“Working with MACV, I felt like I was back in service when the Army of MACV deployed to help me.” -Housed Army Veteran Lisa

Lisa was born and raised in Minnesota. She served on active duty in the Army and has lived in Minnesota for the past three years. For years, while living with PTSD, she pushed through, dedicating parts of her life to helping others and working alongside mental health professionals.

Then she was facing an eviction.

Housing instability added another layer to everything she was already carrying. After a period of assistance, Lisa realized she needed something more stable. She started noticing signs. Small moments that told her it was time to reach out for help. That path led her to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, where she was introduced to Veteran Village.

Thanks to MACV, Lisa moved from a hotel into her new home right before Thanksgiving. From crisis to housing. From uncertainty to community.

She is a mother of four. Two of her children live with her now. One of her biggest motivations for securing housing was making sure her college-age son could come home for the holidays. When MACV stepped in, Lisa felt understood.

“I never felt judged by a single person who works at MACV.” -Housed Army Veteran Lisa

At Veteran Village, Lisa shared that support went beyond housing, saying, “I could look into the eyes of MACV staff and know they were understanding.” She was connected to benefits, employment resources, and support for financial stability. She had advocates from the MACV team who listened, followed through, and made sure she wasn’t navigating everything alone.

MACV showed up with move-in kits. Boxes of household items. Holiday gifts. Simple questions like, What do you need? Before finding stability, Lisa described feeling empty inside while helping others. Now, with a safe place to call home, she’s prioritizing her own healing, sharing, “Feeling safe has allowed me to look beyond safety and focus on healing.”

Lisa still carries her Army core values card. Service matters to her. And now, she has the stability to focus on healing and the foundation to move forward.