In Indianapolis, the Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana (HVAF) is making a significant impact on the lives of women veterans. Terri Massey, a 34-year-old Navy veteran and single mother, experienced homelessness while trying to support her two young daughters. For over two years, she lived in extended-stay hotels, juggling a full-time job and the challenges of raising her children.
Fortunately, Massey found assistance through HVAF, which provided temporary hotel accommodations and covered the first two months of rent for her new apartment. This support was crucial in helping her transition to stable housing. Massey expressed her gratitude, saying, “I was grateful that somebody actually listened.”
Women’s Warrior Fund Initiative
HVAF has launched the Women’s Warrior Fund, an initiative aimed at supporting women veterans like Massey. This effort is backed by a $50,000 grant from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Although the fund does not introduce new services, it allows HVAF to better target existing services such as emergency housing, transportation, and job support specifically for women veterans.
Emmy Hildebrand, CEO of HVAF, noted that while veteran homelessness in Indianapolis shows signs of improvement, there has been a slight increase in the number of women veterans seeking help. In 2025, 14% of veterans served by HVAF were women, up from 11% in 2020. Hildebrand highlighted that women veterans often face complex challenges, including being single mothers or having experienced military sexual trauma.
Massey’s journey to stability was not without its hurdles. After the death of her mother, who she had been caring for, Massey found herself homeless. Despite receiving help from HVAF, she struggled with her mental health and temporarily lost contact with the organization. However, upon reconnecting, she found understanding and continued support.
Now, Massey is participating in HVAF’s employment program and taking classes at Ivy Tech, with the goal of completing her psychology degree at Indiana University. She remains determined, stating, “I’m taking the untraditional route, but I know I’m gonna get there.”
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
