North Texas Veteran Puts Savings into Homeless Veterans Housing

ELLIS COUNTY, Texas. In rural Ellis County, people can see for miles, but often lose sight of what’s in front of them.

“They don’t know we’re dealing with this,” Army veteran Lauren Andrade said. “They don’t know that people are dying on the street in this kind of weather.”

Andrade says there are so many homeless veterans even in rural Texas.

It’s a problem that Andrade didn’t even notice until she started handing out money every time she saw a homeless person.

“Ninety percent of the people were veterans,” she said. “That’s when I started making plans to start a non-profit organization.”

Her nonprofit Serenity Veteran’s Village officially opened a few years ago, providing housing and other resources like fresh food for homeless veterans.

Serenity exists primarily on Andrade’s donations and savings.

“If I have the ability, I believe that I should do everything in my power for others,” she said.

Andrade says it’s especially important at this time of year. When the temperature drops below zero, as it did a few weeks ago, it becomes too dangerous to sleep outside.

“I don’t want to turn on this TV and see another homeless veteran die because of the cold,” Andrade said. “It shouldn’t be.”

To prevent this from happening, Andrade tries to fill the empty lot in Palmer with as many one-room houses as possible.

Each home is just a 64-square-foot cube, but for veterans, it’s like they’ve been given the world.

“Yes, the word luck is not enough for who I am now,” said army veteran Robin Hoole.

“I have no idea what we would have done,” said Kayla Klendenen, whose father was in the Navy.

Chris Rang, director of marketing for Serenity and himself a Navy veteran, said the nonprofit gives veterans more than just a place to lay their heads.

“This is the return of a family that you may not have,” he said.

Andrade says that he will always be part of this family and will do everything to help.

“This is where I am meant to be,” Andrade said. “That’s what I have to do.”

She may have left the army, but she will always be called to serve.

For more information about Serenity Veterans Village, visit their website.