18/07/2025
Meet Army Veteran Joshua Maldonado, GLA’s Peer Specialist of the Year! After serving in Iraq as a radio tech, Joshua started his career with VA two decades ago. For the last five, he’s been working as a Peer Specialist at the Bakersfield VA Clinic, guiding and supporting Veterans transitioning out of homelessness.
Joshua is an extraordinary Peer Specialist, said his supervisor, Crystal Fischer. “He consistently acts as a role model of recovery, demonstrating empathy, resilience, and grace in some of the most challenging situations,” she said.
Joshua credits his amazing co-workers for always being willing to go the extra mile for each other and for the Veterans they serve. “It’s a whole team effort with social workers, HUD-VASH nurses, and more. I’m surprised at how much we can help change somebody’s life,” he said.
In the future, Joshua hopes to see Peer Specialists integrated with primary care and mental health. What providers might not have time for, Peer Specialists do. “Working in HUD-VASH, I see a lot of Veterans that could have been prevented from going into homelessness if a peer would have been able to help them through a difficult time like a divorce, loss of a loved one, or mental health crisis.”
Crystal says Josh has been an absolute pleasure to work with, and that he’s earned the trust and respect of Veterans and colleagues alike. “It has been an inspiration to watch him work, learn, and grow,” added Crystal. “He is selfless in his approach and comes to work to serve tirelessly without expecting anyone to notice.”
Joshua has a message to others who are working to help Veterans through homelessness or addiction. “Don’t give up hope,” he said. “I’m not a superhero. There are plenty of days where I feel hopeless, but the times when you get to really help someone – that’ll make it all worth it.”
