Operation Homefront moving in wounded and families

Veterans moving in and up
by Shawna Ohm
Jul 30, 2008



Shawna Ohm/MNS




The Woods talk about their experiences and their future



Last week, four veterans and their families moved into new, furnished apartments... for free. The veterans, all severely wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, had been living with their families in cramped temporary housing at the Walter Reed Army Hospital. Now they will live in Silver Spring, Md. in two-bedroom apartments with views and pool access.

The move was organized by Operation Homefront, a Texas-based non-profit. The organization uses money from corporate sponsors to pay rent and furnish the apartments. The occupying families pay no rent and are allowed to stay for as long as their treatment requires.

Since last week's opening four families have moved in to the 15 available apartments. Housing is meant to be used for three to six months, but can be extended as long as necessary.

For Travis Wood, who is still recovering from severe injuries sustained in Afghanistan, the stay could be as long as two years.

"It's a dream come true," Wood said. "(Here) you feel like you’re living your own life a little bit. I mean, I’ll still have to report to people and I'll still have to keep tabs, but at least I can come home to this."

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http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washington/news.aspx?id=95775