LERETA, a national provider of real estate tax and flood services for mortgage servicers, today announced the LERETA Tax Grants program, which will help pay property taxes for military veterans through Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they’ve worked so hard to protect.
LERETA is partnering with the national nonprofit on the charitable initiative that provides one-time grants to pay the annual property taxes of veteran families participating in Operation Homefront’s Permanent Homes for Veterans program.
Operation Homefront’s Permanent Homes for Veterans (PHV) program provides mortgage-free homes to veterans who qualify and complete an intensive educational program on financial literacy and successful home ownership. The PHV program gives veterans the opportunity to move into an Operation Homefront home and work directly with caseworkers and other financial counselors to learn and plan for home ownership, including paying property taxes and handling home maintenance. After completing the program, selected veterans receive the deed to the home, mortgage-free, and will be eligible to receive a LERETA Tax Grant to pay one year of taxes.
“At LERETA, we believe it’s vitally important to give back, and supporting our military veterans by paying their property taxes for a year allows us to honor their service tangibly,” said John Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of LERETA. “Operation Homefront is doing incredible work providing mortgage-free homes to veterans and teaching them how to be successful homeowners, including the importance of paying property taxes on time. These tax grants are just one small way to thank the service men and women who’ve sacrificed so much for our country.”
“We are grateful to LERETA for this impactful gift to the military families we serve,” said Gracie Broll, Vice President of Transitional and Permanent Housing for Operation Homefront. “Relieving families from paying property taxes for one year will allow them to focus on other essential household needs and help them to thrive in their communities.”
Since the PHV program began in 2012, more than 670 veterans have successfully graduated and received a mortgage-free home.