Our Founder
MISSION & HISTORY
Veteran Housing Soulitions is a 501c3 dedicated to assisting Veterans and their families with housing and support solutions.
Our founder Russell Scot Rhoda, has been working to support Veterans for nearly a decade.
Rhoda, a US Army Veteran himself, decided to focus on reaching out to Veterans in need. Rhoda quickly learned that housing stability is one of the most pressing issues veterans face.
It may be repairs to keep homes safe, ADA modifications to keep homes accessible, or even just having furniture and working appliances to keep homes livable. Through diligent research into available public programs (as well as hundreds of phone calls), Rhoda slowly built a network of professional contacts and willing volunteers to get Veterans the support they needed
Russell Scot Rhoda. Founder, Veteran Housing Solutions.
About Our Founder
Russell Scot Rhoda proudly served in the United States Army, where he trained as an Airborne medic. From 1987 to 1990, he was stationed in Europe with the U.S. Army Europe (USEURA) based in Germany. Following active duty, he continued his service in the Army Medical Reserve Unit in Parma, Ohio, from 1990 to 1995.
Though not a combat Veteran, his role as a medic brought him face-to-face with the very real dangers of military service. He witnessed fellow Service Members suffer loss of life and life-changing injuries during peace-time training—experiences that deeply shaped his understanding of sacrifice and his lifelong commitment to caring for Veterans.
Firefighter & Paramedic Career
After his military career, Russell dedicated himself to serving his local community as a firefighter and paramedic. He first served at the Macedonia, Ohio Fire Department before joining the Berea, Ohio Fire Department. For more than a decade, he responded to emergencies and saved lives until 2011, when his career was cut short by a line-of-duty injury caused by equipment failure, followed shortly by a cancer diagnosis.
Searching for America’s Missing Heroes
Following his recovery, Russell set out on a deeply personal mission: to help bring America’s missing service members home. He traveled multiple times to Southeast Asia—Vietnam, Cambodia, and surrounding regions—where he interviewed local civilians, former soldiers of both the South and North Vietnamese Armies, and even former members of the Khmer Rouge.
Through these efforts, he gathered intelligence on possible burial sites and recovery locations of U.S. service members missing in action.
Over 81,000 U.S. service members remain unaccounted for from conflicts dating back to World War II.
Of these, more than 1,500 are still missing from the Vietnam War.
Thousands of families continue to wait for closure and the return of their loved ones.
Russell’s commitment to this mission reflects his belief that every American who serves deserves to be honored, remembered, and—whenever possible—brought home.
Serving Veterans at Home
Back home in Strongsville, Ohio, Russell began searching for grant funding to help improve living conditions for his fellow Veterans. What started with one project quickly spread—each completed home upgrade inspired more Veterans to reach out and more community members to get involved.
The Birth of Ride with Valor
n 2019, Russell officially founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Ride with Valor. The name reflected his love of traveling by motorcycle to meet Veterans where they lived—especially those who were homebound due to disability or lack of transportation. Russell also organized motorcycle ride fundraisers to support homeless shelters serving Veterans.
Growing into Veteran Housing Solutions
What began as home safety and accessibility upgrades grew into something bigger. The organization expanded into restoring abandoned and forfeited properties, turning them into safe, accessible, and affordable housing for homeless, at-risk, and newly discharged Veterans. Alongside housing, Veterans were supported with healthcare enrollment, job placement, credit counseling, food security, and transportation.
Today, the organization operates under the name Veteran Housing Solutions, while the traveling volunteer outreach arm continues to proudly carry the name Ride with Valor.
Continuing the Mission
Russell’s journey—from Army medic witnessing the sacrifices of peacetime training, to firefighter and paramedic, to searching for America’s missing heroes in Southeast Asia, to founding a nationwide Veteran housing initiative—embodies a lifelong mission of service. His vision ensures that every Veteran has a safe, accessible, and affordable place to call home.
Hearth & Home for Veterans
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Victory Garden
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Wings of Valor
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CHALLENGES
The need is endless to keep Veterans in safe housing and connect them to resources.
We have helped Veterans with home repair issues such as leaking roofs and broken furnaces. We have been able to modify dozens of homes to make them ADA-compliant so their owners may stay out of nursing homes. We have secured donations of furniture and working appliances for Veterans living in empty homes.
We have even begun to renovate decrepit housing into updated and modern homes to help tackle Veteran homelessness. These projects are only possible due to the tireless work of our staff and volunteers.
We are committed to serving our fellow Veterans, as well as their families. We continue to work with organizations such as the VA, the Cuyahoga Land Bank, local businesses, and countless VFW/American Legions.
Hearth & Home for Veterans
This program, dedicated to providing Veterans with a safe home of their own. Working in conjunction with community Land Banks, we use local contractors and volunteers to remodel abandoned houses and make them a home. We then select a homeless Veteran to reside in the home—however, this is not a handout. The program requires the Veteran to enroll in programming designed to get them back on their feet. RWV will help them by introducing them to resources to help them with issues such as their finances, health, or credit. For five years, the Veteran will pay rent on the home—which can be subsidized through Section Eight. After the five years, the Veteran will have the opportunity to purchase the home at up to 50% of the market value. Unlike other homeless geared programs, we help furnish it with necessities, such as furniture and basic needs. Providing these Veterans with not just a roof over their head, but the dignity of having their own safe space to live.
