Young Veteran couple, Veteran joined at 18 years old. Married 2 year of service. Spent 4 years in service and decided to ETS (Leave service). Veteran had a child on the way, due a month after his ETS date. His wife left early so she didn\u2019t have to travel from Texas to Minnesota in her 9th month to set up what they needed in Minnesota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIncome:\nMilitary income provided, Basic Pay, Health Insurance, Housing, and\ndiscounts on food, and living expenses. He was a Specialist\/E-4.\n$1,300 a month base pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their bills included: Truck payment and car with insurance: $800, Food: $200.00, Internet: $50, and Cell Phones: $120 month. They had $0 in savings. They lived pay check to pay check. The military gave them money to move at $2,500, $1,000 of which was just used for the actual moving expense. They lived on post so extra money for housing was non-existent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nUpon\narriving we let this young couple to figure it out for themselves\nbefore offering them assistance. We wanted to find out their stress\nlevels and if they could solve their financial and other issues.\nAfter a few weeks I reached out as the American Legion Commander with\nthe Welcome Home Network. First, we did a budget analysis; housing\ncosts for two bedrooms, small apartment with garage and pet deposit\nwould have been $3,000. They would have to live in his father\u2019s\nbasement until they were able to save to figure this out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe\nsoldier had no job on the horizon and was planning college in the\nfall. That left them uncovered for 8 months until his GI Bill kicked\nin to assist with schooling and housing. After reviewing the budget:\nSoldier needed to get a jobas soon as possible. They also needed\nhealth care because baby was due. They barely had furniture because\nthey had old stuff soldiers tend to transfer to others before they\nleave the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAfter\nlooking at their budget, they were stressed at the level they\ndescribed at 90%. In fact, his wife said if we didn\u2019t help they\u2019d\nbe divorced in 6 months. Soldier\u2019s comment was, \u201cthis is why we\nstick guns in our mouths\u201d!
\nFirst we worked with area\nbusinesses who joined our Welcome Home network. Soldier had job\noffers and interviews before leaving the Army. He started work a week\nafter exiting the Army at $18.00 hour. We found small Minnesota\ncommunities have available housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nRent\nis lower, but buying a small two-bedroom home with garage would cost\nthem $450 a month with taxes, insurance, etc. covered in that\nexpense. We found $5,000 in grants and loans with generous payback\noptions or no payback required. Local insurance vendors worked with\nus to enroll the couple in MNSure, they provided the services for\nfree. Local financial consultants volunteered to help them budget and\ninvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nRealtors\nand Brokers as well as community leaders found housing and local\ncarpenters, HVAC, and other housing specialists review the homes and\nassist in decisions and repairs if needed. These smaller communities\nalso gave some breaks. Part of the program requires the Veteran\nprovide 8 hours a month doing volunteer work for the community. One\nhas joined the Fire Department as a volunteer and also assists the\nAmerican Legion with projects. (continue to serve)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nLocal\nchurches and organizations also provide aid, giving welcome baskets\nas well as other veterans stopping by to help them. One cleaned the\ndriveway for them this winter because they didn\u2019t have a snow\nblower and he didn\u2019t want to see a pregnant veterans wife fall on\nsnow and ice. A local furniture vendor donated all new furniture,\nqueen bed, recliner, couch, end table and living room table, kitchen\ntable and 4 chairs, and dresser. Ladies Auxiliary donated blankets\nfor the baby and other Mom\/Baby items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWith\nthe Veterans income starting they are now living within their means\nand have money available, even with a new baby. The insurance agent\nbid out their auto insurance and got them cheaper rates for the same\ncoverage. The realtor waved part of his sales commission. The\nprevious owner of the home dropped the price because he found out a\nveteran was buying and he was a veteran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nToday\nthey have a new baby. Husband is working. Mom is raising son at home\nfor a bit. They have income left over and are following their budget.\nThey are preparing to pay the grant money back in increments and as\nof today they report their stress level is at 5%. Veteran is enrolled\nin Pain Free Patriots Programs and we are assisting with VA. He had\nknee issues and back issues as a result of his service. We have\nseveral other veterans who have been in this program. All their\nstories are almost exactly like the story above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tim Burley
Pain Free Patriots, Director of Veterans\u2019 Advocacy
American Legion Post Commander, Hutchinson Post 96, MN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"