Finding Home at Courtney Place
In honor of Veterans Day, we’re sharing the story of Courtney Place, a community built on dignity, healing, and hope.
For many veterans, coming home is just the beginning of another battle. As one resident shared, “Before Courtney Place, I was in a little one-bedroom apartment. The landlord took our rent from 850 a month to 1300, which is above my ability to sustain.”
Stories like his aren’t uncommon. The challenges of affordable housing, mental health, and belonging continue long after service ends. But in Salem, Oregon, one nonprofit is rewriting that story.
Courtney Place provides affordable housing and wraparound services for veterans, connecting them not only to homes but to each other. As Executive Director Andrew explained, “We take an affordable apartment complex and then we essentially put a nonprofit inside of it. We do wraparound services on site to address transportation barriers, food insecurity, job placement, but we also do a lot of community building.”
That sense of community shows up everywhere. Residents describe Courtney Place as “a lifeline, a community for those who might otherwise have nowhere to go.” Every morning starts with a familiar greeting at the front steps: “You just know the people. The guys here are just awesome. We’re all friends and we have our VA camaraderie and our history of service.”
One resident, Gene, came to Courtney Place after experiencing homelessness. He’s now living with stage four cancer but says he feels supported and surrounded by people who care. “When your days are numbered, there’s probably not a day that goes by that they don’t check on everybody here,” he said. “If I don’t come in, Bob gets worried. That’s caring.”
Another veteran, Chris, was shot while trying to break up a fight outside a shelter. Through Courtney Place, he’s found stability and purpose again. “I go to the Y two or three times a day,” he said. “I don’t think I’d be anywhere close to this if I hadn’t come here.”
Courtney Place is more than housing; it’s a place of healing. Residents share meals, go on coastal surf trips, and even take part in meditation sessions through the local American Legion. Andrew explained why these moments matter: “Isolation is a dangerous drug. It can lead to depression, and we all know the data on veteran suicide. Anything we can do to counter that, to bring people together, we want to push back and change the narrative.”
That philosophy has turned Courtney Place into something extraordinary. One resident called it “essential for veterans, a model program because it’s not just a roof over your head. It helps you recover, move forward, and gives you time to heal.”
For Andrew, the mission is deeply personal. A Marine Corps veteran himself, he’s lived the challenges many of his residents face. “Coming from where I grew up, I understand what it’s like to come from poverty,” he said. “Everything I’ve gone through, good and bad, added value to what I’m doing now.”
In its first year, Courtney Place raised $116,000 at its annual gala, a reflection of how much the community believes in its work. But the most meaningful impact can’t be measured in dollars. It’s seen in the smiles at morning check-ins, the laughter between neighbors, and the small acts of care that turn an apartment building into a home.
As one resident put it best, “It gives me back a little bit of my dignity. Because I’m not sitting out on the sidewalk trying to make ends meet. I have a way to function through each day in a manner that’s humane. It’s like a dream come true.”
And in the words that close the video made for their gala:
“With hope, we have hope. And this gives us the ability to keep hope and get through another day.”
Learn more about Courtney Place and the veterans they serve at courtneyplace.org.
This Veterans Day, take a moment to listen, connect, and honor those who’ve served, not just with gratitude, but with understanding.
This story was created by Making Waves Project in honor of Veterans Day, featuring the residents of Courtney Place — a community built for and by those who’ve served. Through their stories, we’re reminded that service doesn’t end with a uniform; it continues in the way we rebuild, connect, and uplift one another.
By sharing these moments, we aim to honor the resilience, gratitude, and quiet strength that define our veterans — and to amplify the stories that make waves long after the battle ends.
If you or someone you know has a story that deserves to be part of Making Waves Project, we’d love to hear from you. And if you’re a brand interested in partnering with us to help tell more stories like this, reach out at hello@makingwavesproject.com.
Follow along with our latest stories on Instagram and YouTube as we continue to celebrate the people and places making waves in their communities.
Photography by Robiee Ziegler
Produced by Katie Caro
Post Production by Kelly Budish
