Veteran’s Children Overjoyed in New Transitional Home
Marine Corps veteran Ebony Waters needed help.
Physical limitations forced her to leave the military and her career earlier than planned. An abusive relationship and stolen credit left her in debt. She moved her three young children into an unsafe apartment, the only thing she could afford.
After a year of daily checking online, Ebony found the lifeline she needed: A home was available near in Operation Homefront’s Transitional Homes for Veterans program.
She knew about Operation Homefront’s Transitional Homes for Veterans program but had been checking for a full year with no luck finding a home near her in North Carolina.
Through the THV program, veterans within 10 years of discharge can live rent-free in a house for two to three years as they build savings, reduce debt, and become established in careers and the community.
Since it began in 2018, the THV program has defrayed more than $2.2 million in mortgage costs to military families and graduated 49 families.
“I have cried every day since being here just because of how grateful I am. I don’t know where we would have been if it wasn’t for the donors.” – Ebony Waters, Marine veteran
“When I saw the house I applied right away,” she said. “Where I was living was just not safe for my kids. I checked the website every single day. That’s how desperate I was to get my kids into something a lot safer than what we were in. It didn’t have heat or cooling and had mold damage. My ceiling had fallen in.” Ebony moved into her three-bedroom home in Fuquay- Varina, North Carolina, in October. Her children’s father lives in the area. She appreciates the safety of the neighborhood and all the amenities—parks, restaurants, places for her and her kids to enjoy. Ebony sees herself growing roots there.
Her children—Rose, 8, Autumn, 6, and Amari, 2—were just as excited as their mom to move into a new home.
“I wish you could have seen their faces,” she said. “I kept the house a surprise for 42 days. I knew this is what they wanted, and Operation Homefront was able to do that.”
Ebony was hoping to gain stability when she joined the military in 2015. She was the first woman in her family to join the Marines. Her grandfather had also been in the service. She chose the Marine Corps because she wanted to prove to others and herself, she could meet the challenge.
“Joining the Marine Corps was a big milestone for me,” she said. “And I made it!”
She worked in aviation supply in the finance division. She loved the responsibility of the job and planned a military career. However, after coming back from pregnancy, she became ill and could not pass all the physical requirements. Because of that, she honorably discharged in 2019 after reaching the rank of sergeant.
Initially, she was stable in the civilian world. She got a job in retail then worked as a virtual assistant and executive assistant. Ebony got her interior design certification and earned two business degrees. In 2022, however, she began struggling when her relationship with her child’s father deteriorated. She was the sole income, despite his claim of having a job, and he racked up thousands in debt in her name.
She filed fraud reports but was unable to recover losses.
Saddled with debt, he and her three children moved into an affordable apartment. Her hobby of baking, started as a diversion to ease stress, turned into a business. She sold homemade cookies, cakes, and other sweet treats to help pay bills.
Moving into the THV home has been life-changing, especially for her kids. In the apartment, all three children shared one bed. Now her daughters have one bedroom, and her son has his own room. Soon, she will surprise them with new beds.
“We love it,” Ebony said.
Ebony is grateful to the donors for making this new chapter possible.
“I have cried every day since being here just because of how grateful I am,” Ebony said. “I don’t know where we would have been if it wasn’t for the donors.”
