Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides emergency assistance for U.S. military troops, the families they leave behind, and wounded servicemen when they return home.^[1] The organization raises funds to provide emergency, financial, and morale assistance to families while troops are participating in a tour of duty. Since its creation in 2002 Operation Homefront has met over 741,000 needs of military families and military personnel returning from duty.^[2]

Operation Homefront was developed to support the families of deployed service members immediately following 9/11. Operation Homefront is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The organization currently provides services to military families across the nation with 23 locations serving 43 states. The national office handles cases in states that do not have their own local offices. The majority of its clients are the lowest-paid service members, the E-1 through E-6 enlisted ranks.

Achievements

• Operation Homefront has served over 746,000 needs of military.
• In 2012, they met 151,150 needs for military families, including active duty, Guard and Reserve members from all branches of service.
• Since its inception, Operation Homefront has provided more than $128 million of funding to programs to benefit military families.
• It has served more than 4,200 wounded warriors and their families.
• Its program Homes on the Homefront has donated more than 100 homes to military families across the country, in partnership with Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America.^[3]
• It has partnered with different auto parts suppliers such as Auto Parts Warehouse^[4] and Advance Auto Parts^[5] to provide assistance to military servicemen in the form of car repairs, auto parts discounts, and other forms of financial assistance.
• Operation Homefront has received a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, the highest award offered, for six years in a row.^[6]
• Operation Homefront received the Civic Statesmanship Award at the United States Association of Former Members of Congress' 17th Annual Statesmanship Award Dinner in 2014.^[7]

Homes on the Homefront

Operation Homefront created the Homes on the Homefront program through a new partnership with Chase Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The program donates mortgage-free homes to eligible military families. To date, the program has given more than 100 homes to deserving wounded warrior, veteran and military families.^[8]

The Process: Military families and veterans can apply for a home through the Homes on the Homefront programs; once a home becomes available, they will be notified via email; then they have 10 business days from the date the notice is sent to determine to apply further for a particular home.

A client services representative is assigned to each available home and reviews all applications for each home. The client services representative then submits the qualified applicants to a housing committee who will select the recipient of the home. Selection is made on a case-by-case basis and includes such factors as: financial need, connection to the local community where the home is available, injury status, family size, etc.

Once selected for a home, the family resides in the property as a tenant of Operation Homefront for a period between one and two years. During this time, families will be required to pay any actual costs of property taxes, insurance, and homeowner's association fees. A customized transition plan will be developed in conjunction with each family. Families also will have routine inspections of the home, participate in financial counseling and any other activity required by their assigned client services representative. Families will be required to save enough funds to ensure they can maintain the property long-term. Once the requirements of the transition plan have been fully satisfied and the family is able to maintain and sustain the costs of the home, the property may be deeded to the family. Operation Homefront maintains a lien on the property.

Hearts of Valor

Hearts of Valor is a network of people caring for wounded, ill or injured service members, created and maintained by Operation Homefront.

Operation Homefront seeks to support these caregivers in their own journey of healing by facilitating an online community that provides social connections to other caregivers in similar situations, fostering support groups by geographic area to encourage resource sharing and friendships, and sponsoring annual retreats to provide education on relevant issues.

Additionally, the program recognizes each person's personal sacrifice by sending a welcome gift upon their acceptance to the program.^[9]

Military Child of the Year Award

The Military Child of the Year Award recognizes children of U.S. military members who stand out among their peers in their community. Ideal candidates for the Military Child of the Year Award demonstrate resilience and strength of character and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life. They demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities. Military Child of the Year® Award recipients are the young heroes of their grade, school, town, or city.

The average Military Child of the Year® Award Nominee *:

• Has moved five times or more.
• Experienced at least one parent deploy for 18 months or more.
• Volunteered with service groups an average of 75 hours during the year.
• 17% have a sibling in the Exceptional Family Member Program.
• Maintained above average grades, often with honors.
• Excelled in sports, theatre and/or music.
• Held leadership positions in school and community groups.

• 2011 nominee average^[10]

• The 2013 winners^[11] were Mark Newberry (Air Force), Nicole Marie Daley (Army),Amanda Wimmersberg (Coast Guard), Abigal MaryRose Perdew (Marine Corps), and Alexander Ray Burch (Navy).
• The 2012 winners were Chelsea Rutherford (Air Force), Amelia McConnell (Army), Alena Deveau (Coast Guard), Erika Booth (Marine Corps), and James Nathaniel Richards (Navy).
• The 2011 winners were Nicole Goetz (Air Force), Kyle Hoeye (Army), Margaret Rochon (Coast Guard), Taylor Dahl-Sims (Marine Corps), and Melissa Howland (Navy).

Fraud allegation

In October 2013, it was reported that Amy Palmer, formerly the organization's chief development officer was fired for a $36,000 discrepancy between their records of donated items and what goods actually were on hand.

References

External links

• Operation Homefront