NONPROFIT Operation Homefront North San Antonio group aids military members, families O peration Homefront, a national nonpro t with headquarters near Hill Country Village and in Virginia, announced Sept. 23 a new initiative, the United We Stand Million Dollar Match, sponsored by the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation. Operation Homefront’s mission is to help build secure and stable military families, and President and CEO Tony Montalto said this generation of military families needs help now more than ever. Organization o cials said 1.5 million veterans live below the poverty line; 4 million veterans are burdened with housing costs; and 20% of veterans and military families are coping with food insecurity. Karen Smithhart, senior vice president of human resources, said Operation Homefront has come a long way since its launch in 2002 in Schertz. Operation Homefront has 126 employees with more than 50 sta ers based at its North San Antonio o ce, Smithhart said. Smithhart said Operation Homefront o ers nancial aid, housing for military members transitioning out of active-duty status, permanent housing, caregiver support and other services designed to help military families overcome short- term obstacles. “Our mission is to be a provider for short- term critical nancial assistance and long-term stability,” she said. In the last two to three years, Operation Homefront has seen an uptick in requests for nancial and housing help, Smithhart said. “It’s about nancial stability. A lot of military members are living paycheck to paycheck. A lot of them can’t nd a ordable housing,” she said. BY EDMOND ORTIZ
BUILDING SECURE & STABLE FAMILIES The nonpro t’s services support military members and families. 475 military families
have received $1.1 million in nancial aid since 2011. 7 families have received mortgage-free homes since 2012. 360 families have lived or are living in rent-free transitional apartments. 9 families lived in rent- free homes since 2011. 1,117 military families have been helped by school supply drives and holiday meals since 2019.
SOURCE: OPERATION HOMEFRONT COMMUNITY IMPACT
Operation Homefront’s Transitional Homes for Veterans program enables veterans and their families to occupy a single- family home rent-free for up to three years while preparing for homeownership. (Photos courtesy Operation Homefront)
Operation Homefront distributes 350 backpacks to military children at the 2022 Back to School Brigade at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Karen Smithhart is the senior vice president of human resources.
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Operation Homefront 1355 Central Parkway S., Ste. 100, San Antonio 210-659-7756 www.operationhomefront.org Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. closed
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