Transitional Housing Programs Helps Marine Veteran Get Closer to his Dream
Housing costs have risen in cities across the nation, and San Antonio, Texas, is no exception.
Housing prices increased 20.5% in one year from 2021 to 2022. For Marine veteran Rudy De Leon Jr. and his young, growing family, the rising costs made affording their own more and more out of reach.
“We were in an apartment—and especially with an upcoming baby—we knew we were going to have issues with savings because originally, we were saving for our house but then we transitioned to saving for the baby,” Rudy said.
The possibility of rising rent along with rising home costs prompted the family to look for resources to help veterans. They found Operation Homefront’s Transitional Homes for Veterans (THV) program, which provides veteran families with mortgage-free homes and financial counseling for two years allowing the families to save for their next phase, usually buying their own home. On May 6, they moved into their San Antonio, Texas home, calling it “great.”
Rudy appreciates donors who support veterans and their families, especially having grown up in a military family himself. His father was a Marine. Both Rudy and his younger brother enlisted. Rudy was stationed in Japan when his wife, Amanda, gave birth to son Elijah, now 3. He joined the birth via FaceTime.
Rudy was based in North Carolina and planned to stay in the Marines longer than he did, but after missing Elijah’s birth and having another son on the way, he decided to be home for his family. He and Amanda came back to San Antonio. Their son Ezekiel is just a couple of months old.
As they ready to move into their transitional home, they are looking forward to learning more about financial planning and saving to buy their own home in a couple of years. They also hope the housing market cools off a bit.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Rudy said about the donors who support Operation Homefront. “Thank you for what you do. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s not taken for granted. We are so appreciative and blessed that a program like Transitional Homes for Veterans exists and donors like them allow us the opportunity to jump-start our lives together.”
