The morning air was abuzz with energy. High overhead, a 100-square foot American flag waved atop a firetruck’s ladder as the crowd below erupted in a cheer and got to work.
On August 19 more than 400 volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation donated time, materials and kindness to make improvements to Freedom Springs — the 50-unit residential community in Colorado Springs dedicated to veterans and their families who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
The city’s first permanent supportive housing development for veterans, Freedom Springs provides 50 units of housing for veterans exiting homelessness as well as wraparound supportive services. The development is a partnership between the Vecino Group, El Paso County, Mt Caramel Veterans Services Center, Veterans Affairs and Ross-Evolve Management. The partners had representatives on site to help pitch in on the work alongside the other volunteers.
“It’s inspiring to see Freedom Springs continue to grow and thrive. This is because our resident veterans are wonderful, of course—but also how amazing our team of partners continues to be,” said Heather Bradley-Geary, Vecino Group Director of Supportive Housing. “Once again, the Home Depot Foundation and Mt. Caramel Veterans Center have dedicated time and resources to lifting up and recognizing our veterans by making their world brighter.”
The improvements will enhance living conditions, support long-term stability, and ensure those who served our country have a safe, supportive place to call home.
John Dennison with the Home Depot Foundation mentioned the importance of permanent supportive housing developments like Freedom Springs. “There’s still over 33,000 veterans who are homeless on any given night. So, we have to keep this work up, and that’s why Home Depot is committed to giving back over $750 million towards veterans causes nationwide.”
Alongside nonprofit partner 365 Connect, Team Depot (The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force) returned to Freedom Springs after completing an initial project at the facility in 2022. This year’s work included renovating several areas throughout the complex, including outdoor spaces that have been impacted by weather, repainting and replacing furniture in common spaces, building shaded outdoor structures, revamping the garden area, landscaping and assembling bicycles for residents without reliable transportation.
Additionally, several interior murals were added to commons areas within the building—even some that engage and involve the resident veterans and their families to be part of the process.
Giving back to veterans and their families is personal to The Home Depot, as tens of thousands of the company’s associates are veterans, active service members or military spouses. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $550 million in veteran causes and improved more than 65,000 veteran homes and facilities, ensuring more of our nation’s heroes have access to a safe, comfortable place to call home.
Doug Olig, a Navy veteran and retired bricklayer, and his wife Anna, a former business owner, found themselves homeless before discovering Freedom Springs. “This place changed our lives,” Anna said. “The services they provide are absolutely wonderful. I see a therapist once a week. My husband has a physician that comes here to provide care. Because of Freedom Springs, we have a home.”
