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Wounded Warriors are a specific concern for Operation Homefront. Service members disabled from injuries return home where they are discharged from service, have to vacate base housing and have to wait for their VA compensation to begin. Most of them experience a 50-75% cut in pay and their spouse may need to leave work to care for them. This can quickly put a severe financial strain on their families as it may take months for their benefits to kick in.

As a result, our young veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk of becoming homeless if programs are not put into place to help these service members transition back into civilian life while keeping some stability for their families. That is why Operation Homefront has established the Operation Homefront Transitional Housing Program.

Operation Homefront's Transitional Housing Program allows these service members to live rent-free while they go through the transition process. Upon placement, Operation Homefront counselors set up a mandatory schedule that these service members, 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. They also undergo one-on-one financial counseling to reduce debt and build savings. OH counselors meet with each military family 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 their ability to live on their own. Once they have become self-sufficient, OH counselors help them find suitable housing in the area they intend to live on a permanent basis. Upon completion of the program, veterans and their families should have VA benefits in place, debt significantly reduced, and emergency savings in place.

Their properties are fully furnished, complete with full utility services, internet access, cable TV, and telephone service. The comfortable apartments have all the typical features of a home.

Operation Homefront currently operates its program in three locations across the country:

• SoCal program serves primarily Balboa Hospital and Camp Pendleton and is located in San Diego, CA
• Maryland program is located in Gaithersburg, MD and serves those primarily being treated at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• San Antonio program serves those primarily being treated at San Antonio Military Medical Center and Audie Murphy VA Hospital