Operation Homefront Village

Short-term Transitional Houses are Key to Helping Wounded through Initial Crisis

Wounded Warriors are a specific concern for Operation Homefront.  According to recent statistics, over 25,000 service members have been wounded in action. Service members disabled from injuries return home, are discharged from the service, have to vacate base housing and have to wait for their VA compensation to begin.  It’s no wonder our country is seeing an increase in homeless veterans.  One third of the homeless men in America are veterans.  While most of these are Vietnam veterans, our young returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk of becoming homeless themselves if programs are not put into place to help these service members transition back into civilian life.  That is why Operation Homefront is establishing Operation Homefront Village.

Operation Homefront Village will allow these service members to live rent free while they go through the transition process.  Upon placement in OH Village, Operation Homefront counselors will set up a mandatory schedule that these veterans and their families must follow.  They are required to attend support groups, workshops, benefits briefings, and resume writing classes, as determined by their counselor.  OH counselors will meet with each veteran and their spouse every 30 days to review their financial situation, determine where they are in the transition process, review their attendance in the required workshops and classes, and determine if they still present adequate need to continue living in OH Village.  Once they have become self sufficient, OH counselors will help them find suitable housing in the area they intend to live on a permanent basis.

OH Village properties will be fully furnished, complete with full utility services, internet access, cable TV, and telephone service. OH Village units will have all the typical features of home.

The San Antonio center will be our model property and is scheduled to open March 18, 2008.  There is currently a waiting list of families requesting to move into the apartments.

OH – Village, San Antonio (OHV-SA) is conveniently located at the Republic Woodlake Apartment Complex, 7027 FM 78, San Antonio, approximately 5 miles from Brooke Army Medical Center and The Center for the Intrepid.  OHV-SA is comprised of two full buildings of apartment units, which includes twelve, two bedroom units and eight, three bedroom units. 

Operation Homefront Village will also have a community center, which will feature the following equipment and services:

• Counselors to assist with filing VA claims, state disability claims, and social security claims
• Educational assistance including assistance with college enrollment, scholarship applications, applying for VA educational benefits (Montgomery GI Bill & Vocational Rehabilitation), and tutoring for college courses 
• Job integration programs, including resuming writing assistance and workshops, assistance with interviewing for and finding employment with “veteran friendly” companies, assistance with applying for federal jobs and quarterly job fairs 
• Monthly dinners for all residents
• Video library for residents to check out DVD movies, video gaming equipment and video games
• Wounded Warrior Wives support group meetings
• Food pantry of nonperishable food items
• Morale events (Easter baskets, back to school backpacks and supplies, Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas toys)

Priority placement for housing will be defined as followed:

1. Wounded service members who will be receiving a medical discharge or retirement within six months or are within two years of military medical discharge or retirement
2. Families of wounded service members receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center
3. Veterans who are within six months of discharge or up to two years after discharge and are pursuing full time higher education and are unable to afford housing on their own
4. Veterans who are within six months of discharge or up to two years after discharge and are unable to afford housing

To apply for OH Village transitional housing, please call Gracie Broll at 210-451-5588 or via email at gracie@operationhomefront.net. 

Operation Homefront Village units are funded by the support of corporations, foundations, and individual donors. 

Thank you to the following Operation Homefront Village sponsors:

The Wal-Mart Foundation
The PGA TOUR
CDW-G
Lockheed Martin
Ashley Furniture
Conn’s Appliances
Schwann’s
Time Warner Cable

To donate to Operation Homefront Village or for more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Amy Palmer at 210-659-7756 or via email at amy@operationhomefront.net.