Key Takeaways:
- LERETA Tax Grants provide a year of property tax relief for veterans who have successfully completed Operation Homefront’s Permanent Homes for Veterans (PHV) program.
- The newest recipients, Issac E., Francisco A., and Ricky W., are building on the stability of mortgage-free homeownership to pursue education, pay down debt, and create lasting financial security for their families.
- By easing the pressure of rising living costs, the program honors military service while helping families put down roots and thrive in their communities.
A mortgage-free home is a remarkable gift, but it does not erase every cost of homeownership. Property taxes return year after year, and for veteran families working to grow their savings and stay ahead of rising expenses, that annual bill can weigh heavily. That’s where the LERETA Tax Grants program steps in. In partnership with Operation Homefront, LERETA awards one-time grants that cover property taxes for veterans who have completed the Permanent Homes for Veterans (PHV) program. PHV is a two-year course in homeownership and financial management that culminates in receiving the keys to a donated, mortgage-free home.
The latest grants were awarded to three veterans: Issac E., Francisco A., and Ricky W. Each has turned the stability of homeownership into real momentum for their family, and each story shows what a single year of tax relief can make possible.
Issac E. – Fort Worth, TX
Issac served honorably in the U.S. Navy for four years. He completed several deployments aboard the USS Philippine Sea, serving as an E-4/Petty Officer 3rd Class supporting the nation’s coastal and maritime defense. Today, he and his wife are raising two daughters, ages 10 and 6. The family was awarded their mortgage-free home through the PHV program in 2023 and received the deed in 2025.
Since then, they have continued putting the financial skills they learned into practice while growing more involved in their local church, where they lead small groups focused on parenting and marriage. Their daughters are thriving too, staying active in STEM, reading, and history clubs and earning special recognition along the way.
For Issac, the home holds deep sentimental value, representing stability, ownership, and the chance to build a legacy of homeownership for future generations.
Like many families today, this single-income household feels the pressure of rising costs. Increases in gas, groceries, home maintenance, and insurance have strained the monthly budget. That makes it harder to grow savings and harder for the children to participate fully in the local activities that support their growth.
The LERETA Tax Grant provides meaningful relief. It helps the family catch up where needed while easing that ongoing strain. Issac shared his gratitude for the support. He noted that the grant will help the family build a stronger foundation through emergency savings, modest investments, and education savings for the girls, moving them closer to long-term financial independence.
Francisco A. – Memphis, TN
Francisco served courageously and honorably in the United States Navy as a Corpsman for 20 years, retiring at the rank of E-6. Today, he and his wife are parents to three children, ages 24, 22, and 17. After entering the PHV program in 2023 and receiving the deed to their mortgage-free home in 2025, the family found greater financial peace of mind. That stability gave them freedom to focus on long-term priorities like education and future goals.
They have also celebrated milestones along the way. Francisco has started college. The family’s oldest son graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy, a meaningful accomplishment that reflects the family’s continued commitment to service.
Even with that strong foundation, the family has faced real challenges. Ongoing vehicle issues have required multiple repairs and created unexpected expenses. Unreliable transportation has been especially difficult. Family members travel to jobs and school in different parts of the city.
The LERETA Tax Grant helps the family make more consistent progress toward paying down debt. It also addresses immediate needs while supporting their long-term financial goals. Francisco and his family expressed sincere gratitude to Operation Homefront and LERETA. This assistance, they noted, allows them to keep building on the stability they’ve gained through homeownership.
Ricky W. – Hagerstown, MD
Ricky served honorably in the United States Army for six years, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant/E-6. He and his family moved into their mortgage-free PHV home in 2016 and completed the program in 2018. Today, Ricky is married with a blended family that includes four children, ages 16, 15, 11, and 9.
The home continues to be a tremendous blessing. Ricky has added a home office downstairs and is learning to handle repairs on his own. His spouse has found joy in gardening, and even mowing the lawn has become a welcome bit of quiet time with his headphones. For a busy household of six, the home provides a foundation of stability and relief that the family deeply appreciates.
Like many families in today’s economy, the household still faces financial pressure. Their vehicles are older and costly to maintain. Rising healthcare expenses add to the strain. Feeding a family of six grows harder as food and household costs continue to climb. Through it all, the family remains resilient, finding creative and practical ways to stretch their budget while taking pride in becoming more self-sufficient.
The timing of the LERETA Tax Grant could not have been better. It frees up funds for essential needs, including car repairs, basic household furniture, and outstanding medical expenses. It also helps the family pay down debt. Ricky and his family expressed deep gratitude for the continued support through the LERETA Tax Grant and Operation Homefront’s PHV program. They’re also grateful for the security their home has given them as their family continues to grow.
Service Honored. Stability Strengthened.
Issac, Francisco, and Ricky add their names to the growing list of veterans the LERETA Tax Grants program has supported. For each family, help with a property tax bill means money that can go toward debt, repairs, education, and the everyday needs that keep a household moving forward.
That is the purpose behind LERETA’s partnership with Operation Homefront: to recognize the service of these veterans not just with words, but with practical support. It helps the stability they’ve worked so hard to earn take firmer hold for years to come.
