Hope and Korey Washington were excited and eager to dedicate their lives in service to our country. Hope began her military career as a JROTC student during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and started basic training for the U.S. Army in 2004. She parted from the military when she became pregnant with her first born and became a military spouse, but was soon divorced and became a single mother. That’s when she met her current husband, Korey, who was soon deployed to Iraq. He now suffers from severe PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, and has frequent seizures, tremors, and problems with his knees and shoulders. Upon Korey’s medical discharge, the family’s finances suffered and they ended up with no place to live. They and their four children used every dollar they had to pay for and live out of a local hotel room. Hope tried to file a claim so they could get the financial and medical benefits necessary to support the family and Korey’s condition. Unfortunately, without a permanent address they were unable to process their claim and without their benefits, they couldn’t afford to rent or buy their own home.
That’s when Habitat stepped in and with help from sponsorships like yours; Habitat was able to secure a temporary mobile home for the Washington family so they could apply for and receive their benefits. Korey was thus deemed 90% disabled, while Hope was designated as his full-time caregiver at the highest financial tier to help Korey with daily functioning. Habitat is currently working with the Washington family so they can qualify to move in to our 78-home Veteran Enriched Neighborhood® that is under construction in Santa Clarita, CA. “Being able to buy our own home will put us on track to making a happy and full life for our children and family,” Hope said. “We’ve been through so many rough patches and sometimes didn’t know where our next meal would come from, but Korey and I have been taught by the military to persevere through the darkest storms. Habitat for Humanity has truly been the light and the blessing in our darkness.”
October 7 & 8, 2016
Rappel down from the roof of the 25-story
Hilton Universal City
All proceeds go directly towards the construction of new homes and social services for low-income Veterans and their families.
Click here to learn more about Sponsorship and Participant Opportunities
Rappel spaces are limited!