Nonpro t
BY ANDREW CREELMAN
Homes4WoundedHeroes helps provide mortgage- free housing to veterans The Military Warriors Support Foundation, which was founded in San Antonio in 2004, aims to reduce stressors of home ownership and assist wounded veterans and their families. The backstory Casey Kinser’s husband, a United States Army Staff Sergeant, was wounded in combat in Iraq, so the couple got involved with the Military Warriors Support Foundation in 2009. “I initially just said, can I help?” Kinser explained. “I liked it and I got to volunteer, and that was 15 years ago.” Now, she’s the Executive Vice President of the foundation, which offers the Homes4Wound- edHeroes program, where those wounded in military combat are given mortgage-free homes.
How it works The Military Warriors Support Foundation partners with inancial institutions across the United States to donate bank-owned or foreclosed homes to Homes4WoundedHeroes, according to Kinser. “They donate the properties to our founda- tion, we renovate them and get them into move- in-ready condition for heroes and select veteran or Gold Star spouses,” Kinser said. Once they take over the deed for the home, Kinser said the foundation provides veterans with not just a place to live, but also a inancial plan and mentorship. “It’s a three-year program where families meet with mentors and work on budgeting and spending control on the home,” Kinser said. After three years, the deed for the new home is of icially placed into the name of the family who received it, according to Kinser. Why it matters Kinser said she has been deeply affected by witnessing the successful transitions that
Other programs and services o ered by the Military Warriors Support Foundation:
Transportation4Heroes o ers payment-free vehicles Skills4Life provides recreational and social events and opportunities Leadership4Life provides personal and professional growth-focused mentorship Hope4Heroes o ers nancial planning mentoring and resources
SOURCE: MILITARY WARRIORS SUPPORT FOUNDATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
The group renovates bank-owned or foreclosed homes before handing the keys over to veterans.
COURTESY MILITARY WARRIORS SUPPORT FOUNDATION
military families have undergone after moving into their mortgage-free homes. “Finding a home can be a challenge for these families,” Kinser said. “To see them at the end of the program, they feel so incredibly empowered.”
1604
N
211 N. Loop 1604 E., Ste. 250, San Antonio www.militarywarriors.org
Casey Kinser said that she started with the Military Warriors Support Foundation as a volunteer.
ANDREW CREELMAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
BOERNE 1313 S Main St (830) 249-0115
DOMINION 24603 I-10 (210) 310-3200
VINEYARD 1309 N Loop 1604 W (210) 408-8206
Powered by FlippingBook