Veterans Assisted

Veteran Shawn O’Neil’s Home Remodel

Meet U.S. Air Force Veteran Shawn O’Neil, who is paralyzed from the waist down. Before our team at Veteran Housing Solutions stepped in, Shawn was unable to safely use his kitchen and laundry room.

Through our Veterans Aging in Place Program, we transformed his home to be fully wheelchair accessible — giving him back the freedom and independence he deserves.

Upgrades include:

Complete new plumbing and electrical to support accessibility modifications

Custom countertops and special wheelchair-accessible kitchen appliances

Front-load washer and dryer for easy access

An open, barrier-free layout for safe and comfortable mobility

We’re proud to stand beside heroes like Shawn and help them live independently in their own homes

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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.

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.

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.

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.