COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- After years of not receiving widows’ benefits after the passing of her husband, military widow Ronaleen Brown is finally finding financial stability with help from Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs.
“I never thought I would be able to get out of my financial situation by myself as a widow of a great veteran and a mother of three kids,” said Brown.
Brown’s husband, an Army Veteran, died in 2007. She continued raising her three daughters, now ages 7, 11 and 12, struggling financially and emotionally. By June 2018, she still hadn’t received widows’ benefits, GI Bill Benefits and more.
“It just got to the point where there was no way that I was going to be able to do it by myself. I needed some help tremendously,” said Brown.
Brown came to Mt. Carmel to get the help she needed.
“At all possible, we try to make sure that they walk out of here with a plan, something in place, a roof over their head and what to do with the next steps before they leave Mt. Carmel,” said Nicole Holling, Director of Family & Veteran Resources at Mt. Carmel.
The center helps bridge the gap for veterans and spouses to discover new careers and find financial stability.
“Learning how to save, helping them with their credit, maybe paying off debt,” said Liz Foster, Mt. Carmel Financial Coach.
For Brown, the services she received were vital for her and her girls to move forward.
“I feel more confident and that was the biggest thing that I needed was some confidence,” said Brown.
Today, her car is paid off, she works full time and is receiving the benefits she is eligible for.
“That sense of I can make it. I can keep going. That is how you feel when you come here,” said Brown.
To learn more or schedule a visit with Mt. Carmel, click here.
