The Journey
OUR FOUNDER
Founded in 2019. As a veteran and former social worker with a MSSW from UT Austin, I landed a job at Brackenridge Level 1 Trauma ER. I saw a news to help my fellow veterans and found a gap in services. Hearing veterans say ‘If I had more help when I got out , I would'nt be in this situation!’ I said to myself. ‘Can a veteran just live?’ Thus the start of our journey.
People think the transition from active duty is seamless yet it’s far from it. I want to close the gap which can significantly reduce homelessness and mental health issues due to basic needs of housing and safety not being met. If we catch them early this can reduce countless dollars for chronic services and even suicides. If basic training and one’s military job training can last for 6-24 months I feel civilian transitioning support should be just as long. Through collaborative efforts with other veteran supportive organizations, we can close this gap.
About Us
Who we are? What we do? Who we serve?
Who we are? What we do? Who we serve?
We are a collective of veterans and civilians who have a passion for serving the veteran community. Founded by a veteran, who once had housing issues and has created an organization that hosts fun, interactive and educational events that has an inclusion of veterans in many ways. We employ veterans (hire for events); we refer veterans (connection to resources); we educate veterans (provide information during events for quality of life improvement) ;we support veterans (collaborating and volunteering with other veteran organizations or events) ; and we raise funds for veterans (our transitional housing initiative). Our team consists of artists, comedians, financial advisors and events and project managers that have over 15 years experience collectively and have a passion and dedication for helping others.
Cannavetlive’s Housing Initiative bridges the gap for the 200,000+ service members who transition to civilian life each year—nearly 70% of whom face identity loss, isolation and invisible wounds—by delivering three pillars of support: Career & Purpose, Mental Wellness and Community & Connection.
Our Veteran Housing Initiative is for those who are discharged honorably from the military not to exceed 24 months. We provide up to 24 months of direct funding for housing and utilities with measurable reintegration goals, while we connect veterans to local resources for mental health, tech training and community events throughout the year where veterans attend for free. Our Veterans Day Comedy Show is one of our main events.
We dedicate 80% of event proceeds directly to housing, ensuring every dollar creates purpose, belonging and long-term resilience for those who served. The 20% is dedicated to events to raise the 80%. We have hosted more than 300 veterans at our free events.
If you need services as a veteran, please contact us.
“I lived in base housing when I got divorced. Since I was National Guard and not active duty. I had to move in 30 days with no where to go with my 2 small children. Who wants to serve proudly and return to their parents spare room after that? No one.
Not a proud feeling at all”
Our Team
Shaunie Haynes (Army Veteran)
Chair of the Board, Founder
Shaunie Haynes is a dedicated U.S. Army veteran and the visionary founder of Cannavetlive, an organization focused on building a bridge for transitioning soldiers to prevent homelessness. Her background as a medical social worker and human resource sergeant has proven to be vital skills and knowledge fueling this company. Drawing from her own experiences, Shaunie has become a passionate advocate for veteran wellness, creating unique platforms since 2018 for veteran connection and healing.
Jarod Godard (Army Veteran)
Vice Chair
Jose Da’Hype is an innovative media entrepreneur and creative strategist with a career rooted in both discipline and vision. While deployed to Iraq in 2008, they launched their first multimedia company—laying the groundwork for a career that blends entertainment, production, and brand development. Educated at FCCJ and Full Sail University, Jose has held key roles including Creative Director of Da’Kar Fashion & Talent Magazine and positions at Google. As Associate Producer of the cult classic The King of Bloody Fookin Britain, and founder of Da’Hype Entertainment Network, Jose continues to build platforms that elevate bold, diverse storytelling.
Caitlyn Goodwin
Secretary
Caitlyn Goodwin is a strategic and intuitive professional with expertise in accounts payable, logistics, and process improvement. As a dedicated board member of CannaVetLive, she applies her operational acumen and creative problem-solving to advance veteran-focused and community-driven initiatives, helping build sustainable systems that support reintegration and mental wellness.
Patricia Richardson
Treasurer
Patricia Richardson has been an instrumental member of the Cannavetlive team, contributing significantly to its growth and mission. With over two decades of experience supporting vulnerable populations, including a 20-year career in Child Protective Services, she is a passionate advocate for self-sufficiency. Her expertise lies in teaching financial literacy and empowering individuals with the tools and confidence needed to build sustainable careers and achieve long-term stability.
