• (833) 222-(MACV)6228
  • [email protected]
MAC-V
  • Donate Now
  • Menu Canvas
    • Home
    • Who We Serve
    • Our Services
      • Housing
      • Employment
      • Vetlaw
    • Get Help
      • Submit a Request for Service
      • Find a Local Office
      • Resource Directory
    • About Us
      • Our History
      • Our Leadership
      • Board of Directors
      • Staff
      • Philanthropic Partners
      • Digital Resources
      • Work For MACV
    • Events
    • Blog
    • Support
      • Volunteer
      • Contact Us
      • FAQs
      • Donation Information
    • Donate Now
  • (833) 222-(MACV)6228
  • [email protected]
MAC-V
  • Home
  • Who We Serve
  • Our Services
    • Housing
    • Employment
    • Vetlaw
  • Get Help
    • Submit a Request for Service
    • Find a Local Office
    • Resource Directory
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Philanthropic Partners
    • Digital Resources
    • Work For MACV
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Support
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
    • FAQs
    • Donation Information
  • Donate Now
MACV acquires donated property in Stillwater area
Home News MACV acquires donated property in Stillwater area

MACV acquires donated property in Stillwater area

Kate Brune
July 16, 2021
News

MACV is thrilled to announce that we have our first-ever housing property in the Stillwater area! Donated by siblings Brian and Brianna DeFore to MACV, we want to recognize the many individuals who facilitated this exciting acquisition during the last few months.

Brian DeFore first learned about MACV after posting a question on a local community forum about donating a house to a Veteran in the Stillwater area. Brian’s father, John DeFore, requested that his family donate his home for the past 21 years to a Veteran shortly before his passing. Ted Head, who know of MACV through his involvement in a local Beyond the Yellow Ribbon chapter and employment at Ecolab, where he is also active with the Ecolab Military Employment Resource Group (MERGE), connected DeFore to MACV Chief Financial Officer Brian Peterson. Head, who served in the Persian Gulf War as a medical provider in the Army, notes that he wanted to “make sure [DeFore] was for real” since the opportunity seemed too good to be true.

Likewise, DeFore noted that Ted was the most responsive person to his inquiry, which was what inspired Brian to seriously consider MACV for the donation. From there, Brian DeFore and Brian Peterson navigated the process to transfer ownership from the DeFore estate to MACV. “Everyone that’s been in touch with this experience has been just awesome,” DeFore shares. He feels confident that his dad, a lifelong resident of the Stillwater area, would be happy about what happened with the house.

Transferring ownership of a property via donation is a long and complicated process, and MACV benefitted from the commitment and expertise of several Edina Realty staff to make the transaction happen. Edina Realty Title President Brad Fisher helped review and record the documents needed to complete the transfer because “whatever we can do to help MACV, we’ll do.”

Fisher also contacted attorney David Brandell, who donated his services to help release the property from probate. “David really did a lot of the legwork,” explains Fisher, who knew Brandell through their shared participation in the Just Deeds initiative founded by Edina Realty. “Whatever falls in our domain, we’re happy to do.”

Next steps for the Stillwater property mainly include renovations and updates to the home, making it compliant with local housing codes for transitional housing. “Even the contractor used to update the home has some really great ideas,” DeFore notes, referencing the expertise shown by longtime MACV partner JD Roofing & Construction in transforming standing homes into ideal spaces for transitional housing. Maximizing privacy and the utility of available space while opening communal spaces so either a family with multiple children or single adult roommates can feel comfortable, are always priorities when renovating and updating homes like those donated by the DeFore family.

Attitudes like those shown by these stakeholders can truly move mountains, making a complex and intimidating process run as smoothly as possible. We are blown away by the generosity and patience shown by Ted Head, Brian and Brianna DeFore, Brad Fisher, and David Brandell over the past 6+ months. We could not accomplish our mission of ending Veteran homelessness without housing suited to the unique needs of Minnesota’s Veterans, and thank everyone involved for their support!

Tags: affordable housing MACV Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans Veterans Volunteers
Previous Story
Donor Spotlight: American Legion Post 599 (3M)
Next Story
MACV: Back in the community

Search

Categories

  • Causes
  • Employment
  • Feature Story
  • Housing
  • Legal
  • News
  • Outreach
  • Services and Other
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteers
  • Ways To Give
YardHomesMN MACV Metro Region Donation Jobs for Veterans Homeslessness MACV South Region Volunteers Minneapolis VA Veteran Housing Minnesota Minnesota Evictions Lennar ADU Homeless corona virus and Veterans housing Transitional Housing Golf Helping Veterans MACV is Open MDVA MACV 1-833-222-6228 Veterans MACV Housing Assistance Veteran Low rent Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans End Veteran Homelessness fundraiser Duluth Mankato affordable housing Partnership Employee Spotlight employment Continued Services County Veteran Service Office WCCO COVID-19 Veteran Services home for the holidays Women Veterans Volunteer Veterans Affairs
  • FAQ’s
  • SUPPORT
  • DONATE NOW

Talk With Us

Click to send us a message.

MACV

MACV is a Veteran nonprofit organization with the mission to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota.

  • ST. PAUL
    1000 University Avenue West
    Suite 10, St. Paul, MN 55104
  • (833) 222-(MACV)6228
  • [email protected]
    (For donations please mail here.)

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Who We Serve
  • Our Services
  • Get Help
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Blog

Support

  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Donate Now
  • Privacy Policy

Our Locations

Copyright MACV ©2023
MACV Events

There are no upcoming events at this time


SearchPostsLogin
Tuesday, 30, May
Celebrating the Start Summer at the Fair with MACV
Tuesday, 23, May
MACV Partnering with Wood-N-Hearts to Provide Stability for Veterans
Monday, 22, May
Walz signs housing, Veterans omnibus bills into law
Monday, 22, May
Affordable Veteran housing opens in Southwest Rochester
Wednesday, 17, May
Affordable housing for Veterans living in Northern Minnesota
Tuesday, 16, May
Veteran Mike’s Journey with MACV and 23rd Veteran

Welcome back,