Transitional Housing Program Gives Army Veteran an Opportunity to Rebuild
Serving in the military had long been a goal of Oluwafemi “Femi” Akingbade when he enlisted in the Army in 2019.
“I wanted to serve something bigger than myself and give back to the country that gave me so many opportunities,” he said. “It’s always been part of me to serve in one way or another. The Army offered a clear path for career development, training, and education.”
Femi planned to earn a master’s degree in public health while serving at least 20 years. He achieved his education goal and worked as an Army health care specialist.
In late 2020 — when his eldest daughter was an infant — Femi was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months in support of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
“The first eight months of my daughter’s life, I was in Afghanistan,” he said. “It was difficult for me. It was difficult for my wife, too.”
His wife, Funmilayo Ojo, was expecting their second child, also a girl, when Femi was deployed to Kuwait for four months in 2023. While overseas, he experienced pain from prior knee and back injuries, and he faced sleep disruption as his mind flashed back to Afghanistan.
He returned to his duty station at Fort Drum in New York to begin rehab for the injuries and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. When the injuries didn’t heal, Femi was referred to the medical board and, in 2025, was medically retired.
“I was devastated,” he said. “I planned to put in 20 years. I just got back from deployment. We just had baby. I wasn’t prepared for what life would be after the Army because I was thinking long term.”
During his six years of service, Femi earned the rank of sergeant and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with a C device, the designation for serving in a combat zone, and an Army Achievement Medal.
When he separated, Femi and his wife weighed whether to stay in the Fort Drum area or move closer to family in Maryland. At a friend’s suggestion, the Akingbades researched Operation Homefront’s transitional housing programs, part of the national nonprofit’s mission to build strong, stable, and secure military and veteran families by improving their financial, emotional, and social well-being.
They narrowed their focus to the Transitional Housing – Apartments program.
“Operation Homefront and its donors are giving families like mine an opportunity to rebuild and move forward with purpose.” – Oluwafemi Akingbade, Army veteran
The initiative is the newest of Operation Homefront’s four distinct housing options. It offers veterans within four years of discharge a rent- and utilities-free apartment for one year. While living there, participants have access to employment and financial counseling to help them achieve stability and chart a path to long-term post-military success. This initiative provides a stable living environment for veterans as they adjust to civilian life, giving them a chance to focus on their goals and build a solid foundation for their future.
Since 2022, and thanks Operation Homefront’s generous partners, the program has grown to 17 sites throughout the country and has provided more than 450 months of free housing to military families, saving them more than $600,000 in rent and utility costs.
Femi and his family entered the program in 2025, about two months after his discharge from the Army. Their apartment in Frederick, Maryland, was a 45-minute commute to the job he had secured as a safety specialist with a large e-commerce retailer.
In fall, he will also become a student at George Washington University. He is enrolled in a nursing program and plans to become a registered nurse in December 2027, continuing his dedication to serving and protecting others through his work in public health.
“We were so excited that everything worked together,” he said. “With the rude shock of leaving the Army abruptly, our finances weren’t squared away. The apartment took a whole lot of stress off of us.”
During their year at the apartment, the Akingbades paid down debt and saved toward a downpayment. They purchased a newly built home in Williamsport, Maryland, a growing area that puts Femi only 12 minutes from work.
“It’s peaceful here,” Femi said. “It’s a huge relief knowing we don’t have to be moving here and there.”
The Akingbades are among 29 families who have completed the program. They appreciate Operation Homefront and its partners for standing with them during their transition.
“Operation Homefront and its donors are giving families like mine an opportunity to rebuild and move forward with purpose,” he said. “Thank you for what you’re doing for us and other military families.”
