They Served Our Country, Now It’s Our Turn to Serve Them

By Asia Nicole Alcorn
Texas Metro News

Tuesday was a fun day for all as the U.S. Army celebrated its 247^th birthday  on Flag Day and the staff of Operation Tiny House commemorated the day by honoring veterans at the Tiny Dining Ranch in Southern Dallas County. 

It was a time for fellowship, good food and memories as veterans, sponsors, representatives from the VA and community residents gathered at the Regular Fellows property to pay homage to veterans; those valiant men and women who served in the armed forces.

Operation Tiny House’s Executive Director Valerie Ballard’s late grandmother, Joanna Webb Murria, inspired her to start the non-profit organization with the purpose of helping to house homeless veterans and for the daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, it is some of the most rewarding work she has done in her life.

“We want to make a difference,” said Ballard.  “Operation Tiny House is helping, one veteran at a time!”

Tuesday’s event featured some of Operation Tiny House’s sponsors who are helping them work toward a new goal: building a Dallas neighborhood filled with tiny homes. Their vision of this location includes about an acre of land that will hold 39 tiny homes, along with a community center and garden. 

LLEAD Services, LLC is one of the sponsors who is not only constructing the homes within the neighborhood but also teaching the veterans different construction techniques to help them secure employment.

LLEAD Services Co-Director, Logan Ortiz said he is excited about the upcoming collaboration. “The primary focus here is to engage the area and make it a community. We want to bring those homeless veterans in and give them the skill sets they need to not only take on home ownership but also get jobs,” Ortiz said. 

One CommunityUSA is also a sponsor of Operation Tiny House. 

Tom Cruz, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant, works full-time for One CommunityUSA as the director of their Pathways to H.O.P.E. (Helping Offenders Pursue Excellence) program. 

Within this program, Cruz works to help “veterans and other civilian offenders become hardworking, law-abiding citizens.”  He knows firsthand of the challenges and obstacles many face.

“I attempted suicide in the military, and I could have gone two paths: I could have still been suicidal or picked myself up like I did while in the military and choose a path of coming out, being productive, working hard, and doing what I do now,” Cruz said. 

Thanks to all the support from local, state, and corporate sponsors, since 2017, Operation Tiny House has been raising money and bringing awareness of veteran issues.   

Admittedly she is challenged every day as Dallas has the largest homeless population of veterans in the country and even if they get housing, they are always in need of items like food, clothing, personal hygiene, and furniture to help expedite the transition process for veterans.