Operation Homefront gives mortgage-free home to Chattanooga veteran

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Chattanooga-area veteran now has a brand new mortgage free home thanks to Operation Homefront.

Melissa and Aaron Schafer got the deed to their brand new home Monday.

Melissa Schafer served in the Army National Guard as Specialist and Military Police Officer. She said, “This is actually one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me. To receive a home in this country in this economic climate is the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to, especially a military member.”

Her husband Aaron Schafer added, “They gave us a life-changing opportunity here. Not just for us but for our kids as well. Stability, having a home in a wonderful community like this? You can’t put a price on that.”

Melissa Schafer was born into a military family. She said, “All we know is moving around. So to get something like this and stability in a wonderful community like Chattanooga is the biggest blessing anybody ever could ever ask for and we’ve received it.”

Operation Homefront teamed up with Cracker Barrel and banker J.P. Morgan Chase to make this day possible.

Brig. General John Pray of the USAF (ret) serves as President and CEO of Operation Homefront. He said, “Our mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families so that they can thrive, not just struggle to get by in the communities, you know, our communities that they have worked so hard to protect.”

Pray said military spouses started Operation Homefront to take care of military families after 9-11. “Oftentimes there’s a lot of different financial pressures on families and we’re here to help them solve those financial issues,” he added.

That’s why the non-profit finds partners like Chase and Cracker Barrel to help out.

Hamp Johnston of JP Morgan Chase said, “We committed to giving 1,000 deed-free homes to veterans. To date we’ve given 870 across the country and as John mentioned earlier, we’ve done 18 in Tennessee, and two previously in Chattanooga.”

Sloane Lucas of Cracker Barrel added, “Cracker Barrel has a long-standing history of giving back to the military community and we are very proud to be here today to join Operation Homefront as they deed this home to a military family.”

Learn more about Operation Homefront here.