Wounded Warriors and their Families Move into Operation Homefront Village

Two-building complex is first of four to house transitioning wounded warriors while they recover

SAN ANTONIO, TX –Operation Homefront Village officially opened its doors to military families in need. The new facility is Operation Homefront’s first of four planned transitional housing facilities across the United States for wounded warriors and their families as service members recuperate at nearby military medical facilities.
Due to special circumstances, a few families moved into their respective apartments earlier in the month in advance of the official opening.  All 20 units in the complex are spoken for, and there is a waiting list for additional families.

Congressional Medal of Honor recipients Jack Jacobs and Mike Thornton, for whom the two buildings are named, were among the VIPs at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Jody Brothers from the PGA TOUR and representatives from local Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs were on hand to cut the ribbons on the apartments the Wal-Mart Foundation so generously sponsored.

“Thanks to these and other sponsors, wounded warriors and their families can live at Operation Homefront Village rent-free so they can rebuild their financial foundation as they rebuild their health,” said Operation Homefront founder Amy Palmer in her opening remarks.

All of the 20 two- and three-bedroom units are fully furnished, including computers and Internet access courtesy of CDW-G and Lockheed Martin. The facility has a central recreation and community center housing a food pantry, baby furniture, extra beds and a video library.  The community center hosts  various Operation Homefront programs.  Among them: Wounded Warrior Wives support group and  presentations and meetings with career counselors, college education specialists, and other experts whom Operation Homefront has partnered with  to help wounded warriors move on with their lives.

Most active duty wounded warriors receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center are housed in the barracks, base housing and the Fisher House offered to them by the installation. However, in its daily collaboration with the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and other Army case workers, Operation Homefront quickly realized that there is almost no temporary housing in America for wounded warriors who have retired or separated from the military. 

“The Army is not responsible and cannot offer housing, and yet many of these families have nowhere to live and no money until they receive their disability benefits from the Veterans Administration,” continued Palmer. “Thanks to some unique programs being tested jointly by the Army and the VA, we believe we are seeing the waiting period for VA benefits decrease.  In the meantime, however, many wounded warriors need a place to live right now.  Operation Homefront is here to help.”

The four planned additional Operation Homefront Villages will accommodate needs at Walter Reed Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda) near Washington, D.C.; Balboa Naval Medical Center in San Diego; and Madigan Army Medical Center in Seattle/Tacoma. Contact Meredith Leyva at 757-410-4926 or meredith@oeprationhomefront.net or visit www.operationhomefront.net for more information.

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About Operation Homefront & CinCHouse.com
What is today Operation Homefront began in 2001 as a military spouse-generated idea. In response to the need for support for the families of deployed service members, CinCHouse.com members (military wives and women in uniform) created the project that has evolved into a major nonprofit serving 34 military communities. Today CinCHouse.com operates as a program of the nonprofit Operation Homefront family. From a good idea to a great organization, Operation Homefront understands and takes care of the needs of the military community.

About CDW-G
A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation, ranked No. 39 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies, CDW Government (CDW-G) is a trusted technology advisor to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as to educational institutions at all levels. CDW-G offers best-in-class technology products and services from top-name brands such as APC, Acer, Adobe, Apple, Cisco, EMC, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Panasonic, Quantum, Samsung, Sony, Symantec, ViewSonic and Xerox.

For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service and solutions, call 1.800.863.4239, or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.