Be part of a community designed for veteran and military families
Walk through our campus, and you’ll see more than just houses. You’ll see a neighborhood. Since our founding, we’ve helped thousands of families through the often difficult transition from military to civilian life.
Life here is structured around the idea of community-driven recovery. You’re surrounded by people with a similar journey and an understanding of the unique sacrifices of military service. We believe that by removing the immediate stress of housing and safety, families can finally focus on the deeper work of healing and planning for the future.
VFW National Home’s Red, White & Blue Program
While you’re living on campus, housing is taken care of, so you’ll be expected to put that energy into what moves your family forward: your career, education, relationships, and well-being. You’ll work one-on-one with a Case Manager throughout, setting goals and getting support around finances, family, and life planning.
The program moves through four phases:
Red Phase – Stability & Support (6-18 months)
Find your footing by reducing stress, connecting with resources, and building a foundation to move forward from.
White Phase – Growth & Confidence (up to 24 months)
Strengthen your finances, deepen relationships, and start preparing for life beyond campus.
Blue Phase – Preparing for Transition (up to 18 months)
Build your long-term plan and start putting down roots outside of campus life.
Transition Phase – Celebrating Independence (up to 12 months)
Put the plan into action and leave the program with valuable skills and a clear path forward.
Over 100 years of opening doors to military families
Our story began way back in 1925. It started with a simple but powerful promise made by the Veterans of Foreign Wars to honor the dead by helping the living. At that time, the country was still seeing the long-term effects of the Great War, and it was clear that the families of those who served needed a dedicated place for support and healing.
We were founded on a massive 472-acre stretch of land in Michigan to fulfill that promise. Since those early days, our mission hasn’t wavered. We exist to help veterans, service members, and their families thrive and achieve long-term stability by providing a safe place to live, heal, and rebuild.
Over the last century, we’ve evolved to meet the changing needs of the military community, but our core remains the same.
Who qualifies for our veteran housing and on-campus Residency?
At VFW National Home, our on-campus residency is specifically designed for military and veteran families seeking support. While many organizations focus only on the person who wears the uniform, we focus on the entire unit.
We also look for families who are ready and willing to engage with a goal-oriented program, since our community is a place where you’re expected to dedicate 40 hours a week toward your personal goals. This could include going back to school, training for a new career, or working on personal development.
To be eligible for our support and services, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Actively Serving
- Unaccompanied tour or deployment
- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) with dependent child(ren)
- Single (with at least 50% custody) or Married
- Drilling National Guard & Reserve
Veteran
- Honorably discharged, Active, Guard, or Reserve Veteran
- Surviving widow or widower with dependent child(ren)
- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) with dependent child(ren)
- Single (with at least 50% custody) or Married
VFW/Auxiliary
- Applicant has a parent in the VFW or Auxiliary in good standing or, if deceased, in good standing at the time of death.
- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) with dependent child(ren)
- Single (with at least 50% custody) or Married
Not sure if you’re eligible? Fill out our application form, and our helpline staff will help with any questions you may have.
Living on campus: What to expect from your new home
Our campus features fully furnished single-family homes spread across a beautiful, rural landscape that feels like a classic American small town. The setting itself is a big part of the healing process. You’ll have a yard, a safe place for kids to play, and a front door that belongs only to you.
Once you’re here, you’ll find that everything you need is within reach:
- 43 fully furnished single-family homes designed for comfort and privacy.
- A quiet, rural setting that promotes peace of mind and safety.
- Access to community playgrounds and open spaces for your children.
- A neighborhood of peers who share the military experience.
Receive support for moving costs
We understand that moving across the country or even across the state is a massive financial burden, which is why we also provide support for moving costs when relocating. Eligible families may receive support to help cover these relocation costs to get you to our campus.
View our available homes
You don’t have to guess what your new life might look like. We want you to see the actual houses where our residents live and grow. Each home has its own character and provides a stable environment where you can focus on your family’s future.
Seeing the quality of the housing is often the first step in realizing that a better life is actually possible.
Beyond a home, receive whole-family support with our other on-campus services
The house is the foundation, but the programs are the scaffolding that helps you build something permanent. At VFW National Home, we provide a comprehensive community that addresses the different needs of every person in your home.
Education
Education is the most reliable path to long-term stability. Through our education service, we assist residents in identifying educational goals, whether that’s a GED, a college degree, or a vocational certification, and help make the resources available to achieve them.
Learn More
Case Management
In our community, each family is paired with a dedicated case manager. They act as your advocate and strategist, helping you set realistic milestones for financial literacy, career advancement, and personal growth.
Daycare & School Age Programs
It is impossible to focus on a career or an education if you’re worried about your children. We provide on-site, accredited early education and daycare at no cost to our residents. For older children, we offer tutoring and life-skills programs that help them excel in school and prepare for their own futures.
Learn MoreSuccess Stories
Over the years, we’ve watched moms earn their degrees, veterans launch new careers, and families save enough to buy their own homes by the time they graduate from our program. Hear directly from the families whose lives have been changed along the way.
Programs for on-campus residents
Life on campus comes with built-in opportunities to learn and connect. Our programs cover different life aspects, each one helping spark new interests, develop skills you’ll carry forward, and create a sense of belonging that many military families have missed.
Scholarship Programs
Through the Continuing Education Assistance (CEA) program, residents enrolled in college, trade school, or another accredited program can apply for help covering what’s left after financial aid and other scholarships.
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Financial Classes
Financial education is built into the program because money skills are what make stability stick. Residents take financial classes through trusted partners, picking up practical tools for budgeting, saving, reducing debt, and confidently preparing for independent living after their time on campus.
Learn More
RAVE
RAVE is a hands-on regenerative agriculture program that puts residents to work on a demonstration farm right here on our 600-acre campus. Participants learn sustainable farming, including soil health, crop production, irrigation, and harvest, and can earn academic credit or pursue a certificate or degree through Cleary University.
Learn MoreYour family’s next chapter starts at VFW National Home
VFW National Home’s Red, White & Blue on-campus program helps military and veteran families rebuild stability and work independence. Housing is included while families are enrolled, along with case management, financial guidance, daycare, and more, so you can focus on setting goals and making progress without the added pressure of basic needs going unmet.
When the program ends, and families leave the campus, they’re ready to take on whatever comes next.
If you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our team to learn more about eligibility and what the program looks like for your family’s specific situation.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about our housing program
The Red, White & Blue Program is designed to last as long as your family needs to be truly ready for what comes next, up to about six years in total across all four phases. You’ll start with a Stability phase of 6-18 months, move into Growth for up to 24 months, then Transition for up to 18 months, and wrap up with an Independence phase of up to 12 months.
Every family moves at their own pace, and your Case Manager works with you throughout to make sure you’re building toward a sustainable life outside of campus.
We are located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Our campus is a beautiful 472-acre property that provides a safe, rural environment perfect for families to find peace and focus on their goals. For those planning to visit, please review our Visitor Policy.
Our focus is on helping you save and rebuild. While there are expectations regarding your participation in the 40-hour-per-week goal program, we work closely with each family to make sure their living situation supports their path toward eventual financial independence at the end of the Red, White & Blue program.
Absolutely. Children living on campus can attend the local schools in Eaton Rapids. We also offer on-site accredited early education and childcare services to support parents who are working or going to school.
It means that every adult resident spends 40 hours a week dedicated to their future. This can include a combination of full-time employment, pursuing an education, attending vocational training, or participating in personal development workshops and life-skills classes provided on campus.
Yes, every home is furnished and ready to move into, including furniture, beds, and everything you’d need in the kitchen. You’re also welcome to bring your own belongings if you’d prefer a more personal setup. Just loop in your case manager ahead of time so the transition goes smoothly. Most homes also have basement storage for anything larger that needs a place to land.
