Local veteran gets mortgage-free home from national non-profit

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A local veteran who was injured in combat was searching for a new home, and a national non-profit stepped in to help.

Operation Homefront builds new homes for veterans to help them secure a fresh start, complete with a mortgage-free home. It also enrolls veterans in a two-year program working to help them build a solid financial foundation.

Wendy Ward served in both the Army and the Navy until an injury forced her to end her military career. For the past few years, Ward has been living in a town home along with her daughter and two granddaughters, and knew her family needed more space. She turned to Operation Homefront.

The non-profit accepts applications to provide homes to deserving military families, and when Ward applied, they accepted hers. She told NBC4 that getting the keys to her new home felt like a new start.

"This is a new beginning for us, and a new foundation for our life," Ward said. "I feel like we've been given a do-over, and it's wonderful. I absolutely love it."

According to its website, Operation Homefront has accepted 720 veterans into the program, of which, 690 have graduated from the financial planning program and received the deed to a mortgage-free home. According to the non-profit, these homes are donated to the program, and are typically bank-owned initially.

Ward said she is most looking forward to catching up on her favorite TV shows and movies with her family, and cooking up a storm in her new kitchen.