, and there are stigmas and all kinds of things. But it’s important that we provide them with services and support them as best we can,” she said.
“We can’t do everything, but we can all do something.”
With a smile, and a few chuckles thrown in, Ellsworth, who was present for Johnson’s presentation, said that he, too, is excited about doing everything he can, including on the Memorial Day holiday, to advance his goal of obtaining a vehicle and a home again.
“I’m a senior now [63 years old] and I have learned the value of patience and doing things step by step. So, on Memorial Day there will be a lot of reflection for sure about fallen heroes, but I will also be thinking about what I need to do to advance my life because I love what is going on in Detroit right now and I want to be part of it,” Ellsworth said, recalling some of his fondest holiday memories of large family gatherings and music festivals at Hart Plaza.
“And I look forward to being a [financial] contributor to MVF one day because this organization will always be with me,” he said. “I have embraced Detroit, and Detroiters are fighters. We come off the ropes swinging and we’re never down for the count.”
‘Dedicated to those who defend, protect and serve our country’
What: Michigan Veterans Foundation (MVF)
Chief executive officer: Raeda Dabaja
Mission: To help homeless veterans regain their stability and return to self-sufficiency.
Services: MVF provides transitional housing; veteran rescue program; life skills and employment training; health care services; PTSD counseling; transportation/meals/clothing; substance abuse intervention; legal assistance, and housing placement.
Upcoming fundraising events: 12th Annual Car Show (MVF in collaboration with Shield’s Pizzeria of Southfield), Sunday, Aug. 9 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.), 25101 Telegraph Road (just north of 10 Mile Road), Southfield; Michigan Veterans Foundation Gala, Dec. 4 (6 p.m.), MVF Headquarters, 4626 Grand River, Detroit.
Learn more: For more information, including instructions on how to make a donation please visit MVF online at michiganveteransfoundation.org or call 313-831-5500. MVF is headquartered at 4626 Grand River, Detroit, 48208.
Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott’s stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Giving veterans new life is always the mission at this Detroit address
Reporting by Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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