Operation Homefront Housing Program Helps Veteran Family Find Hope for Future
When Bernell Browley retired from the Navy in 2023 after 20 years of service, he and his wife, Christina, knew they wanted to buy a forever home and establish roots in North Texas. After seven moves with the military — many of them cross-country — they prioritized stability for their teenage son. He was finishing high school at his ninth school in 12 years.
They entered the Operation Homefront’s Transitional Homes for Veterans program in late 2024 and moved into a home in Crowley, Texas. Now, two years later, the family’s stress has eased, and their dream of homeownership feels within reach.
“It’s a night and day difference as to where we thought we would be and where we are,” Bernell said. “For the first time in a long time, we look to our future with excitement instead of the stress of what might go wrong next.”
Through the THV program, veteran families within 10 years of separation live rent-free for about two years while paying down debt, building savings, becoming established in the community, and working toward civilian careers. Families participate in financial counseling and homeowner-education programs to help them achieve their goals.
The Browleys joined the program with clear goals: pay down debt, save for a down payment, start an emergency fund, and increase their credit scores. Their overarching objective was to buy a home so they didn’t have to worry about rent increases and moving every few years.
Meeting one of the objectives seemed feasible, Bernell said, but they didn’t see “all of the above” as an option. With guidance from their financial counselor, though, Bernell and Christina have learned to budget and make saving money a priority rather than an afterthought. Even through setbacks, they have made progress toward their goals. They have eliminated much of their debt, and that shows in their higher credit scores.
Alleviating financial strain has bolstered the family’s confidence, and it’s brought them peace of mind.
“With the skills we have developed and the progress we have made, we no longer see our future like a mine field where one wrong step could cause everything to come crashing down,” Christina said.
Like many military families, the Browleys experienced frequent stress about finances while serving, especially when their children were young.
Christina struggled to build a career because of starting over with each move and because she was parenting solo when Bernell was away, which was often. He served five deployments, including one to Afghanistan for 10 months, in addition to time away at sea and on training duty.
That and high child-care costs made it more practical for her to stay home or work part time.
“We are grateful because it feels like there’s solid ground under our feet. …The Transitional Homes for Veterans program gave us that.” – Christina Browley, Spouse of Navy veteran Bernell Browley
Ramen and mac and cheese were dinner staples — often for weeks at a time — to stretch the family’s food budget. They relied on food banks when facing food insecurity and on programs like Operation Homefront’s Holiday Meals for Military and Back-to-School Brigade® to save money, and they sought out activities on base for family outings.
“I never wanted our kids to see how much we struggled,” she said. “We look back on it, and we’re very thankful for how much has changed. So much more is possible now than we ever thought years ago.”
Bernell, a flight instructor, earned additional certifications and is exploring jobs with greater earning potential. Christina is completing the final classes for her bachelor’s degree. They’ve celebrated their son’s successes at school, which is the third high school he has attended.
In the past, he was reluctant to form friendships or participate in extracurriculars because he knew he would have to move. He’s hanging out with friends and is an officer in the school’s theater group. He plans to turn his passion for behind-the-scenes theater work into a college major at nearby University of North Texas.
“The stability of knowing we’re not going anywhere gave him the confidence to explore it,” Christina said. “Before, he wouldn’t try things because he knew we would be moving. He didn’t want to love something knowing he would have to leave it.”
The Browleys look forward to having a home that will be a gathering place for their son and their adult daughter, who lives out of state. As they begin shopping for their forever home, they are grateful for the donors who make Operation Homefront’s programs possible.
“We are confident, and we know we are working toward a really amazing future in a home of our own,” Bernell said.
Christina agreed.
“We are grateful because it feels like there’s solid ground under our feet, and that is huge,” she said. “The Transitional Homes for Veterans program gave us that.”
